By Maggie FitzRoy
mail@floridanewsline.com
James Ryan, 47, loves competing in surfing and in golf for the Special Olympics. He loves his job as a bagger at Sawgrass Publix. And he loves living independently in a condo within walking distance of his job. Born with Down Syndrome, a genetic disorder usually associated with developmental delays, James embraces life with a cheerful, can-do attitude that includes learning the Irish language of Gaelic in honor of his grandparents, surfing and playing golf on weekends to improve his skills and for the love of the sports, and traveling with his family whenever he can around the country and to Europe.
Born in Livingston, New Jersey, he attended elementary and middle school in that state, then moved with his parents and two sisters to Florida in 1995. He graduated from St. Augustine High School in 1999, and began working at Publix in 1997, while still a student. He has been employed there for 28 years.
Proud of his Irish heritage, James has decorated his condo in an Irish motif, which includes several family coats of arms and plenty of green. His family lovingly refers to it as The Shrine.
James also recently gave his girlfriend a promise ring, and even though she lives in New Jersey, he visits her and her family, and she visits him and his parents, who live near James in Ponte Vedra Beach.
Q: What can you tell us about your girlfriend?
A: Her name is Stephanie. I met her in elementary school, and I am four years older than her. She came to see me in May last year and we went on a carriage ride in St. Augustine. We also had a family cookout, and she met all my family. In January, I went to visit her and her family. There was snow on the ground. It was ice cold. Up there, winters are in-your-bones cold. We are committed to each other. It’s a very serious relationship.
Q: How involved are you with Special Olympics?
A: Every January, at the beginning of the year, I collect donations for them at Publix. I began competing in New Jersey and have many medals and ribbons in golf, gymnastics, swimming, and track and field. My favorite is golf. I play with my brother-in-law, Andy. I take golf lessons on Mondays, my day off. I also play golf on Sundays and compete in area games and in Orlando for the state. You must earn your way up to state and I’ve come in first in my division.
Q: What do you love about your condo?
A: I love it because I can have my dinner anytime I want. I can go to bed anytime I want. I can be independent.
Q: Why are you teaching yourself the Irish language of Gaelic?
A: I love Ireland and Irish history. I’ve been to Ireland three times. I’ve been studying the language for seven years in memory of my (maternal) grandparents, who are from there, and were not allowed to speak it in school. I’m also researching my family through ancestry.com. My dad’s side is mostly Italian and Irish.
Q: What do you like about your job at Publix?
A: I’m a bagger and I get carts from the parking lot, and I like everything. I like meeting people, and I like the people I work with and the managers. I work Tuesday through Friday, about 20 hours a week. Sometimes I meet golfers. One of the players who came in was Sergio Garcia. He gave me a $10 tip one year and won. The next year, he gave me a $5 tip and didn’t win.
Photo courtesy Maggie FitzRoy
James Ryan
