John Rindell Apmann, VL ’56

Rindell Apmann of East Moriches died peacefully at home on June 29. He was 86.

He lived a full and active life with a passion for swimming, photography, boating, and aviation, his family said, and was well-known for his wonderful sense of humor and his great love of family and friends.

Apmann was born on Staten Island to John H. Apmann and Lillian R. Apmann. He grew up in Brooklyn, spending his summers in Stamford, Connecticut, where he was an avid swimmer and lifeguard. He also won numerous Amateur Athletic Union swimming medals.

He graduated from Brooklyn Tech High School, where he was a member of the Honor Society and the swim team. He then went on to attend Lehigh University. While at Lehigh, he was a member of the varsity swim team as well as a member of the Kappa Alpha Society. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in industrial engineering upon graduating in 1957.

Apmann began his career at Proctor & Gamble in Lexington, Kentucky, as an industrial engineer. He then moved back to New York, taking a job as the general manager of The Simes Company, a manufacturer of municipal and industrial lighting. He later worked for SpectroLume LLC as a manufacturer’s representative in the commercial lighting markets. While there, he worked closely with architects, engineers, and contractors. He also served in the United States Army Reserve in 1959.

During his retirement, Apmann volunteered for the Cradle of Aviation Museum in Garden City as a tour guide, where he was able to share his love of aviation with the museum’s visitors.

He met his beloved wife of 61 years, Cecily Jane Simes, while attending Lehigh University. They resided in East Moriches for most of their lives, where they raised their three sons. He was a life member of the Westhampton Yacht Squadron and served as Commodore from 1982 to 1984.

In addition to Cecily, he is survived by his sister, Carole Arden, of Naples, Florida; his sons Chris of Long Beach, California, Scott and his wife Sarah of East Northport, Todd and his wife Sarah, of Beacon, New York; and his grandchildren Alexander, Anne, William, Elizabeth and Patrick.

His remains have been donated to the Stony Brook University Body Donation Program and the family will hold a private funeral service at a later date.

This obituary was taken in part from the Southampton Press published July 8, 2022.