Few institutions in Fire Island Pines are so deeply woven into the fabric of the community that life without them feels unimaginable. The Pines Liquor Shop is one such place. Though its beginnings were modest and sometimes uncertain, it soon took root and grew into far more than a purveyor of spirits. Through good times and bad, it has stood as a steady presence, always supportive of community activities and responsive to the needs of its neighbors. Straight owned and operated in the world’s premier gay resort, it has become recognized by liquor distributors as a harbinger of taste on the East Coast. Today it is a community hub, resource center and always a place of welcome.

Jim Pepper is the embodiment of philanthropy. Gifted with the mind of a generation, a strong moral compass and a bias for action, for over six decades he has done things that have improved the lives of millions of people. His abilities enabled him to be very successful both professionally and in his extensive philanthropic efforts, all the while remaining humble and avoiding the spotlight unless absolutely necessary. Simply put, Jim did what he did because it needed to be done and not for attention or glory, which he actively avoids. It is these precise characteristics that make him appealing, widely respected and loved. His is a life that has indelibly touched the so many others for the better.

SAGE and Fire Island Pines are different sides of the same coin. Both were created for and by LGBTQ+ people and their allies in response to a world that was often hostile to their existence. Their founders took risks and made sacrifices to create spaces where connection, safety, and identity could thrive. And both require nurturing and care to survive. At their core, they are both expressions of the same idea: community. Dino Georgiou, one of SAGE’s earliest supporters and former Treasurer of FIPPOA saw the connection early on and today it is one of the major philanthropic organizations supported by the Pines community.

For more than five decades, Bob Howard has helped shape Fire Island Pines. Although often referred to as the “Dean of Real Estate,” his impact reaches far beyond property lines. In his time, Bob founded High Tea, led the Pines Conservation Society for two decades, and has more than four decades (and counting) of service with the Pines Fire Department —all while championing nearly every civic and charitable effort in the community.

In moments of celebration and in times of crisis, Bob has been a constant, galvanizing presence. He didn’t just build a business, he helped build the Pines itself, earning his place as one of its most respected and beloved leaders. His life is a testament to reinvention, resilience, and an unwavering devotion to a community that became not only his home, but his life’s work and enduring legacy.

Seth Sikes’ story is one the Pines has seen play out many times over the past 70 years. A young man from a small town arrives with big hopes and a bigger heart, and discovers what this place can be. His journey, steeped in love and gratitude for the Pines, rings through every note he sings, whether in the playful video parodies that buoyed the community through the 2020 lockdown, under the lights at 54 Below, or from the harbor during the Annual Invasion. Seth’s path is uniquely his, yet shared by all who have found healing, humor, and hope in the enduring magic of Fire Island.

Doug Harris has spent his life doing something both rare and invaluable -- building worlds where people can thrive. Whether helping shape the regulatory architecture of the global capital markets, elevating LGBTQ+ elders through SAGE, or steering the Pines towards becoming a more open and welcoming community, Doug’s legacy is defined by brilliance, perseverance, risk taking, and an extraordinary gift for connection.

Many people believe Stonewall was the event that made the Pines and Cherry Grove safe for gays. While the 1969 riots played a major role, one year prior, the Mattachine Society and a straight Long Island lawyer, Benny Vuturo, effectively stopped the shameful police raids and arrests of gay men in the community..

The murder of George Floyd murder spawned a global reckoning on race. Within the Pines, the property owners association (FIPPOA), who are essentially the community’s leaders, created the Committee on Black Equality (CoBE). its goals were to make recommendations on how the Pines could be more diverse and welcoming to people of color.

For almost a century, the LaFountaine’s have been at the beating heart of Fire Island Pines—building homes, fighting fires, raising glasses, raising roofs, and raising voices. Nicole LaFountaine stands as the third generation of that legacy: a woman who turned fire into renewal, theatre into community, and heritage into hope.