This is for Billy

Billy was Patrick to my Pegeen Ryan in the Camp Emerson performance of Mame.
Billy was my college sweetheart when we met again in art school.
Billy was my facebook friend years later.
Billy died last week at age 47 after being hit by a car. It’s shocking and unbelievable.

A Borscht Belt performer born decades too late for that venue, Billy was an old Jewish man in a young and adorable body.

He was kind and gentle and funny as hell.  He was an outrageously talented artist and designer. He was passionate and angry and forthright about his opinions.

He was a feisty feminist.  One of our last exchanges on facebook was a heated debate about something related to women and their right to walk freely down any street without fear.  I don’t remember the details. I was so annoyed that he would even think he could speak for women that I let him have it.  He let me have it and we agreed to disagree and left it at that.

Now I think back on that exchange and instead of thinking he was just a pompous ass, (I mean he was, but in a good way), I see he was such a fervent feminist that he really believed he could experience the world through the eyes of a woman.  He once posted on fb that he was “a lesbian in a man’s body.”  I loved this quality of his, his deep empathy and sensitivity.  I wish I had thanked him for being a wonderful, pompous, feminist.

Billy lived to the fullest.  He was so completely in love with his wife and son and 2 sisters, and let us all share in the joys via facebook.  It was wonderful to see him so happy and loved.

May his family know how deeply loved Billy is and always will be by me.  I was blessed to have known him.

“May you lose all your teeth — but ONE should remain for a toothache.” ~ Old Yiddish curse  [Posted by Billy on Dec 21, 2012]