Jodie Appell

Jodie Appell, 68, of Hercules, CA, passed away on May 8, 2025 after a struggle with colon cancer. She fought valiantly for her survival during the last year of her life. Jodie deeply wanted to live, and that desire was a testament to her strength and the love she held for the world. Acceptance and peace did not come easily but happened for her at last with the blessing of Dr. Tin Do who assisted with her end-of-life transition.

Born November 3, 1956 in Brooklyn, NY, Jodie was the daughter of Morey Lionel Appell and Clara Taubman Appell. She subsequently lived in both Madison and Menomonie, Wisconsin; Terre Haute, Indiana; New Rochelle, NY; and Greenwich, Connecticut.

A graduate of Greenwich High School in 1974, Jodie attended Skidmore College, and then Brown University where she earned a degree in semiotics in 1979.

Summers during college, Jodie worked as a tennis court attendant, and she spent a summer waitressing on Martha's Vineyard. After residing in Haydenville, MA, Jodie moved to California where she lived for many years in Berkeley and Oakland, working as a singer/songwriter and later as a poet.

Jodie especially loved writing. Her interest in writing began early as a school newspaper reporter while in elementary school in New Rochelle, New York. She wrote Mickey Mantle of the New York Yankees a fan letter at the age of twelve. He returned her letter with his autograph, which she treasured for many years. Jodie was an excellent athlete as a young woman playing baseball and basketball with her father and brothers. However, there were limited opportunities for young women in athletics in the late 60s and early 70s.

A prolific poet, Jodie's poetry won awards and found inspiration in the work of Jane Hirshfield and Mary Oliver, among others. Jodie also gleaned inspiration from a twice-a-month poetry circle in Berkeley led by friend and mentor John Fox. For all her travails, Jodie could perceive so much that was in people's hearts. Jodie encouraged her sisters Randy and Laurie in their writing endeavors. Her poetry reveals a deep sensitivity to life and a unique imaginative capacity. She expressed a particular fondness for Lebron James and his athletic artistry: "He lifts me up with his indefatigable strength and athleticism, his indisputably lofty ability of mythical proportions. It may just be basketball, but he is a god among men. 'Poetry in motion' is overused. But his play is indeed ballet, something beyond sport . . .a unique form of meditation."

Jodie also had a love of music. She studied piano and clarinet as a child and marched in her high school marching band. Jodie was self-taught on the guitar and for many years performed and accompanied herself singing songs of her own creation. She was a prolific songwriter and lovely singer. Jodie recorded and performed frequently with guitarist Joe Belmont.

A devoted 42-year practitioner of Soka Gakkai International (SGI) Nichiren Buddhism, Jodie spent many years chanting Nam Myoho Renge Kyo, as do a number of well-known musicians.

She struggled with health issues much of her life while working hard to maintain hope, and she persevered, even in the face of long-term Lyme disease and terminal illness. Jodie visited with her partner Richard many times after he had to move into a memory facility, even while struggling with her own health issues. She was grateful for Sara Garetz's support and safe living space during her final year.

Remaining to cherish Jodie's memory are sister Randy Johnson of West Hartford, CT, and brothers Glenn Appell of Oakland, CA and Jonathan Appell of Southington, CT, several nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephew in CA and CT, former housemate /partner Richard Seals, Buddhist housemate Sara Garetz, John Fox, a circle of close friends including Janet, Sasha, Jana and Miguel, as well as Jodie's health practitioners Patrick Tribble and Jerome Braun.

Preceding Jodie in death are parents Morey and Clara Appell and her sister Laurie Appell.

A celebration of life will be scheduled at a later date.

THE PSYCHIATRIST'S REVIEW
He read a list, then asked me what I heard.
I said, "Sky, rug, bird, grass and tree."
A poem hovered, silently, the words
surrendering. They sifted down like seeds
looking for soil, they rooted like prayer
already answered by earth. The green
couch became a field, the wooden chair
a wide oak tree with branches spread like wings,
behind bookshelves birds with sharp eyes peered
past clouds blooming in the turquoise sky.
The doctor muttered under his grey beard,
"You left out 'window' from the list," but I
smiled, "No, I merely opened it for air."
Then I knew poetry would save me from despair.
-Jodie Appell

Friends of Jodie are creating a chapbook of her poems.