George A. Appleby

George A. Appleby, PhD, age 82, of Hamden, CT, passed away peacefully on Thursday, March 7, 2024 at The Connecticut Hospice in Branford. He was born in Bridgeport on February 18, 1942 to the late George A. and Mildred Ware Appleby. George was the consummate educator and for most of his career worked as a professor of Social Work, specializing in public policy and research in the School of Social Work at Southern Connecticut State University (SCSU). He completed his tenure at SCSU as the Dean of Health and Human Services.
George was raised in Bridgeport and through his work and community organizing, touched the lives of many people throughout Connecticut. After high school he went on to study psychology and sociology at the University of Connecticut. He completed his MSW at the University of North Carolina and then his Doctor of Social Work (changed to a PhD) at Columbia University. He started his career in the Dept of Public Welfare in New Haven and the Dept of Child Welfare. He soon moved into faculty positions. In addition to teaching SCSU, he also taught at Smith College, St. Joseph College, Columbia University and Manchester Community College, and he served as a private consultant to numerous social service organizations. George had a passion for helping community organizations develop and thrive and he did so by serving on their boards, often as the chair, including APNH: A Place to Nourish your Health (formerly AIDS Project New Haven), the Governor’s Task Force on AIDS, the Mayor’s Task force on AIDS (in New Haven), the Ryan White AIDS Planning Council, the National Association of Social Workers, and the Dept of Children and Families Advisory Board. George had numerous articles and publications to his credit including coauthoring the book Not Just a Passing Phase: Social Work with Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual People; writing the book Working Class Gay and Bisexual Men; and serving as the editor and author of several chapters in the book Diversity, Oppression, and Social Functioning: Person-In-Environment Assessment and Intervention.
George was a dedicated family man and friend, and was admired by so many and will be greatly missed by everyone who knew him. Survivors include, his loving life-partner and husband of 40 years, Paul Kuehn; his two nephews Scott T. Appleby with his wife Kristi of Monroe and their sons Michael and Dominic; and Frank T. Appleby Sr. with his wife Lynn of Ansonia; and his goddaughter Heather Overton of Stratford. He was predeceased by his brothers Arnold Appleby and James Appleby.
Friends are invited to visit with his family on Friday, March 15th from 4:00 to 6:00PM at BEECHER & BENNETT FUNERAL HOME, 2300 Whitney Ave, Hamden, followed by a Celebration of George’s life at 6:00PM in the funeral home. Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations in George’s memory may be sent to APNH, A Place to Nourish your Health, www.APNH.org.