Louis Appell Jr.

1924 - 2016

Louis J. Appell, Jr.
June 19, 1924 - June 27, 2016
York Township
Louis J. Appell, Jr. passed away peacefully on June 27, 2016 at 6:45pm. Born on June 19, 1924, in the original York Hospital located on West College Avenue, he was the son of the late Louis J. Appell, Sr. and the late Helen (Pfaltzgraff) Appell, and the husband of Josephine (Schmidt) Appell. He was formerly married to the late Helen Fox Appell.
Mr. Appell attended York Collegiate Institute, graduated from Phillips Exeter Academy, Exeter, New Hampshire, and Harvard College, class of 1947. He served in the U.S. Naval Reserve during World War II.
Upon discharge from the Navy, he joined the family company, and in 1951 became President and CEO of Susquehanna Pfaltzgraff Co., ultimately becoming company Chairman, a position he held until the company was sold in 2006. At his death, he was Chairman of the Powder Mill Foundation.
Known equally for his business and civic involvement, Mr. Appell was a founding director of numerous local and statewide organizations, including: 10,000 Friends of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, PA); Preservation Pennsylvania (Harrisburg, PA); Better York, Inc.; South George Street Community Partnership; Agricultural and Industrial Museum; Susquehanna Gateway Heritage Area; Farm & Natural Lands Trust of York County; and the Strand-Capitol Performing Arts Center and the Strand-Capitol Foundation.
He served as an officer or board member of the Pennsylvania Business Roundtable (Harrisburg, PA); Pennsylvanians for Effective Government (Harrisburg, PA), the York County Community Foundation; York College of Pennsylvania; the Historical Society of York County (now the York County Heritage Trust); Manufacturers' Association of York County; York Symphony Association; United Way of York County; York Hospital, and as Chairman of the York County 250th Anniversary Commission. He also served as President of the Harvard Alumni Association, Cambridge, MA.
He formerly served as Corporate Director of: Continental Bancorp (Philadelphia, PA); General Public Utilities (Parsippany, NJ); Donsco (Wrightsville, PA); Dentsply International (York, PA); Precision Components Corporation (York, PA); York Bank & Trust Company (now M&T Bank) and the Yorktowne Hotel Corp.
Mr. Appell was the recipient of an Honorary Degree from York College of Pennsylvania; the Harvard Medal for service to Harvard University; the F. Otto Haas Award for Pennsylvania Preservationist of the Year; the 10,000 Friends of Pennsylvania Award; the Distinguished Citizen of the Commonwealth Award from the Pennsylvania Society; the Distinguished Citizen Award from the York/Adams Council of the Boy Scouts of America; and with his wife, the 2013 honorees of the York County Community Foundation Donor Appreciation Event.
Throughout his life, Mr. Appell's special interest was the City of York, in particular its downtown, center city core. During his leadership, Susquehanna Pfaltzgraff built the City's two premier office buildings, 96 South George and the Susquehanna Commerce Center, as well as rehabilitating many downtown homes and office buildings. Individually, he participated in the restoration of a large number of center city structures. He played a leading role in the construction of the baseball stadium and the Marketview Arts building. He led the committee that was responsible for the Murals of York.
Mr. Appell was a compassionate man with a strong sense of tradition and righteous action, who cared deeply for the education of all youth and embodying for them important values. He was a tremendous influence on innumerable individuals and a role model and mentor for a great many young leaders of the community today.
In his personal life, he had a passion for gardening, music and all the performing and fine arts. He will be lovingly remembered for his wit, generosity, reflective and philosophical nature as well as his visionary spirit and love for beauty.
Preceded in death by his daughter, Barbara, he is survived by his wife, Josephine; son, Louis J. Appell, III, and his wife, Chandra, of San Diego, CA; his daughter, Helen Fox Appell, II, of Portland, OR; his stepchildren, Jay Davidson, and his wife, Louise, of San Diego, CA; David Davidson, and his wife, Linda, of York, PA; Susan D. Linton, and her husband, John, of York, PA; and several step-grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister, Helen P. Norton, of Harpswell, ME; a brother, George N. Appell of Phillips, ME, and six nieces. He was also preceded in death by his brother-in-law Walter M. Norton, and sister-in-law Laura W.R. Appell.
A private service will be held this weekend. Kuhner Associates Funeral Directors, Inc., 863 South George Street, York is in charge of arrangements.
Donations in lieu of flowers may be sent to the Fund for York County at the York County Community Foundation, Strand Capitol Performing Arts Center, York County Heritage Trust, York Symphony Orchestra, the Farm and Natural Lands Trust or to a favorite charity.
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