Richard Appel

Appel in 2010, photo by kathclick/www.bigstockphoto.com

Birth Name: Richard James Appel

Place of Birth: New York City, New York, U.S.

Date of Birth: May 21, 1963

Ethnicity: Ashkenazi Jewish

Richard Appel is an American writer, producer, and attorney, working largely in television.

He is the son of Nina Appel and Richard Appel. His father was a professor, author, and journal editor. His mother was the first female dean of Loyola Law School. His mother was born in Prague. His parents were both from Jewish families. He has two children with his former wife, novelist Mona Simpson. Mona is the sister of innovator Steve Jobs.

Richard’s paternal grandfather was Alfred Appel, Sr. (the son of Samuel Appel and Sadie Niedermann). Alfred was born in New York. Samuel was born in Borken, Münster, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, the son of Laser Appel and Bertha Besschen Gruenstein/Grünstein. Sadie was born in New York, the daughter of parents from Germany, Joseph Niedermann/Niederman and Carolina Blum, who was from Freiburg im Breisgau.

Richard’s paternal grandmother was Beatrice Celia Hoffman (the daughter of Samuel “Sam” Hoffman and Eva Sherville). Beatrice was born in New York. Samuel was born in Mir, Poland, now Belarus, the son of Morris Hoffman/Dvaretsky and Itka “Yetta” Lubner. Eva was born in Vilnius, Lithuania.

Richard’s maternal grandfather was Leonard “Leo” Schick (the son of Moritz Schick and Aloisie Poláček). Leo was born in Říčany, Czechia. Moritz was born in Nový Bydžov, Hradec Králové District, Czechia, the son of Joachim Schick and Sara Steiner. Aloisie was born in Herink, Prague-East District, Bohemia, the daughter of Josef Pollaczek and Katharina Neumann.

Richard’s maternal grandmother was Nora Thein (the daughter of Emil Thein and Klara Lüftschitz). Nora was born in Karlín-Prague, Czechia. Emil was the son of Sigmund Thein and Theresia Mameles. Klara was the daughter of Bernard Lüftschitz and Marie Zeckendorf.

Sources: Genealogy of Richard Appel – http://www.geni.com

Richard’s paternal grandfather, Alfred Appel, Sr., on the 1930 U.S. Census – http://www.familysearch.org

Obituary of Richard’s paternal grandmother, Beatrice Celia (Hoffman) Appel – http://www.legacy.com