Groves Grieves Loss of Friend Vince Flynn

St. Louis Park, MN (June 20, 2013) - “Groves Academy has lost a true friend,” said John Alexander, Groves Academy Head of School. Vince Flynn, best-selling author and Groves Academy supporter, died today after a battle with prostate cancer.

Flynn was a Groves Board member for 2007 to 2010. He identified with Groves students because he had the learning disability dyslexia and struggled in school.  “Vince was a truly inspiring man,” said John Alexander.  “He had wonderful ideas and was very creative in his support of our students and school.”

Flynn was the featured speaker at the 2007 Groves Gala event.  In that presentation he said, “I was diagnosed with dyslexia in second grade and sent to the SLBP classroom which I though stood for ‘Slow learner, bad people. What I found out is that this is actually a gift if you know how to manage it.”  He added,  “George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Winston Churchill and George Patton all had learning disabilities. I don’t think it’s a coincidence. It’s a gift.” “You don’t know this as a kid. I grew up on the outside looking in. What Groves is doing is creating, teaching and supporting kids who look at the world completely differently.”

 “I always knew when he spoke on national radio programs because I received calls from around the nation,” said John Alexander. “He was always talking about Groves.”

He was Groves students’ most popular speaker Students loved his comments, regularly quoting him saying with a smile, “Sometimes you just have to suck it up.” He understood their learning challenges.

“Vince had so much to share and was completely generous in sharing it,” said Debbie Moran, Groves admissions director.

Groves staff offer his friends and families their deepest sympathy. He will be missed.