J. Kemler Appell ’59 died on May 28, 2023, in Bloomfield, Connecticut.

(The following was provided by the Hartford Courant on June 18, 2023)

J. Kemler Appell ’59

J. Kemler Appell, “Kem”, 85, of Bloomfield and formerly of Avon and Farmington, passed away Sunday, May 28, 2023. Born in New Britain, he was raised in Plainville. He earned his BS from Bowdoin College and his master’s from the UCONN School of Pharmacy. After finishing his degree at UCONN, Kem joined his father, Harry Appell, in managing the family business, Appell Drug, in Plainville. He went on to found and serve as CEO for Arrow Prescription Centers, retiring in 1996. Active in the community, he was a member of the Farmington Chamber of Commerce, Farmington Republican Town Committee, Past Board Member of New Britain General Hospital, Frederick-Franklin Lodge #14, Scottish Rite Bodies, Connecticut Waterfowl Association, Pioneer Valley Water Garden & Koi Club, and the Farmington River Watershed Association. His passion was for the preservation and care of endangered waterfowl. He started the Connecticut Waterfall Trust as a bird sanctuary for ducks, geese, and swans on his property in Farmington. He provided educational opportunities for thousands of students to learn about these special birds by hosting educational programs in 32 different schools throughout Connecticut and concluded with field trips to see the birds. Each student would receive a souvenir picture of a bird with its details that they would then have to find at the sanctuary. He supported over 69 species of ducks, geese, swans, and cranes at his sanctuary: over 9 of which were on the endangered species list. More than 600 birds found a home at the Connecticut Waterfowl Trust. He was a judge for the Ward Museum’s Ward World Championship wildfowl carving competition and arts festival in Ocean City, MD. His specialty was miniature true-life replicas. He is survived by his four sons: Tad Appell and his wife, Lisa, of Avon, Neal Appell and his wife, Jean, of Carlsbad, NM, Kyle Appell and his wife, Beth McCart,y of San Francisco, CA, and Bruce Appell and his wife, Nancy Frodermann, of Avon; eight grandchildren: Joshua, Evan, and Ashley Appell, Alex, Casey and his wife, Paige, and Morgan Appell, and Kirsten and Jamison Appell; one niece: Allyson Nickowitz-Ross; and one nephew: Peter Nickowitz.