Meet Allen Appell

For some of us in the league hits are as scarce as hen’s teeth. Not so for this “Get to Know Your Fellow Player”. Hits and teeth both come easily to this dentist, player and manager: Allen Appell.

Allen was born in The Bronx, New York. He moved at the tender age of 6 to Akron, Ohio where his dad owned a small clothing store. He remembers a traditional mid-western childhood growing up in the industrial city famous for tire manufacturing with all the big companies headquartered there.

When he was about 13 he started caddying at the Firestone Country Club carrying two bags for $3.00 each. If the golfer had a good game you usually got a nice tip, too. Allen tried to arrive very early so he would have first chance to be picked by a good tipper. It was a great job for a boy who was too young to drive; except for those mid-western thunderstorms that came out of nowhere with ferocious lightning and thunder.

While growing up, he played American Legion baseball; and on his high school team. After graduation he enrolled at Ohio State University where an education came with a three year commitment to the Naval Reserves. He spent time out on the University golf course, especially early in the morning. One day as he was waiting to tee off he noticed a chunky young man absolutely crush the ball. It was course regular, Jack Nicklaus, whose father owned a pharmacy nearby.

After completing dental school Allen was sent to Newport, Rhode Island for naval training. Training didn’t come easily as he capsized the first sail boat he took out. But luckily as medical personnel the navy made him an officer. His fondest memory of the training was the time spent in the officer’s club where you ordered a drink and they just kept pouring.

At the completion of training each officer filled out paperwork asking their preference for where they would like to be posted. He and his friends quickly chose exotic cities in Europe. When he received his orders for Coronado Naval Air Station he had to locate an Atlas for some research. While San Diego, California was not Barcelona, Spain; it was not Brownsville, Texas either. That’s where some of his friends ended up.

As a dental officer he was attached to a squadron to tend to their personal medical needs wherever they were deployed. Fortunately for the three years he served with the squadron they only ran training missions. He was very impressed by the professionalism of the young pilots he worked and lived with. Even though they were flying the S4H Phantom jets in training missions there were times when someone would not make it back to the aircraft carriers, and yet they were full of enthusiasm for the next mission. Allen has great admiration for the armed service personnel that put their lives in jeopardy for their country.

Nearing his discharge date Allen attended a dental conference in San Francisco and fell in love with the Bay area. He used the occasion to reestablish contact with a distant cousin who lived in San Mateo. Eventually this cousin put him in touch with an acquaintance who was ready to retire. Allen bought the dental practice and happily settled down in San Mateo.

Meanwhile his younger brothers were following in his footsteps attending the Ohio State University Dental School. Barry, three years younger, also joined the Naval Reserves and served at the Naval Air Station and later established a practice in San Diego where he is to this day. His youngest brother, Marty, is almost 12 years younger. When he finished Ohio State University Dental School Marty moved out to California to work with Allen. He eventually took over the practice when Allen retired in 1998.

Allen met his future wife, Jill, as a patient. A flight attendant with United she had recently moved to Foster City. When she suffered with a toothache she asked a neighbor who recommended Allen. For two years they had only a professional relationship. Then one morning Jill told her roommate, “I had a dream about my dentist last night I want you to ask him to a party.” When the roommate called he carefully explained that he didn’t mix business with pleasure and had a rule against dating patients. Jill’s roommate didn’t take no for an answer and after two weeks of badgering phone calls from her he finally agreed to mix pleasure with business and attend the party; which the two girls then had to quickly organize. But one party was all it took, and then it was Allen asking for the dates. Within a year they were married.

They have two children. A son in Berkeley and his wife are expecting a boy in November. He will be their first grandchild. Their daughter lives in Woodland Hills.

In 1988 Allen’s front office girl became ill and had to quit. He asked Jill to fill in and learn the business so she could train a replacement. She became so good at the job that a replacement was not hired for 13 years; 3 years after Allen retired.

In 2001 they decided to move to a warmer, drier climate; but still wanted to be within a couple of hours of the Bay area. Lincoln turned out to be ideal. They came because of the Del Webb reputation and the golf course; as they both play a lot of golf. But Allen actually plays more softball than golf now. He said the first time he stepped on the field wearing his uniform he felt like a kid again. Besides managing and playing in the recreation league he also plays on the Classics, a traveling team. If you look at home plate, first and/or third base during your game you might see him standing there in his blue shirt and black cap. That’s right, he’s an umpire. Allen believes that as a team manager you should provide only encouraging comments. He says everybody likes to win, but winning isn’t everything.

They also enjoy other sports: Allen, long distance cycling with a neighbor and Jill subbing in our bowling league. They are both football fans naturally rooting for Ohio State and for the 49ers especially in the Joe Montana years when they attended three Superbowls.

Allen and Jill are enjoying their golf course view home with new addition: a rescue cat, named Max and the social life of Lincoln Hills; especially the members of the LHSSL, “the most special people you’d ever meet” according to Allen