Beloved East Hampton Couple Gets Best Coronavirus Easter Surprise

EAST HAMPTON, NY —Everyone in East Hampton knows John and Pat Ryan. They've spent a lifetime giving back to the community, whether it be through lifeguarding, swimming lessons, or the many activities to which they've devoted their time and hearts.

Easter Sunday has always meant church and then a big gathering at her parents' house, said Jeannine Ryan, an art teacher and one of the couple's nine children.

But this Easter was drastically different due to the new coronavirus, Jeannine said.

"We’ve been missing my parents so much and normally we would spend Easter Sunday together by going to mass at Most Holy Trinity Church then going back and making breakfast at my parents' house in the village," she said. "After breakfast we would have a big Easter egg hunt with friends and family on the front lawn."

The egg hunt would be followed by a big dinner, she said. "Since we are unable to do that, we were trying to think of a way that we could show my parents how much we love them and miss them. My sister Susan came up with the idea of doing a drive-by and singing 'God bless America,' which is a song my father loves to get up and sing at family gatherings."

And so, an idea was born to make Easter the best day ever, despite the need for social distancing: Susan Ryan brought the bubble maker; sister Marie Hand brought her Bluetooth speaker.

"We spent the night before Easter and Easter morning making signs in our individual homes with our children," Jeannine said. "At noon on Easter Sunday we all arrived by car to the parking lot up the road from my parents' house on Meadow Way. We drove down the block in age order," she said.

Participating in the fun were family members Kathy and Tom Piacentine, Jeannine Ryan, Johnny and Marigrace Ryan, Marie and Jeff Hand, Lizza Ryan, Meg and Eric Metz, and Susan Ryan and Matt Rutigliano, and all of the siblings' children.

"We were beeping and honking our horns until we arrived on my parents' front lawn," Jeannine aid. "Practicing social distancing, wearing masks and gloves, family members spread out. Some stayed in their cars; others spread out on the lawn, six to 12 feet apart. My parents knew something was going to happen but didn’t know what. We had asked them to be outside on the walkway at 12:30."

And then came the big moment.

"We held up our signs and sang 'God bless America.' I tried to sing but I was overcome with emotion. Later, speaking to my father on the phone I told him, 'I’m sorry, Dad. I tried to sing but I was crying too hard.' He said, 'I was crying, too.'"

Next, Jeannine said, her niece Emma Hand, "who has a beautiful voice, sang 'Hallelujah 'for my father and mother," another emotional moment. "These are very difficult times and it’s so hard for us to be apart but I’m grateful that we were all able to show up and show the ones we love how much they mean to us."

The Ryans have 24 grandchildren but have touched the lives of countless more through their 40-plus years of giving back in East Hampton. The Ryans' efforts to promote safe swimming in East Hampton were the focus of a documentary, "Waterproof," directed by Ross Kauffman, produced by Mae Mougin, and shown at the 2019 Hamptons International Film Festival.

The Ryans are a family of teachers and John Ryan — who also serves on the East Hampton Union Free School District's Board of Education — has spent years training lifeguards and young swimmers alike. He also runs the Amagansett Beach Association, where he's known for his booming, "Say hello to summer!" greeting.

Their family is very close, Jeannine said. "We're together all the time."

But during the days of coronavirus, the family has stayed in touch through Zoom and phone calls. The Easter drive-by, she said, was a way to share a new holiday tradition while social distancing.

"We were trying to find ways to show them how much we love them," she said.

When the family arrived, they wore masks and gloves and followed social distancing protocols. But no physical distance could stop the evident outpouring of love as all sang "God Bless America." Her father, Jeannine said, is a veteran and "well known for his patriotism."

Her parents, she said, "were overcome. They were so happy to see everyone, even from a distance."

The day meant so much to her parents that they have the signs hanging up inside their house now.

Seeing her parents so happy meant everything, Jeannine said, adding: "We haven't been able to be together since this started."

The video shared on social media brought joy to the whole community: "There's a family in East Hampton, the Ryans, behind everything great about our beach front — lifeguarding, water safety, swimming lessons, beach clean-ups, the Polar Bear plunge and ocean rescue," said Mary McPartland. "This was a great feel-good moment: their family swinging by to wish Mr. and Mrs. Ryan a Happy Easter. God Bless America!"