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Manhattan-based fashion designer Martha Nolan-O’Slatarra finalized an uncontested divorce from her husband just months before her sudden death aboard a boat at the Montauk Yacht Club, according to a report.
The New York Post detailed that Nolan-O’Slatarra’s divorce from Sam Ryan was mutually agreed upon and adjudicated in New York County Supreme Court in April 2025.
In another recent lawsuit, Nolan-O’Slatarra, 33, and Dylan Grace, who co-owned East x East swimwear, were sued in 2022 by Out East Accessories, a Manhattan luxury eyeglass outlet.
The East x East pair was accused of stealing $34,000 from a company bank account, as well as the entire eyewear inventory, according to the report. The lawsuit was resolved when the sides settled in July 2022, according to court records.
Nolan-O’Slatarra’s death occurred just after midnight on Aug. 5 aboard the Ripple, a 54-foot SeaRay docked at the Montauk Yacht Club, a 16-acre resort that opened in 1928.
She was found unresponsive by bystanders who tried to administer CPR before first responders arrived and pronounced her dead at the scene.
Chaotic scene
Witnesses at the marina described a chaotic scene, with multiple reporting that a naked man was running on the dock shouting for help before the 911 call. The man reportedly owns boats at the marina, but police have not confirmed these details.
Suffolk police have said that the initial autopsy found no signs of violence, and toxicology tests are pending to determine the exact cause of death. Final results are expected to take at least three months.
Meanwhile, the investigation remains open.
Life and legacy
An Irish-born entrepreneur who moved to New York City in 2015, Nolan-O’Slatarra had built a promising fashion brand with co-owner Grace. Their swimwear label, East x East, gained attention for its sustainable and stylish designs, attracting a devoted following in New York City and the Hamptons.
The ownership team had recently expanded the company’s presence locally with a pop-up shop at Gurney’s Montauk Resort and Seawater Spa.
Known for her vibrant social media presence, the Carlow, Ireland, native shared a TikTok-driven life that highlighted her creative ambitions and coastal lifestyle.
Her mother has voiced frustration over the slow progress of the investigation and the lack of clear answers regarding her daughter’s sudden passing, as covered in Greater Long Island’s earlier report.
The tragedy has cast a somber mood over Montauk, a community familiar with the tensions between its quiet residential nature and its growing status as a hotspot for luxury living and social media-driven attention.
Nolan-O’Slatarra’s family is reportedly considering hiring a private investigator to aid the ongoing inquiry.
“We may have to hire private investigators if the police don’t investigate all the circumstances around her death,” a relative told The Sunday Times in London.
The same report indicated that Nolan-O’Slatarra’s relative said she had assured her boyfriend on the night of her death that she would be back home by 1 a.m.
Funeral arrangements forthcoming
Nolan-O’Slattara’s death notice indicates that funeral arrangements will be announced later this week.
The notice describes her as the “Beloved daughter of Elma, much loved sister of Jacqui, treasured granddaughter of Betty and Liam, cherished niece of John, Michelle, Barry and Mona and adored partner of Nick.
“She will be sadly missed by her loving mother and her mother’s partner Patrick, sister, aunts, uncles, partner, her father Seamus and her siblings, her grandfather Jimmy Slattery, extended family, relatives and her large circle of friends in Ireland and the U.S.,” it continued.
Top photos: Martha Nolan-O’Slatarra (pictured in inset from RIP.ie) was found dead on a SeaRay name Ripple out of Long Beach. The boat was docked at the Montauk Yacht Club (Brian Harmon photo).
