This month, Pittsburgh’s LGBTQ community lost two beloved figures whose presence shaped generations of nightlife, friendship, and chosen family. Though they left very different legacies, DJ Billy Sandor and Miss Vivian Semanick shared one thing in common: for decades, they helped make Pittsburgh’s LGBTQ community feel like home.
DJ Billy Sandor
William P. “Billy” Sandor passed away peacefully on June 16 at the age of 77.
For more than five decades, Billy was one of the defining soundtracks of Pittsburgh’s LGBTQ nightlife. Beginning his career at the Holiday Bar in 1969, he went on to DJ at many of the city’s most beloved gay bars and clubs, including the Tender Trap, Norreh, Blue Moon, Pegasus, Images, and other venues that became gathering places for generations of LGBTQ Pittsburghers. He was also a familiar face at community events, including the annual Memorial Day picnics in North Park.
Friends remember Billy not only as an exceptional DJ, but as a mentor, storyteller, and someone who always made newcomers feel welcome. Whether spinning extended disco mixes, sharing stories from Pittsburgh’s nightlife history, or introducing people to new music, Billy created spaces where people could dance, celebrate, and simply be themselves.
The outpouring of memories following his passing reflects the extraordinary impact he had on the community. Friends recalled meeting him while they were newly out, receiving encouragement as young DJs, and dancing to his music through every era of Pittsburgh’s gay nightlife. Many described him as a legend whose influence stretched across generations.
A celebration of Billy’s life will be held at P Town Bar on Sunday, July 12, from 4 to 7 p.m. A donation station will be available at the family’s request to help fulfill Billy’s final wish of being laid to rest with his mother.
Miss Vivian Semanick
Vivian Semanick passed away on June 7 at the age of 67.
Vivian became one of the most beloved personalities in Pittsburgh’s gay nightlife. From the 1970s through the 2000s, she was embraced as family by generations of bar patrons, performers, and friends who knew that if Vivian was in the room, it was going to be a memorable night.
By day, Vivian worked for many years as a hairstylist in Bridgeville. By night, she became a fixture everywhere from 2001 to Pegasus, Lucky’s, Zack’s 4th Avenue, the Norreh, and countless other clubs where Pittsburgh’s LGBTQ community gathered.
Friends remember Vivian for her infectious energy, her trademark “Meow!” greeting, spontaneous hugs, cheek kisses, bright red lipstick, signature perfume, and hilarious poems that people still recite decades later. She was known as someone who never simply walked into a room; she made an entrance. Whether dancing, voguing, or making everyone around her laugh, Vivian had a gift for making people feel welcome and celebrated.
Many shared memories of leaving the club with lipstick on their cheek, perfume on their clothes, and a smile on their face after one of Vivian’s legendary hugs. Others remembered her kindness toward anyone who felt out of place, describing her as someone who made uncertain people feel seen, loved, and accepted.
Friends and loved ones will have an opportunity to celebrate Vivian’s life during visitation on Friday, August 7, from 3:30 to 6 p.m. at Warchol Funeral Home in Bridgeville.
Vivian’s family has asked that memorial donations be made to a cat rescue in her honor, reflecting her lifelong love of animals.
While Billy gave Pittsburgh its soundtrack and Vivian filled its dance floors with laughter, both helped create something far more lasting than a night out. They helped build a community.