Phyllis Bilick

Posted 8/21/12

Phyllis Bilick of Callicoon, NY died on April 8, 2016 at home at the age of 92.

She was born March 20, 1924 to the late Herman and Fannie Klinger in Ozone Park, Queens, NY. She was the youngest of …

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Phyllis Bilick

Posted

Phyllis Bilick of Callicoon, NY died on April 8, 2016 at home at the age of 92.

She was born March 20, 1924 to the late Herman and Fannie Klinger in Ozone Park, Queens, NY. She was the youngest of three children, and predeceased by her siblings Milton and Charlotte. On June 18, 1942 she married Herman Bilick. They had four children, Bennett, Gerald, Harold, and Laura. They lived in Kew Gardens, NY. They retired to Callicoon over 20 years ago.

She worked as staff photographer at the Queens Museum and later became assistant curator. She was an avid gardener, accomplished artist, and dear friend to many. She was a volunteer at the DVAA for 20+ years, doing everything from helping to install shows to having the online Gallery B named after her. There was no art medium that Phyllis did not try. She was a photographer, a potter, a painter, a jewelry maker, a bookbinder, and finally a knitter. In the 1970s she was awarded studio space at the newly renovated P.S.1 in Long Island City. She then formed Independent Studios 1 with fellow artists as well as the original BJ Spoke Gallery, originally located in Port Washington.

She is survived by her son Bennett and wife Nancy Davis; daughter-in-law Christina; son Harold; daughter Laura and husband Mark Sisti; grandchildren, Brian and wife Nicha, Alison and husband Steve Rudin, Jonathan Harting and wife Deniese, Erica and husband Matt Tovee, Summer and husband Kenneth Benjamin Jr., Matthew and partner Anji Bakos, Natasha and fiancé Jason Malloy, Joshua Bilick, Nicolas and Zachary Sisti; great grandchildren, Elenice, Annie Tovee, Glenn Tovee, Brandon Bilick, Olivia Rudin, Serena Harting, and Ella Rudin; and one great-great grandchild Clara. She was predeceased by her husband, Herman; son Gerald; daughters-in-law Gail and Sharon, and of course her beloved dog, Anna Banana. “If you ask me what I came to do in this world, I, an artist, will answer you: I am here to live out loud.” ― Émile Zola.

In lieu of flowers please make donations in her name to the Delaware Valley Arts Alliance, P.O. Box 170, Narrowsburg, NY 12764. Memorial services will be held April 24, 2016 at the Tusten Theater, located at 210 Bridge Street, Narrowsburg, NY 12764, reception to follow at Delaware Valley Arts Alliance, 377 Main Street, Narrowsburg, NY 12764.