City Island, Bronx · Born November 21, 1951
Vinny Vincent Parrillo The Legend · The Wit · The Heart
November 21, 1951 · City Island, Bronx, New York
Masters in Music. Masters in Literature. NIH Research Consultant. Medical Coder. Life Insurance Agent. And the funniest man in any room he has ever walked into.
"You've been making us laugh for years" — dazzling everyone with wit, charm, and one-liners that could leave a stand-up comedian jealous.
November 21The Man, The Myth, The Vinny
Wit. Charm.
Flair. Generosity.
Vincent Parrillo — Vinny to everyone who loves him — has been the energy in every room he enters since November 21, 1951. He is the man who, when he and Bobby got going at a family gathering, made the whole table helpless with laughter. Once Vinny warmed up, you sat down and enjoyed the show. Bobby could barely breathe. That was the gift.
He has called 111 Buckley Street on City Island home since 2007 — one of the most charming addresses in the Bronx, on a little island that juts into Long Island Sound and feels like it belongs somewhere off the coast of New England. Vinny fits City Island perfectly: larger than life, full of character, impossible to ignore.
His partner is Stevie Doitteau, together since March 22, 1992. Stevie's birthday is September 19. Vinny has a son, Christian (CJ). The family is his world, the table is always full, and the laughter is always loudest where Vinny is.
Here is a man who holds a Bachelor's in Business and Literature (completed in three years), a Master's in English Literature and Creative Writing, and a Post-Master's in Music — all with near-perfect averages. He is not a man who does anything halfway.
He has spent decades as a Research Consultant for Patient Advocacy at the NIH — Cornell University's AIDS Clinical Trials Group — doing work that genuinely matters, helping real patients navigate complex medical systems. And then he goes home to City Island and makes everyone at the table laugh until they cry. Both things are equally true. Both things are equally Vinny.
"He brings the humor, the heart, and just the right amount of fabulous flair to every room he walks into."
Family Archive
Vinny — In Photographs
The Many Sides of Vinny
One Man.
Infinite Range.
Comedian
When Vinny gets warmed up at a family gathering, sit down and enjoy the show. Bobby could hardly breathe. Lydia was swaying. The whole table surrendered. His one-liners could leave a professional stand-up jealous. This is not a small gift.
Musician & Scholar
A Post-Master's in Music from Borough of Manhattan Community College with a 4.0 average. A Master's in English Literature and Creative Writing from the University of Florida with a 4.0 average. Vinny doesn't do anything without doing it completely.
Patient Advocate
For over 25 years, Vinny has worked as a Research Consultant for Patient Advocacy at NIH — the AIDS Clinical Trials Group at Cornell University. Helping real people navigate the most frightening moments of their lives. Quietly. Seriously. With complete dedication.
Public Speaker
With a background in literature, music, and decades of advocacy, Vinny is a natural public speaker — someone who has stood up in rooms where it mattered and made the case for people who couldn't make it themselves. Grant writing too. The pen and the voice, both sharp.
Certified Medical Coder
Since 2020, Vinny has added Certified Medical Coder to his portfolio — working remotely, translating the complex language of medical procedures into the systems that keep healthcare running. A CPC credential earned in a field he already knew from the inside.
Heart of the Family
Generous. Warm. Present. His generosity is unmatched — whether sharing love, time, advocacy, or the joke that makes a sad room suddenly breathable again. The family doesn't just love Vinny. The family needs Vinny. There's a difference.
The Degrees — All of Them
Scholar.
Always.
Three degrees. Two 4.0 averages. One Bachelor's finished in three years. In any room, Vinny is the funniest person — and also, quietly, often the most educated.
Where He Lives · What He Does
City Island.
NIH. Home.
City Island is one of those New York places that doesn't feel like New York — a small island community in the northeastern Bronx, surrounded by water, known for seafood restaurants and sailboats and a certain unhurried ease that the rest of the city rarely achieves. Vinny has been there since 2007. It suits him completely.
City Island, Bronx NY 10464
Waterbury, CT 06708
The career timeline is as varied as the man himself — always grounded in service, advocacy, and a deep knowledge of both the human body and the human spirit.
–now
Division of AIDS · AACTG NIH · National Institute of Health · Cornell University CAB. Over 25 years of showing up for people who needed it most.
–now
Remote Work · In-Office · Research Consultant. A new credential earned with characteristic precision.
–2024
National Income Life · Gryska Agencies. Because Vinny has never been someone who sits still.
From the Family · With Love
Happy Birthday,
Vinny.
Happy Birthday, Vinny! You've been making us laugh for years — not to mention dazzling us with your wit, charm, and those impeccable one-liners that could leave a stand-up comedian jealous.
Your generosity is unmatched — whether it's sharing your love, your time, or leading the way in advocacy and brilliance. We're so lucky to have you in the family. You bring the humor, the heart, and just the right amount of fabulous flair to every room you walk into.
So today, it's all about celebrating you — the king of comedy, kindness, and good vibes. Have the best day ever, you legend!