Mel Appelbaum

Mel Appelbaum, 75, died on June 28, 2016 surrounded by his family in New Jersey. Born in the Bronx and raised in Queens, he attended Martin Van Buren High School where he developed a love for mathematics. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics from Indiana University in 1963, a masters in Mathematics from St John’s University in 1965, and a doctorate in Economic Systems from NYU/Polytech in 1983. He was a practicing management consultant holding executive positions at Pepsico and M&M Mars.

His lifelong passion was the Olympic sport of Judo where he achieved the master rank of 8th degree black belt. He was introduced to Judo at the age of 16 and remained active in the sport throughout his life. While in college, he won the National Collegiate Judo Championship. He also won the Indiana State Judo Championship and Chicago Yudanshakai Championship. At the height of his career, he competed at the USA Trials for a spot on the 1964 Olympic Team.

Later, as an international Judo referee (IJF-A), he was selected to officiate at nearly all of the major Judo events around the world including the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona, the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, the World Championships, the Pan American Championships, and the Para-Olympics for the blind.

He held many key positions within the sport of Judo such as President of the New York Yudanshakai (Black Belt Association), Chairman of National Junior Olympic Judo program, Chairman of the USA Judo Standards and Ethics committee, Chairman of the USA Judo Referee Commission, member of the USA Judo Promotion Board, and Founder & Tournament Director of the New York Open Judo Championship.

He received many awards in recognition of his Judo and leadership ability throughout his judo career, including: Indiana AAU Athlete of the Year Award 1963, National AAU Henry Stone Award for outstanding service to Judo 1977, National AAU Outstanding Tournament Director Award for the 1973 National Junior Nationals, USA Judo’s John Osako Award for outstanding ability as a referee 1995, New York Athletic Club’s Lifetime Achievement Award 2000, New York State Judo Rusty Kanokogi Referee Award 2012, Hudson Yudanshakai Ralph Reyes Outstanding Referee Award 2013, Big Apple Lifetime Achievement Award 2015, and New York Athletic Club’s “Jita Kyoei” (mutual welfare & respect) Award 2016.

He is survived by his wife, Janet, his daughter, Carrie Gray Buchmann, and her husband, Jeffrey, his daughter, Sharon Beth Appelbaum, and his son, Michael Hunter Gray. His first wife, Sandra, predeceased him in 1977.

The funeral will take place at 11 am Wednesday, June 29, at the Bernheim-Apter-Kreitzman Suburban Funeral Chapel, 68 Old Short Hills Rd, Livingston, NJ, 07039. Burial to follow at New Montefiore Cemetery in Farmingdale, Long Island.

Charitable donations in his name may be made to the American Brain Tumor Association.