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Vinny Duffy

Runner in 2023

Vinny lives in Canyon Country, CA with his wife Anne. They are recent empty nesters with both of their sons now in college.

 

Vinny previously ran three marathons (Indianapolis-2003, Chicago-2004, Air Force-2005) but had stepped away from running for about 17 years. In 2022, in an effort to regain control of his health, Vinny started running again and ran at least one 5K race a month for the entire year.

 

In January, 2023, a college roommate and old friend of Vinny's, Paul Tobin, passed away after a strong fight with Multiple Myeloma a type of cancer that had previously taken Paul's mother's (Ann) life. It is no surprise that Paul put up a strong fight. Paul obtained his BS in Civil Engineering at Manhattan College and graduated from Naval Officer Candidate School in Newport, RI. He obtained his Civil Engineering Corps Officer Certification in Port Hueneme, CA. Paul was commissioned as a Civil Engineer Corps Officer and was the Assistant Resident Officer in Charge of Construction for 3 years at Naval Air Warfare Center in Lakehurst, NJ, retiring as LTJG, USN after sustaining a spinal cord injury. Instead of giving up after becoming a quadriplegic, Paul began a new career advocating for Disabled Veterans with Spinal Cord Injuries and Disorders for the EPVA. He worked there for 17 years ending his career as President and CEO of the organization, which had evolved into United Spinal Association. Paul was a well-respected presenter and Keynote speaker in the Disabled Community. Paul's advocacy was at the local, state and federal levels and this allowed him to bring his voice to Capitol Hill on many occasions. Throughout his career, he served as an advisor or board member of numerous organizations and committees including, the Department of Defense's Spinal Cord Injury Research Program and the American Association of Spinal Cord Injury Psychologists and Social Workers. Paul was invited to write the forward for the Mayo Clinic Guide to Living with a Spinal Cord Injury and was featured in many other publications.

 

Vinny did not know Mark Kourey but knows, based on the creation of FredsTeamMark and the love that the team members have expressed for Mark, that he would have been lucky to have been Mark’s friend. Vinny is grateful that his Stepinac classmate, Tom Walsh, extended an offer to join FredsTeamMark and is honored to run and raise money for the team in memory of Mark, Paul and Ann.

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