GRIMM, VINCENT P.

GRIMM, VINCENT P.
1937-2025
Vince was born and raised in Pottstown, PA. After High School, he entered the US Army at age 17 and was assigned to intelligence in Korea in 1957. After the army, he held many jobs while studying engineering at the local library. He worked in developing thermo couplers for heating systems and lighting for outdoor events. During this time, he met his future husband, Will Kratz. Together they created a group called the XYZ Club in the 1960s in Reading, PA and produced and performed in many entertaining drag shows that the entire community enjoyed.
Vince and Will moved to Cape May County in the 1990s after having a vacation home in Cape May Beach since 1964. Vince became active in the GLBT group GABLES and was appointed its executive director, a post which he held until his passing. Vince spent hundreds of hours working to get Domestic Partnerships, Civil Unions and finally Same-Sex marriage in New Jersey. He supported many LGBT events and served on several boards. He also published the Rainbow Directory which encouraged gay tourism for Cape May County. This publication received the Governors Award for Excellence.
Vince and his husband were world travelers having visited 72 countries. Their second home became Hanoi, Vietnam where they saw a need and created the NXQVW charity to help fatherless children in a village. The charity has helped over 200 students with their education and is now assisting blind children and orphans. Vince's husband passed away in 2017. Vince's last public event was the Ocean City Pride Parade in May as the Grand Marshall.
A celebration of his life will be later in the new year. Contributions to the charity can be made to the Nguyen Xuan Quynh Vince Will Education Foundation, PO Box 205, Villas, NJ 08251 or on the website NXQVW.org.