photo by Bruce-Michael Gelbert
Bille Ann Miller on stage at the Community House in 2004
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On February 22, Fire Island Q News received word that Bill LaMonica, aka Billie Ann Miller, had passed away at the age of 89. Billie Ann was the Imperial Court of New York’s (ICNY) beloved Empress VIII, the Empress of Peace and Love, who celebrated the decade anniversary of her reign at Night of a Thousand Gowns 2004.
Bill was a resident of Cherry Grove since the 1960s and his home was the Villa Borghese on Sumner Walk. He was active with the Arts Project of Cherry Grove (APCG), appearing in many shows directed by Sal Piro, by Thom “Panzi” Hansen and Phil “Philomena” Stoehr, and others at the Community House, and often memorably portraying Ann Miller or Marlene Dietrich. He also served as treasurer of APCG for more than 20 years.
Billie Ann was the founder of the Royal Revue, a gala show benefiting ICNY and presented for many years at the Ice Palace. A vivid presence during his decades in the Grove; in New York City, where he resided in Queens; and elsewhere in the state, Bill, in an often repeated tale, notably survived being struck on the head by a falling disco ball during a benefit in which he participated.
Bill/Billie Ann will be fondly remembered and sorely missed by the many colleagues and friends whose lives he touched so deeply.