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"His Address Was On The Internet": Retired Kansas Farmer Explains Why He Sent Cuomo The N95 Mask

By

Jen Chung

Published Apr 25, 2020

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Dennis Ruhnke holds two of his remaining N-95 masks as he stands with his wife, Sharon at their home near Troy, Kan. . Dennis, a retired farmer, shipped one of the couple's five masks left over from his farming days to New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo for use by a doctor or a nurse

 

Charlie Riedel/AP/Shutterstock

By

Jen Chung

Published Apr 25, 2020

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On Friday, Governor Andrew Cuomo shared a moving letter from a retired farmer In Kansas, who donated an N95 mask for a medical worker, calling it a "selfless" act. "It's that love, that courage, that generosity of spirit that makes this country so beautiful," he said. " And makes Americans so beautiful, and it's that generosity of spirit, for me, makes up for all the ugliness that you see."

Now the farmer has emerged: Dennis Ruhnke, 72, and his wife, Sharon, spoke to reporters on Friday after the story went viral. He told the Lawrence Journal-World, "I’m very proud of that, but I’m just shocked at his words. I didn’t intend for this to happen."

Ruhnke explained that he sent the letter 10 days ago, after discussing with his wife what they should do with the extra mask. He had been hearing about the shortage of masks for frontline responders on the news. It turned out he had five extra, from when he used to wear them while cleaning the grain bin, and his immediate family only needed four.

The couple had, the Lawrence Journal-World reports, asked their niece, a paramedic, if she knew of anyone who needed a mask, but she said no — so they decided to send it to the governor of New York.

Dennis Ruhnke and his wife, Sharon stand on the front porch of their home near Troy, Kan. . Dennis, a retired farmer, shipped one of the couple's five N-95 masks to New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo for use by a doctor or a nurse

Charlie Riedel/AP/Shutterstock

"I just figured it was the best way. I didn’t know who else to send it to,” Ruhnke explained. “His address was on the internet. So I chose him.”

In the handwritten letter, Ruhnke said, "If you could, would you please give this mask to a nurse or doctor in your state. I have kept four masks for my immediate family. Please keep on doing what you do so well. Which is to lead."

The letter was the NBC Nightly News' "Inspiring America" segment (about 19:20 in). Ruhnke had also explained that Sharon only had one lung (and some issues with her remaining lung) as well as diabetes, saying, "I am afraid for her."

Sharon Ruhnke only found out about Cuomo's mention of her husband's letter after their son called. “Handwriting on a yellow notepad? That’s kind of my husband. He’s 72 and he still believes in writing everything down," she said to the Journal-World.

However, Dennis Ruhnke is uncomfortable with the attention. "It’s my 15 minutes of fame, and I hope it’s over later today," he said on Friday.

But he did reflect on why he sent the letter. In an interview with the AP, Ruhnke said, "I would have felt terrible if I threw it away, but it made me feel pretty good to send it on to somebody who might be able to use it. They sounded almost desperate for masks. So I thought, it was just one little gesture. But maybe if you get enough of these little gestures, it will all come out for the better in the end."

Tagged

COVID-19

Governor Andrew Cuomo

coronavirus

Jen Chung

Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.

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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations

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