Frank W. Appleton Jr.

APPLETON, Frank W., Jr. Frank W. Appleton Jr., "App" to his friends, died on the morning of July 22, 2009 after a short illness. Mr. Appleton had just turned 91 on July 13. He is survived by his wife, Charlotte Dean Appleton (Char) and his sons, Kenneth and Harold Appleton. App was born in Mount Vernon, NY in 1918 to Frank and Florence Appleton. App met Char in Swarthmore College around 1938, and they were married in 1942. During World War II, App received a commission in the U.S. Coast Guard. After a short tour as a patrol boat skipper and Executive officer in Atlantic City NJ he was assigned to the Coast Guard Cutter Taney. The Taney was sent immediately "into harm's way" when she became the Flagship for the Amphibious Group Commander during the grueling battle of Okinawa. After the war he worked for a few years for his uncle's trucking company and then for Mutual of Wausau where he rose rapidly within the company, was assigned to Salt Lake City, UT, Charlotte, NC and finally New York City. In 1974 Mr. Appleton retired as President of H. F. Wanvig Inc., a malpractice insurance company serving the New York Medical Society. During his years in New York App lived in Douglaston, Queens, his wife's hometown. During his years in Douglaston, App served in leadership positions in many community organizations including director of the local country club and Commodore of the Yacht Squadron. He was also president of the "Douglaston Manor Association" after Hurricane Donna pounded the community in 1960. The reinforced seawalls remain today as a monument to the extra ordinary efforts he and others took to rebuild the community. App was an avid sailor and member of The New York Yacht Club. Char and App had owned five different boats over the years in which they cruised the Long Island and New England coasts. They also frequently chartered boats in the Caribbean. Frequent travelers, they visited Europe often and did one cruise ship tour of Hong Kong and Japan. App inherited a strong commitment to Philanthropy making significant contributions to Middlesex Hospital, Sloan Kettering, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Nature Conservancy, Mystic Seaport, his Alma Matter among many others. App moved to Chester from Douglaston in 1975. In 1976 they moved into their new house, overlooking the Connecticut River, which Char largely designed. App and Char have been active members of the Chester Village West community since 1998. Those wishing to make a donation in remembrance of App are encouraged to contact the Chester Village West Foundation which collects funds to support the education of CVW employees.