Archives
Pines Profile - Gil Neary 1957-2024
Gil Neary was one of the Pines’ most beloved. His life was defined by joy, generosity, and unapologetic pride. A visionary real estate broker and community builder, he helped shape Fire Island Pines into the vibrant haven it is today through his warmth, charisma, and boundless embrace of people. He championed gay life and culture with unashamed exuberance, celebrating every moment to the fullest. There is no doubt, Gil made the world brighter, bolder, and better.
Pines Profile - Hal Rubenstein (b. 1950)
Hal Rubenstein is a rare talent. His career stands as proof of what’s possible when ability meets opportunity and courage. A formidable and deeply creative presence, his command of language, spoken and written, allows people to connect with his ideas almost viscerally. Over time, he has become an interpreter of glamour, a custodian of culture, and an agent of change, reshaping how people think not only about fashion and dining, but about life itself. Check out: https://thehappygrownup.substack.com
The Story of FIPPOA (est. 1953)
For over seventy years, the Fire Island Pines Property Owners Association (FIPPOA) has been a driving force in the transformation of the Pines from a rustic beach enclave into one of the most celebrated and glamorous gay communities in the world. Guided by a board of elected, unpaid volunteers, FIPPOA has spearheaded the development of the Pines’ physical infrastructure, while carefully navigating its cultural evolution from homophobic origins to a modern gay mecca.
Pines Profile - Richard Burns (b. 1955)
Some leaders make history from the front of the stage. Others build the institutions that make history possible. Richard Burns belongs firmly in the latter category. Over the past five decades, his vision, leadership, and unwavering commitment have helped create and strengthen many of the organizations that transformed LGBTQ+ life in America. This profile tells the remarkable story of a man whose influence has profoundly shaped LGBTQ+ life in America.
Pines Profile: Bob Levine (b. 1933)
Robert “Bob” Levine, known to generations of Fire Islanders as the incomparable Rose Levine, is an indelible part of Fire Island history. For more than seventy years, Bob has been one of the most recognizable, beloved, and enduring figures in the history of both Cherry Grove and Fire Island Pines. While he best known as a legendary drag entertainer, Bob has also been a chronicler, a social icon, and a bridge builder between Fire Island’s two LGBTQ+ communities.
Pines Profile - The Pines Liquor Shop (Est. 1964)
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.
Pines Profile - James G. Pepper (b.1944)
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.
The Pines and the Fight Against AIDS
The Pines was Ground Zero for both the start of the AIDS epidemic and the world’s response to it. As we mark World AIDS Day on December 1st, we look back on the journey that brought us to the point that AIDS is no longer a fatal disease, and on the profound role members of the Pines community played in making that possible. These warriors banded with others from across the country to overcome immense resistance and reshape how medical research is conducted and expand the social-service systems we rely on today. In this way, they improved the lives for millions of people. Today, with the LGBTQ+ community once again under siege, it is essential that we honor and carry forward the stories of some of America’s greatest heroes..
Pines Profile - Eric L. Sawyer (b. 1954)
“Eric is a true hero. What he did – and still does -- the sacrifices he makes and what he has accomplished for our community, is simply remarkable.”
- Jim Pepper, Former Board Member GMHC, and Founder of Stonewall Community Foundation.
No Kings Protest (2025)
There were two No Kings Protests held in the Pines in 2025. The community has a long history of activism. In the early years it took the form of organizing, strategizing and fundraising to support the fight for gay rights and to fight AIDS. In recent years, these efforts have become more traditional, with a Black Lives Matter march in 2020. The two No Kings protest rallies in 2025 continue in that vein.
Pines Profile - Jay Pagano (b. 1945)
For more than 50 years, including more than 25 on the FIPPOA Board, Jay Pagano helped move the Pines forward. Through good times and bad, he worked tirelessly to ensure it remained a place of freedom, beauty, connection and love. His example, and the values he embodies, will stand among his most enduring legacies to a community he loves dearly.
World AIDS Day…we remember.
1987. As we celebrate World AIDS Day we remember the rose ceremony that was a tradition began in the Pines as more and more from the community were lost to AIDS. Many brought a rose as a symbol of love. These were then thrown into the ocean at the close of the service…
The GMHC Morning Party 1991-1994
The GMHC Morning Party had grown up. It was time to bring it onto the beach.
Fire Island Pines People- Doris Taussig
There have been many women who have been the pioneers of the Pines, however one of its earliest trailblazers was Doris Taussig. Daughter of the original landowners of the Pines Doris created her own path of history.
Fire Island Celebrity history- Rock Hudson
Many celebrities found their way to the Pines. Closeted actor Rock Hudson was one…