Photo by Erin Williams

UPDATE: Initial reports of Bill’s death were woefully incorrect; he is still alive, though in poor health. We profusely apologize for the error.

We Love D.C. shares some sad news — Black Cat Bill, an institution of a man known for being the club’s unofficial doorman, passed away this week.

A must-read 2009 profile of Bill by photographer Erin Williams recounted:

His name is Bill. He told me about his over 30 year battle with his addiction to crack and alcoholism, and says that he is now living in a retirement home in Hyattsville and comes down to the club to “experience life a little bit.” He swears that being around the young people keeps him young. He doesn’t like how “full of death” the retirement home is. The club provided a meal to him for free, as they do every time he comes in. He then headed back outside to collect enough money at the door to catch a taxi back to his home. He laughed as he told me he needs to get by midnight – or they’d give him some grief. I’m not so sure that he lives in a retirement home because he wasn’t wearing proper shoes. I think it’s probably a shelter. But there is no doubt that he is an incredibly interesting and intelligent man, and a sweetheart of a guy.