On Sunday, September 22, 2024, in Staten Island, New York, former US Representative Michael Grimm—who was well-known for his complicated life story and commitment to public service—was hurt in a horseback riding accident. When the incident happened, Grimm, a skilled horseback rider, was taking part in a local polo match. He was thrown from his horse and suffered serious injuries. An announcement announcing the incident said, “On Sunday, September 22, our friend Michael Grimm sustained significant injuries when he was thrown from his horse in a polo tournament.” He appreciates your prayers and well wishes and says he is currently recovering.
Grimm’s accident surprised both the political establishment and the people in his Staten Island neighborhood. Grimm is still well-known despite having left public service, and as he sets out on a protracted road to recovery, his fortitude is being put to the test once more. The various obstacles he has encountered—and surmounted—during his career, both inside and outside of the public sector, are brought to light by this most recent chapter in his life. That being said, his tale doesn’t start with this accident; rather, it is the conclusion of an incredible life filled with perseverance, service, and resolve.
Michael Gerard Grimm was reared in Queens, New York’s middle-class neighborhoods. He was born on February 7, 1970. Michael Grimm is a Catholic who has strong ties to his German, Irish, and Sicilian ancestry. He is the son of Petrina (née Castronova) and Gerard Grimm. He showed dedication to his family, country, and religion at a young age; these qualities would eventually shape his public service career.
Grimm completed his education in 1988 at Queens’ esteemed Catholic Archbishop Molloy High School. He developed a sense of discipline, accountability, and leadership during his time at Archbishop Molloy, which was a formative experience. He would benefit much from these qualities in the years to come, especially when he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1989, not long after receiving his high school diploma.
