Remembering Vicky Keller

Miss Vicky Keller Via GoFundMe

Miss Vicky Keller Via GoFundMe

I first met Vivien Keller, “Miss Vicky,” in the early 1980’s, thanks to my former partner, the late Stephen Jerome. Steve loved to sing, and one of the places where he sang was Zelda’s, a long-gone bar on Powerline Road in Oakland Park. Zelda’s biggest attraction was “Miss Vicky’s Room,” where Vicky sang and played the piano, accompanied by many of her gay fans. Vicky also played her piano for special events at Zelda’s, including a silent film festival organized by the late Jack Sturdy, then film critic for The Weekly News. Though I am no singer, I appreciated Vicky and her music, and Vicky and I became friends. Later Vicky moved her musical talents, and many of her fans, to Chardee’s in Wilton Manors, where she held court until that club closed down.

It was in the early eighties that Vicky began her decades-long involvement on the Board of Pride South Florida. I was a member of the Pride Board back then; and Vicky and I had some great times together, planning and working the early Pride Festivals at the long-gone Hollywood Sportatorium. This was the golden age of Pride South Florida, when a small group of dedicated activists, some of whom are no longer with us, created a form of community celebration at a time when many of us were succumbing to AIDS. For much of that time, Vicky was the only woman on the Board of Pride South Florida; and she worked as hard as any of the men on the Board. Later, when the rest of us moved on to other endeavors, Vicky remained on the Board of Pride South Florida; and she would have continued on the Board until this day had her health permitted it. Vicky served on the Board of Pride South Florida for almost forty years; a record that will not be broken in a long time.

Though Vicky was a heterosexual woman, she did more for South Florida’s LGBT community than all but a handful of LGBT community members. When the AIDS epidemic began in the early 1980’s, Vicky met with other activists at the old Marlin Beach Hotel and founded AIDS Center One; the first group of its kind in Broward County. When gay men’s choral groups flourished in our community, Vicky saw a need and founded WomynSong, South Florida’s first and still only lesbian chorus. If AIDS Center One was later mired in controversy, and if WomynSong did not endure, it was not Vicky’s fault, for she put all her effort to maintain those organizations. For many years, Vicky served the Church of Our Savior MCC in Boynton Beach as Minister of Music, pianist and choir member. She was also an active member of Congregation Etz Chaim, serving on the Board and reading prayers at services in her own inimitable style. Vicky was also involved in the local chapter of SAGE, Senior Action in a Gay Environment, where I had the honor of escorting her to SAGE events. In an often divisive community, Vicky was above controversy, loving everyone and working for the good of all.

Not as well known as her work with LGBT community organizations are her countless acts of kindness for members of the LGBT community, her community. She adopted a gay son, Michael Keller, whom she adored and who she took care of during his struggle with AIDS. Vicky also assisted other LGBT youths who were rejected by their families, often to her own financial detriment. When my partner, Michael Greenspan, developed dementia, Vicky visited him at his assisted living facility, sang and played the piano for him, and even gave him a CD player so he could play music in his room. Vicky was kind and helpful at a difficult time in my life, just as she was kind and helpful to so many other people at difficult times in their lives. There are many in our community who, like me, have benefitted from Vicky’s love and support, in so many ways. Here again, Vicky thought of others first, and herself last. That is the way she was.

Miss Vicky Keller entertaining her friends at the celebration of her 85th birthday, November 16, 2010 at the Sunshine Cathedral in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Though Vicky suffered from financial and health problems during her final years, she kept up her spirits and her dedication to her community. Fortunately, Vicky’s community came through in her hour of need. Thanks to the efforts of Vicky’s good friend and care giver Jodi Fischer, the LGBT community of South Florida raised tens of thousands of dollars for her welfare, through Vicky’s Go Fund Me account. Our community also gave Vicky the recognition and the awards that she deserved, in gratitude for all that she has done for us. I am going to miss Vicky; her kindness, her sincerity, and her ability to bring out the best in all of us. Like George Bailey in the movie It’s a Wonderful Life, the world would have been much worse off if Vicky had never lived in it. We are grateful that she did, for nine decades of untiring work and great love. Thanks to Vicky, we and our community is a much better place and we are much better people for having known her.

Jesse’s Journal
by Jesse Monteagudo

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