Alfred Appel, Jr. was a scholar noted for his investigations into the works of Vladimir Nabokov, modern art and Jazz modernism. As a student at Cornell University, Appel took a course from Nabokov. His education was interrupted by a stint in the Army, after which he completed his undergraduate education and PhD in English Literature at Columbia University. After teaching at Columbia for a few years, he joined the faculty of Northwestern University, where he taught until his retirement in 2000. He died of heart failure. Appel was married until his death to Nina Appel, dean of Loyola University Chicago's law school from 1983-2004. They had two children, Karen Oshman and television writer and producer Richard Appel. 

January 31st, 1934 in Brooklyn  /  Died:   May 2009 - aged 75