Charles Nolan with journalist and Saltaire resident Marie Brennan at his Meatpacking District boutique on Sept. 10, 2010. [Photo by Michael K. Lavers]

Fashion designer and Fire Island Pines resident Charles Nolan passed away in his Manhattan apartment on Sunday, Jan. 30. He was 53.

Nolan, along with his partner of 16 years, Andy Tobias, who is treasurer of the Democratic National Committee, hosted former presidential candidate Howard Dean, Massachusetts Congressman Barney Frank, U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand and other politicos at their Pines home. Nolan was also a regular at Low Tea, the Pines Party, Ascension and other fundraisers and community events. Besides fashion, his other passion as photography. He loved to photograph the the annual Invasion of the Pines as well as other island events.

"Charles and I loved our 16-plus years together, but we especially loved our life on Fire Island," Tobias told the News.

Their love story actually began on the beach 21 years ago when a mutual friend brought Nolan to an annual party Tobias used to throw. "He immediately concluded I was 'a lunatic' (which is not far off the mark), so it was only four summers later that, through a comedy of errors, we actually connected," joked Tobias.

The couple had their first meal together on the deck of the old Community House during a fundraiser. Tobias and Nolan left the event "after the salad course."

"[We] then spent the rest of the summer, and the 16 that followed, together in the city and, especially, on the island," said Tobias.

Tobias also credits Nolan for transforming a beach house that had previously been "all functionality and no charm."

"He loved working in the backyard—it was a challenge growing a garden on top of a septic tank slab, but he found a way," he said.

Dressing Celebs and the People

He designed the dress that Tipper Gore wore when she and former Vice President Al Gore famously kissed at the 2000 Democratic National Convention. Peggy Kerry, sister of U.S. Sen. John Kerry [D-Mass.], and Kerry Kennedy both appeared in Nolan's runway shows.

Back on Fire Island, Nolan designed for Sara Kinsey, fiancé of Sayville Ferry captain Pierce Cohalan. He designed the wedding skirt and leather jacket that the Fire Island News publisher Nicole Wolf wore for her beach wedding in Robbins Rest.

"The Pines community mourns the passing of Charles Nolan," said Jay Pagano, president of the Fire Island Pines Property Owners Association.

Gay activist Corey Johnson, who summers in the Pines, also mourned his friend.

"Charles was an extraordinary person—excellent at his craft and exceedingly generous and wonderful," he said hours after Nolan passed away. "I can't imagine a summer on Fire Island without Charles. I miss him already."

Others memorialized Nolan on his boutique's Web site.

"He was the epitome of a positive spirit and a shining star which will now grace heaven," wrote Blair Boyer. "Charles was a real New Yorker with a great passion for fashion and for life."

Hundreds attended Nolan's funeral at the Church of the Blessed Sacrament on Manhattan's Upper West Side on Feb. 2. His brother, a priest, delivered the eulogy. He is survived by his father, four brothers, four sisters and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

"Charles knew how everything should be," said Tobias. "I hope I can retain 10 percent of what I learned from him."