Lawrence John Appel OBITUARY

Larry passed away peacefully at home in Oakland, CA at the age of 81 following a brief illness.Born in Chicago, Illinois to John Gerard Appel and Norma Pelatrini Appel, Larry spent most of his childhood in Redondo Beach, CA, attending St. James Catholic School and Junipero Serra High School. The ocean was always in sight, a source of peace and comfort for the rest of his life. He then headed for the green hills of Moraga and St. Mary’s College where he found his home. As a Gael, he fell in love with the classics, which led to his pursuit of the law. He also loved poetry and studied with John Logan, who encouraged Larry’s lifelong practice of writing poems. He excelled in rugby, a sport and a community that he cherished and supported for the remainder of his life. He graduated from St. Mary’s College in 1964 and briefly taught English at St. Elizabeth High School, where he met his one true love, Maureen Martin. They were married for 52 years and were given the gift of an amazing family, his prize. He especially loved being Papa to his eight grandchildren: Niccolo, Matteo, Benedetto, Gemma, George, Willa, Frances, and Sunny.Larry graduated from UC Hastings College of the Law and in 1970 he began practicing law with the Law Offices of Joseph L. Alioto in San Francisco. His acute understanding of the antitrust laws and his razor-sharp mind made him a formidable foe in court, and he reveled in representing the underdog. In 1985 he opened his own complex civil litigation and appellate practice in San Francisco, later moving to Oakland, where he practiced until being appointed to the Superior Court of Alameda County by Governor Gray Davis in 2003. He served on the bench until retiring in 2016.Among his numerous affiliations, he took the greatest pleasure in his time as president of the St. Mary’s East Bay Scholarship Fund and mentoring the St. Mary’s College Rugby Team.Larry is survived by his wife, Maureen, his children Anne (Mike Garmon), Katie (Thomas Brady), Joe (Ashley), and Claire (David Parshall), his eight grandchildren, his brothers Joseph (Pamela) and Michael (Janet), his sisters Anne and Pati, and 19 nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents, John and Norma Appel, and his brother Jack (Susan).A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday, July 10, at 11:00am at the St. Mary’s College Chapel in Moraga with reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, please send contributions to the St. Mary’s College Men’s Rugby Team at the address below or you can use this link: https://gift.stmarys-ca.edu/a/rugbygives. Be sure to share that this is on behalf of the Memory of Larry Appel ’64.Attention: Men’s Rugby1928 Saint Mary’s RoadMoraga, CA 94575