Dot grew up in the New York City borough of Queens and played a lot of basketball in her youth.  After graduating high school, she took business courses at the Delehany Institute which she used to become an insurance broker.  She also served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1943-1945.

From1949-1954, Dot played catcher and first base for several teams in Chicago's National Girls Baseball League, which was actually a professional softball league.  When her professional softball playing days came to an end, she stayed active playing basketball, handball, and golf.