Man Wishes Mom Happy 90th Birthday Through Retirement Home Window

GREENPORT, NY — Tony Spiridakis is a beloved face around Greenport: Along with the Manhattan Film Institute he co-founded, he has been the force behind bringing movies to the Greenport movie theater during the winter months, although the cinema has been temporarily closed due to the new coronavirus.

His dedication to his students and to the audiences that come to soak up the classic films is a gift of love to the community.

But there is no greater gift than the bond between a mother and son. And so when his mom Eugenia, who lives at the Peconic Landing retirement community — the facility has been hit hard as coronavirus cases continue to rise across the North Fork — was unable to have visitors for her 90th birthday, Spiridakis took matters into his own hands.

Peconic Landing, along with other retirement communities and nursing homes, has been closed to visitors to protect members and contain the coronavirus spread among the most vulnerable populations.

"My mom, after losing my dad this year after 71 years of marriage, had to adjust to life alone," Spiridakis said. "Sheltering in place at Peconic Landing brings a whole new meaning to being alone. Some days she says, 'Pop's calling me to come join him,' and we tell joke that he's definitely not!"

Her biggest worry, though, Spiridakis said, "is for us not to come near, for fear that we pass the virus on to her grandchildren."

To celebrate her 90th birthday, he said: "We did all we could think to do." Armed with colorful birthday signs, the devoted son stood outside his beloved mother's window.

"It's amazing how such a simple gesture can have such a big effect. She truly enjoyed this celebration through the glass window — and so did we," said Spiridakis.

"Happy 90th Birthday," Spiridakis' partner Lisa Gillooly said. "These are extraordinary times."