Comments on: Bil

By: Sharon C. Galassini

Sharon C. Galassini — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 03:40:20 +0000

Can’t believe Billy’s 45th birthday is past. I would say belated but I went to the cemetary on his birthday. Billy, I was going to leave some “Crookeds” but figured the insane squirrels would get them. LOL
When I think of us being 45 I can’t believe it. I know Billy would be so totally freaked. He would be telling people he was in his early 30’s - maybe.
Seriously, I miss seeing your face, hearing you laugh and having you answer me when we talk. Love you Billy. Love to the Garrity family.
Sharon Cope Galassini

By: John Mills

John Mills — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 05:29:07 +0000

Spiffy Joe - thank you for writing that and for going back and reading all my posts! I had such a good time writing them, laughing probably more than anyone who reads them. I got a new laugh when I read your plaster penis memory! I think there could be the makings of a song there. Thank you for being his friend, and for being mine!

Sharon - I think about and celebrate Bil’s birthday too. And I think of him every time I hear Stevie. I used to call his answering machine on his birthday and sing Stevie songs for him. And thinking of him makes me love her more, just as he would.

By: Sharon Cope Galassini

Sharon Cope Galassini — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 05:52:58 +0000

I visit this site when I can and am so happy that after so many years Billy is alive and well in our hearts and thoughts. I think of him often , as I have posted. What I have thought of lately is that his 45th birthday is a little over a month away and how he would have HATED it. LOL Oh Billy, even Stevie Nicks acknowledeges her age. it is only a number. :) All the best to those who love him. He will forever own a piece of my heart!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By: Joe Bertolino

Joe Bertolino — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 20:04:09 +0000

John Mills - today $Bil popped into my mind. I recently finished my stint on the board and was reflecting on all the Camp years. As such, I went back and read ALL your posts about Bil. I had forgotten so many of the things you mentioned, until I read your posts - “the screamers” - yes, I rember, singing the children to sleep, the hunt for his keys, Dollar Daze. I even recall his wanting us to make plaster penis molds when we were in AC (which I quickly over-ruled). Wonderful memories of a wonderful man. Thank you for remembering my friend….I will never forget Bil and the laughter he brought to my life.

By: John Mills

John Mills — Sun, 11 Apr 2010 16:11:43 +0000

I channeled Bil again on Friday, doing another Puzzle Hunt with kids, this one about raptors and other animals. We’d had a group of raptors visit the kids the Monday before. I sent kids off in all directions of our school looking for clues I’d hidden. They had to find the clues, solve them, in some cases googling answers, and then assemble the clues to spell out the final answer. Happy mayhem worthy of Bil!

By: John Mills

John Mills — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 19:55:05 +0000

Scott, Joel doesn’t have a twin named Jason, does he? At Ocky we had twin boys, Jason and Joel, who were nocturnal screamers. Identical twins, in their sleep, one would start letting out blood curdling screams. This would go on for several minutes. And then, from a cabin at the opposite end of the village, the other one would do it too. We would wake them up, they’d be fine, have no memory of it, no bad dreams to report. When they were awake they were both great kids, smart, happy, well adjusted. And then the next night we would wait. And it would start all over again. First one and then the other. We moved them as far away from each other as we could but it didn’t matter. In their sleep they could hear each other and as soon as one went off, the other would too. This went on for several years of their camp life. Eventually we got to the point where we wouldn’t wake them up and just let them scream, just to scare the counselors who hadn’t experienced them. Amazingly, none of the other kids ever woke up, camp having exhausted them so.

Bil was a counselor with me their first year. And the next year when they advanced in age group, Bil had become the village chief for their group and got them again. All the counselors were freaked out by it but none more than Bil. Bil’s reactions were so funny, both anticipating and then responding to the inevitable. When we saw their names come up on the camp rolls for returning to camp in following years, Bil must have said, “Oh no, the screamers!” And then he loved telling the story to the new set of counselors who were going to get them.

By: Scott Gordon

Scott Gordon — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 17:19:36 +0000

Funny. I was talking to a early 30ish guy named Joel in my Brooklyn apt building a couple weeks ago. His name is Joel and he mentioned that he lived in southern NJ for a bit. I said, Oh, I went to a place called Ocky for a couple years, and, lo and behold, he was a campter there (though long after my time.)
Today, I got into a conversation with a fellow cyclist named Audra who, whaddayaknow, attended Ocky in the mid 80s. Her mom was the nurse, Carol.
I started getting all nostalgic, and then I knew I had to stop by here, catch up, and leave a virtual stone on $Bil’s headstone.
Still love you and miss you buddy!
Sharon, I haven’t gone through all of the postings and I don’t know you IRL, but I’m sorry for the hurt and the loneliness you’re feeling. In addition to reminiscing about Bil’s snorty laugh I’m sending a virtual hug your way.
Happy Holidays all.

By: Sharon Cope Galassini

Sharon Cope Galassini — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 05:28:37 +0000

Where does time go? Kath, I’m so sorry. There are times I still think Billy is in CA, but then I go to visit his grave and just sit there and talk to him, laugh about something we did together or cry. He’ll always be alive in my heart and will always own a piece of it.

By: Mim

Mim — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 21:57:06 +0000

Missing you and always will, B-I-L.

By: Kathy Goffredi

Kathy Goffredi — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 22:00:47 +0000

Cannot believe it was five years ago today - still so friggin sad!!