OUR DIRECTORS
JOHN J. RYAN JR., PRESIDENT
Chief Lifeguard, Town of East Hampton
John J. Ryan Jr began lifeguarding for the Town of East Hampton in the summer of 1981. In 1989, he was promoted to Asst. Chief Lifeguard. Two years later, 1991, he was promoted to Chief, a position he continues to hold to this day. In 1995, he and his father, John Sr., established a Junior Lifeguard Program which has grown, with the help of so many others having the same passion, into a nationally recognized team over the years. In 2003, he helped established the East Hampton Volunteer Ocean Rescue, an emergence service agency that responds to water emergencies on Town and Village beaches. In 2005, he and his father, with the help of a friend, Margie Fuerst, established Hampton Lifeguard Association, as a non-profit organization, 501 (c) (3). The mission of HLA was to assist any organization that would help to WATERPROOF the community. In addition to lifeguarding, John Ryan Jr. was a teacher for 32 years before retiring in June of 2022. He is an ex-captain and active firefighter for EHFD Company One, and a trustee for the Amagansett Life-Saving & Coast Guard Station. He continues his efforts to WATERPROOF Long Island’s South Fork and beyond through education and training and competition.
THEODORE CALABRESE, VICE PRESIDENT
TJ Calabrese has lived in East Hampton since 1978. He graduated from East Hampton High School in 1982 and currently practices Optometry in Southampton and is a part time lifeguard and lifeguard instructor for the Town of East Hampton. He and his wife Lynne, have two children, Amanda and TJ III. TJ has been an avid surfer and waterman for 45 years and became lifeguard certified 15 years ago to be an instructor for the East Hampton Junior Lifeguard Program and become a member of the East Hampton Town Volunteer Ocean Rescue (EHVOR). TJ is a past president of the Southampton Lions Club as well as serving 8 years on the zoning board of appeals for the Town of East Hampton. Seeing his passion for the ocean and helping others, TJ rose to leadership roles in EHVOR working his way from lieutenant to captain and to become chief. In addition to being a director for Hamptons Lifeguard Association, TJ sits on the board of directors for the East Hampton YMCA. TJ lives everyday with HLA's mission of waterproofing the East End Community. Lifeguards for Life!
NICOLE CASTILLO, SECRETARY
A small business owner in East Hampton, Nicole offers volunteer support to Hampton Lifeguard Association in the organization’s marketing and public relations. The daughter of a former ocean lifeguard, both of Nicole’s children trained in the junior lifeguard program to eventually become ocean lifeguards. She co-manages the HLA National Junior Lifeguard Team, organizing team uniforms, travel arrangements and sponsorship.
JOHN J. RYAN SR., TREASURER
“Big Bad John” — Lifeguard for Life
Patriarch of the Ryan family, John Ryan Sr. (aka Big Bad John) is one of the founders of Hampton Lifeguard Association. A lifeguard for life, now 80 years, BBJ is one of the creators and coordinators of the junior lifeguard, lifeguard and nipper programs. He is also one of the founding members of the East Hampton Hurricanes swim team, East Hampton Volunteer Ocean Rescue and in-school swim programs. An East Hampton school board member for 25 years, BBJ is a graduate of St. John’s University where he was also a member of the men’s basketball team. A math teacher for 28 years, he has also managed the Amagansett Beach Association Beach Club for 37 years. A 34 year volunteer member of the East Hampton Village Ambulance Association and 22 years as board member of the East Hampton YMCA Rec Center. Married to his wife Patricia for 62 years, the couple has 9 children, 24 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren.
SCOTT BRADLEY
Scott Bradley brings to real estate extensive business skills honed over a 27-year career in the insurance industry, with 21 years as partner at Cook Maran & Associates in New York. Scott's also been involved with investing in and developing Hamptons property, most recently the redevelopment and subdivision of the East Deck Motel at Ditch Plains.
Well-known in the world of water sports, Scott is a former NCAA swimmer and currently a Master SUP Instructor, Captainin the East Hampton Volunteer Ocean Rescue Squad and certified Ocean Rescue Systems International Public Safety Rescue Swimmer. He is also an 8-time Ironman Triathlon finisher and 2012 World Paddle Association Age Group World Champion.
In addition, Scott is a founding member of Paddlers for Humanity, a nonprofit that raises money and awareness for local and global organizations dedicated to improving children's lives. He is currently the Co-President of the Amagansett Life-Saving and Coast Guard Station Society Museum.
TOM COHILL
Coach Tom Cohill made the East End his home in 2003. Since his time on the East End, he was the founding head coach of The East Hampton Hurricanes Club Swim team in September 2003, the founding coach for both the men’s and women’s Varsity swim teams at East Hampton High School, Head Master’s Swim Coach, East Hampton Ocean Rescue member and East Hampton YMCA Aquatics Director. Most recently, Tom and his wife raise their three young children on the East End with a passion for the water. Through his coaching Tom has sought to provide the community with the opportunity to participate in competitive swimming under conditions that foster skilled aquatic ability, the core values of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility, and at the same time, promote swimming as a life-long sport.
VANESSA EDWARDES
Vanessa’s love of water led her to challenge herself at the age of 36 to become a lifeguard. Certifying in stillwater and then ocean in 1992, Vanessa became a lifeguard for the Town of East Hampton, an American Red Cross coach, a water safety instructor, and an American heart CPR instructor. Vanessa’s resume also includes: East Hampton RecCenter Assistant Aquatics Director, one of the founding coaches of E.H. Hurricanes Swim Team, an in school swim program instructor, program director and head instructor of E.H. Parks & Recreation Dept. free swim lesson program, lifeguard training instructor for stillwater and ocean certification, junior lifeguard instructor and nipper guard coordinator and instructor. Vanessa was also a founding member of East Hampton Volunteer Ocean Rescue notably one of only two female members at inception. She has been a dedicated board of directors member of Hampton Lifeguard Association since its inception in 2005.
MICHAEL FORST
Michael Paul Forst is a third generation builder, husband, father, firefighter, and a Lifeguard for Life. He passed his first ocean lifeguard test in 1990 at 16 years old. “Becoming a Lifeguard changed my life forever.” Michael lifeguarded at Main Beach in East Hampton, NY for 11 years before going full time for his family’s construction company Forst and Silverblank, Inc., where he was taught the business from the inside out. In 2003 he started Forst Construction, Inc. with his wife and partner Amy Forst, specializing in designing and building high end residential homes. He is a dedicated and active member of the EHFD Hook and Ladder Company 1 where he has held the rank of captain. Being a Lifeguard for Life, which was part of his DNA but not his day job, brought him back to becoming a certified lifeguard again in 2007 and joining the East Hampton Volunteer Ocean Rescue Squad. Michael has held the rank of chief in EHVOR and continues to sit on the EHVOR’s executive committee, where he helped the squad become recognized by the State of New York as a True Emergency Rescue and First Aid squad, allowing the vehicles to have lights and sirens as well as other first responder benefits for the membership. Michael’s children, Aidan, and Sarah both were on the EH Hurricanes swim team and trained in the East Hampton Town Jr. Lifeguard program. At this point Michael became deeply connected again to HLA and its mission. As a Jr. Lifeguard instructor, he became passionate about helping the program grow as he helped HLA waterproof the South Fork and beyond through education and training. To assist in the well being of the lifeguards he has helped bring back the HLA Legends Team which competes at the annual Main Beach Lifeguard Tournament, as well as helping to bring back the tradition of the lifeguard surf rescue boats with the addition and maintenance of the HLA teams self bailing surf race boat “Black Betty” Bam A Lam!! helping the National Lifeguard Team to be able to compete and enjoy all the events that USLA National Competition has to offer.
BOB PUCCI
Bob Pucci is a current East Hampton Town Lifeguard and Junior Lifeguard and Lifeguard instructor. A father of four sons, Bob is also the ex-chief and current member of the East Hampton Volunteer Ocean Rescue squad. A retired landscaper, Bob also is a lifeguard at the East Hampton YMCA.
ZULLY RAMIREZ
A native of Columbia, Zully immigrated to the United States 23 years ago, where she did not have access to the ocean. She felt strongly that her children learn water safety and train with the East Hampton Junior Lifeguard program. Her son is now an ocean lifeguard and her daughter continues to train in the Junior Lifeguard program. Zully was recently nominated to the HLA board to bridge the gap with the Latin community in the Hamptons. “I am so grateful to HLA for teaching my children water safety. It gives me peace of mind knowing they are strong swimmers.”
HALEY RYAN
Haley Ryan grew up in East Hampton and participated in many of the programs that HLA supports. She swam on the East Hampton Hurricane Swim Team when it first started in the fall of 2001 and continued to compete with the team until she graduated high school. From there she competitively swam for four more years at SUNY Purchase. She also participated in the Town of East Hamptons junior lifeguard program from when she was nine. Haley began lifeguarding for the Town of East Hampton in 2009. In 2015 she was promoted to Captain of Atlantic Avenue lifeguards. The fall of 2015, Haley started her senior year in college where she came up with the idea of the Nipper Guard Program, a program that helps support the Junior Lifeguard Program by allowing children 6 to 8 years old to get comfortable in open water before they enter the ocean. In 2016 she graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Arts Management. In the summer of 2020 Haley was promoted to Assistant Chief of the Amagansett District, she is still working for the Town as assistant chief and the coordinator for the East Hampton Town Nipper Guard program. Haley is currently completing a masters in Elementary Education and is working at the Amagansett School.
JON TARBET
A 35 year certified ocean lifeguard, Jon is a former East Hampton Village chief lifeguard. A founding member of East Hampton Volunteer Ocean Rescue, Jon also gives back to the next generation of lifeguards as an East Hampton Town Junior Lifeguard instructor. A lifeguard competitor at the USLA National Championships, Jon has earned age group national championship medals. Recognized by the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars and Village of East Hampton for off-duty rescues, Jon has never been beat to a save!
DREW SMITH
Drew has been an ocean lifeguard on the East End of Long Island, NY since 2005. Currently the beach manager and chief lifeguard for the Village of East Hampton, Drew has also been a local firefighter for the past 10 years in East Hampton Fire Department. He is also a member of the East Hampton Volunteer Ocean Rescue squad.
CRAIG BRIERLEY
A small business owner in East Hampton, Craig Brierley has dedicated much of his life to the local lifeguard and swim community. An ocean lifeguard captain, Craig assists in the development of the next generation of lifeguards as a lifeguard instructor for both stillwater and ocean training, lifeguard cadet instructor and junior lifeguard instructor. Craig is also a coach for the East Hampton High School boys and girls varsity swim teams as well as the Hampton Lifeguard Association Junior Lifeguard and Lifeguard Competition Teams. A lieutenant for the East Hampton Volunteer Ocean Rescue squad, Craig has been a member since its inception.
SEAN KNIGHT
Sean Knight was one of the original Junior Lifeguards. He started lifeguarding at 16 for the town and continues to work at Atlantic Beach. He has been an instructor for the Junior Lifeguard Program for as long as he remembers. Sean is the science coordinator at Springs School where he teaches elementary science. When he is not in the classroom, he is coaching swim for the East Hampton Hurricanes or coaching track for Springs School. Both of Sean’s children, Liam and Lucy, have been in the Junior Lifeguard program and the Nipper Program and will continue on the family tradition!