Sam Ryan Springsteen Avoids the Spotlight despite Being Bruce Springsteen's Son - He Pursued a Different Career

Sam Ryan Springsteen is the youngest son of musical icons Bruce Springsteen and Patti Scialfa. Unlike his parents, Sam Ryan didn't pursue a career in the music industry; instead, he chose to serve humanity as a firefighter.

Sam Ryan Springsteen's parents married on June 8, 1991, but had already welcomed their first child by the time they tied the knot. Sam Ryan's eldest sibling is Evan James, born on July 25, 1990. His older sister is Jessica Rae, who drew her first breath on December 30, 1991.

Sam Ryan was born on January 5, 1994. He never showed any interest in his parents' fame or careers growing up, and neither did his siblings. During a 2017 interview, Bruce was sure his kids didn't know any of his songs or even read his book.

Strangely, he found comfort in that fact as Sam Ryan and his siblings developed their own tastes in music. He described their unknowing as a "healthy disinterest" after remarking that children never really know much about their parents' lives.

Bruce acknowledged the eccentric nature of his line of work, saying it was incomparable and sometimes "difficult to be around." He thought it wasn't "right" for kids to be heavily invested in their parents' careers, as he explained:

"As I said in the book, I know a lot of kids who wouldn't mind seeing 50,000 people boo their parents. But I don't know how many would want to see those people cheer their parents. It's just not right."

Sam Ryan Springsteen's Dream Job Is Far from His Parents' Career

Sam Ryan has always shied away from his parents' limelight, and he chose a career that would keep him out of it. In 2014, at only 20 years old, he was among 42 graduates from the Monmouth County Fire Academy on Route 33 in Howell.

However, the youngest of the Springsteen family still had more training. In 2019, he took the civil service exam among hundreds of others who shared his dream of being a Jersey City firefighter. Only the 60 top scorers would be chosen to advance their training at an academy in Morristown.

Later that year, Sam Ryan's mom shared a celebratory post congratulating and commending her son for following his dream and revealing that he had become a Jersey City firefighter. In January 2020, his occupation was made official as he was among 15 individuals sworn in by Mayor Steven Fulop at City Hall.

Patti posted a sweet tribute in honor of her son's achievement alongside a photo of him posing at the ceremony. The singer expressed how happy she was for Sam Ryan and the others who were sworn in. Bruce was also proud, as he said:

"We're very proud. We're very proud...It was a long road. He was very dedicated for quite a few years, and we're just excited for him today."

Sam Ryan Springsteen Is Passionate about His Job as He Keeps a Low Profile

Although Sam Ryan's ceremony garnered media attention, the then 26-year-old still preferred to keep to himself. As interviewers swarmed him with questions, he simply shied away and responded:

"I'm going to take a pass on this one. Sorry, folks. I don't have too much to say."

Sam Ryan also has an Instagram page like his parents, but he keeps it private. He may not let the world in on his personal life, but his work ethic and passion for his job don't go unrecognized. The Monmouth County Fire Marshal, Henry Stryker III, commended Sam Ryan's intelligence, remarking how much he enjoyed firefighting.

Stryker's observation came from watching how Sam Ryan powered through the strenuous firefighting studies, which included intense physical and coursework that spanned over 188 hours. It covered cardio-pulmonary resuscitation, fire extinguishing, and hazardous material response preparation.

Sam Ryan Springsteen Is Now a Dad

The only parts of Sam Ryan's personal life known to the public have been revealed by his mom, Patti Scialfa, on her social media pages. In July this year, she announced that her son had welcomed a baby girl, Lily Harper Springsteen, with his wife, whom he married on the 1st of that month.