Virun Rampersad 8/25/26 Virun Rampersad 8/25/26

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.

Virun Rampersad 8/12/26 Virun Rampersad 8/12/26

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.

Virun Rampersad 6/30/26 Virun Rampersad 6/30/26

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.

Virun Rampersad 3/4/26 Virun Rampersad 3/4/26

Pines Profile - Seth Sikes (b. 1984)

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.