From Gene Dermody - San Francisco

I met Bill in the '70s on my first trip to California.

I was still a cocky closet case NJ wrestler, intrigued by what was going on in SoCal.

I met up with some guys like John Thayer at Bill's, and we wrestled in the ring. I was impressed with everyone.

We then went back to Bill's home to experience his unique generosity & 'charm'.

Here was this rough & tumble wrestler with the califlower ears being as erudite and cultured as anyone I had ever met. There was no subject that he was not prepared to discuss with passion.

If he could somehow be this confident & self assured, being so 'Out' before the word was even invented, then what was I so uptight about?

Bill was a role model, ahead of his time in showing many of us how to be both MEN and GAY without the silly PC baggage.

In short, Bill gave me my first set of political BALLS.

I will miss him and his quirkiness.

"Courage is the first of human qualities because it is the quality that guarantees all the others." - Sir Winston Churchill