Search Interviews

Friends Kevin Koerner (61) and Ed Crane (64) remember their experiences living through the HIV/AIDS epidemic, and compare it to their experiences living through COVID-19. They discuss their passions and interests, and look towards the future.

One Small Step partners Teri Mott (61) and Krista Anderson (61) talk about their personal political values, the issues that have become personal to them, and their experiences with religion.

Spouses Nancy Sills, (67) and Jim Sills (67), sit down to preserve some memories for their children and their grandchildren. They describe the strong communities they each grew up in, share their favorite stories about various family members, and reflect...

Friends Kris Grae (56) and Gil Neary (64) discuss their experience on Fire Island during the HIV/AIDS epidemic, how they dealt with loss and grief, and how they would like to be remembered.

Tomik Dash [no age given] interviews his friend Robert "Bob" Levine [no age given] about his first time in Cherry Grove on Fire Island and about his career as a drag performer starting in the 1950s. They discuss the impact...

James Hensley (58) tells his husband Chris Jarvis (58) about his 30 years as a bartender in gay bars, describing the exciting nightlife of the places where he worked, as well as the dangers of being "out" and discovered in...

Friends Ward Auerbach (78), James "Jim" Pepper (77), and William "Bill" Mattle (54) talk about being residents of the Fire Island Pines through the AIDS crisis. They reflect about loss, organizing, and about the work being done by younger people...

Crayton Robey (50) interviews his partner, Ed Shaulhafer (69), about his experience training to become a doctor during the AIDS epidemic. Ed also talks about his relationship to Fire Island throughout the years.

One Small Step conversation partners Don Linscheid (76) and Joyce Estes (64) talk about their experiences caring for individuals with disabilities, and their frustrations with the current state of US politics.

Spouses Michael Bingham (60) and Suzanne "Suzy" Bingham (59) discuss how they met, their marriage, Michael’s near-death experience, and the adventures they have had together.

Partners Eilen Itzel Mena (26) and Avila Santo (28) explore each other's thoughts on life, death, spirituality and art.

Friends and colleagues David Aronstein (68) and Dale Mitchell (71) discuss their work together on the LGBT Aging Project, an advocacy group they founded in 2001.

Don Millinger (66) and his husband, Gary Clinton (70), remember their first visit to Fire Island Pines, discuss learning about AIDS, and share memories of loved ones they lost throughout the epidemic. The pair also reflect on how Fire Island...

Board of Directors Storytelling Project: Our first StoryCorps conversation is between SFV Board Co-chair Bill Haskell (77) and Board member Liv Schaffer (31). In this inspiring conversation, Bill and Liv talked about many things including people who have been instrumental...

Evan Wolfson (57) speaks with friend, Kevin Jennings (51), about his experiences as a gay man and how it led to his role as a legal advocate in the marriage equality movement.

My friend and I were talking about his life including his families life.We were also talking about COVID-19.

Jeff Severson (68) shares how his early years as an actor in NYC coincided with the arrival of the AIDS epidemic. He recounts the loss of two life partners from AIDS and his own HIV positive status. Jeff also talks...

Marissa Kanz (38) talks with her ex-husband, Daniel Baughn (40), about their friendship, courtship, marriage and divorce. They talk about their shared spiritual faith, their six-year-old daughter and Daniel Baugh's coming out after they were married. They then talk about...

Crayton Robey (50) interviews new friend Kyle Merker (60) about Kyle's experience living and working on Fire Island through the AIDS crisis. Kyle remembers friends that he lost, talks about his time caring for AIDS patients as a candy striper,...

In this interview, conducted in September 2018 in the Bronx, New York, Cristian interviews his father. They talked about what his father's life and what it was like. They also talked about what his father went through when coming to...

Bill Van Parys (61) interviews his friend R. "Scott" Bromley about (83) about his experience visiting and living on Fire Island, especially during the AIDS epidemic. Scott also shares his love for the Pines and the Pines community.

Spouses Derrick "Chip" Brown (51) and Rob Alexander (49) discuss purpose, intention, and the acceptance that came with their commitment to one another.

Gina Miranda-Diaz (59) speaks with her son Alexander Joel Diaz (28) about growing up visiting family in Puerto Rico, her career as a nurse, and her passion for public health. Gina also tells a story about collecting supplies after Hurricane...

This is Bill Grafe's (82) story of being a funeral director during the AIDS/HIV epidemic in Sonoma County, California. The interview was conducted by Ted Grafe (47), Bill's son. The family has been involved in the funeral business since the...