LI Coronavirus Hero: 'The Hospital Is A Family'

HAMPTON BAYS, NY — As Long Islanders practice social distancing and make personal sacrifices as part of the fight against the coronavirus pandemic, many look to those on the front lines as inspiration. Patch will be highlighting Long Islanders who are going above and beyond in their work and community to help during the crisis.

Livia Eyde, a paramedic and volunteer at the Hampton Bays Volunteer Ambulance Corps, nominated her boyfriend Ross Hamilton as a hometown hero.

He grew up in Hampton Bays and the pair both currently live there, she said.

As the emergency management manager at Stony Brook Southampton Hospital, Ross, she said, "has been very busy in light of recent events," she said.

But along with his work at the hospital, Ross also volunteers as a a firefighter with the Hampton Bays Fire Department, as a volunteer with the Hampton Bays Volunteer Ambulance Corps — and works part-time with the Southampton Town Police Department, she said.

"I believe he should be recognized because right now, the main focus is on health care workers; however, Ross has been very busy behind the scenes of the hospital, ensuring that all the employees have proper and sufficient amounts of personal protective equipment and testing supplies. He often works late every day," she said.

Ross, she said, "is young, only 25 years old and he is going back to school to complete his bachelor's degree in emergency management."

She added: "These emergency managers are just as important as the front line staff, even if he is not directly involved in patient care. He dedicates so much time to anything he does, no matter what is going on. Ross is constantly in contact with the county and state putting in resource requests. The hospital is a family — and Ross is very proud to be a part of it."