Gail Appell Nickowitz
Gail Appell Nickowitz, daughter of the late Harry and Ada Katz Appell and sister of J. Kemler Appell, passed away on Wednesday, May 11th at the Jewish Home for the Elderly in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Gail was the widow of attorney Arlen Nickowitz. They were married for almost 45 years, until his passing in 2011. Survivors include her children, Peter Nickowitz and Allyson N. Ross; her son-in-law, Dan Ross; and grandchildren, Luka and Hazel Ross.
For twenty years Gail was a community volunteer, active at Congregation B’Nai Israel Sisterhood, Andrew Warde High School Parents’ Club, and the Fairfield Country Day School Mothers’ club. At that time, she was an active tennis player, winning once the Easton Racquet Club Ladies’ Singles Championship. In addition to tennis and golf, Gail and Arlen participated in sailing their boat, an O’Day Tempest, from Black Rock Harbor, until they docked that for canoeing and kayaking.
Gail was raised in Plainville, Connecticut where she attended public schools and then the Oxford School (now
Kingswood Oxford) in West Hartford. She earned a B.A. in International Relations from the University of Pennsylvania and an M.A. in Teaching from Sacred Heart University in Fairfield. She was an accomplished musician and played the piano, trumpet, and violin. She loved to attend musical concerts as well as theater.
Gail was very proud of her lifetime memberships to organizations including Brandeis University National Women’s Committee, Technion, National Council of Jewish Women, American Red Magen David for Israel, Women’s Auxiliary Jewish Senior Services, Hadassah. In addition to these organizations she was a proud supporter for Democratic, religious, health, art, and environmental causes.
Gail was known amongst her friends for her sense of humor and dedicated use of social media posts. She left behind a handwritten draft of this obituary among her papers. At the top of the page is written: “Obit — be funny.”
She will be deeply missed by her children, grandchildren, and many friends..