Louis J. Appignani died on October 14 at age 93. Since then, many tributes have highlighted his incredible public record—and for good reason. Lou was a self-made entrepreneur who built schools that brought computing and modeling to working-class people, giving folks practical skills to build better lives. Later, he poured millions into humanist and atheist causes, transforming the secular movement in America. 

Having spent years getting to know Lou and his wife Laurie, I remember him more personally as someone marked by razor-sharp wit, mutual respect, and a trademark directness that cut straight through the noise to what truly mattered.

I still vividly recall when I first met Lou and Laurie in 2004 at a Florida Humanist conference. Lou gave a talk on economic inequality that grabbed the whole room’s attention. In an era when free-market dogmatism was rarely questioned in mainstream business circles, here was an accomplished entrepreneur laying bare just how damaging extreme wealth disparities were to our social fabric. In person, Lou and Laurie caught everyone’s eye right away. They were chic, stylish, and turned heads in any crowd, but they were also approachable, friendly, and never afraid to speak their minds. 

Already recognized for his intrepid work in practicing humanistic business ethics and bringing secular views to the fore, Lou received the American Humanist Association’s first Humanist Business Award in 2006, where he again used the platform to highlight the plight of the disenfranchised and unrestrained capitalism, while also defending democracy. He said, “It is our responsibility as Humanists and Americans living in a democracy to speak out and express our views on key issues, no matter how controversial or unpopular they may be. It isn’t only our right but also our duty if democracy is to survive.”

I got to know Lou and Laurie much better at the first of many annual fundraising retreats a year later. Both seemed to appreciate the smart collegiality of the group gathered, from the humor injected by then AHA president Mel Lipman to the religious humanism debates with Gordon Gamm, to my own rather candid approach to discussing humanism.

But just like any visionary with an entrepreneurial spirit, Lou wanted us to do more. Lou decided to offer the AHA the game-changing chance to receive the first seven-figure donation he would give to humanist causes. During this retreat, after hearing what we were doing and what we planned, he saw that the organization was growing and had potential, but it was still struggling to reach the next level where it could make a splash on the national stage. 

Lou was a tough-love kind of guy who cared deeply but didn’t want to waste his time or resources on those who wouldn’t earn their keep. He wasn’t going to hand over a check. So, he gave the AHA one year to raise $1,000,000 from new donors or increases from existing donors. If we met the challenge, he’d match it with up to $1,000,000 of his own money. 

Not only did the AHA meet that goal, but with donors’ sights forever raised, Lou’s challenge inspired thousands to permanently move the needle for what the AHA could raise and accomplish.

In subsequent retreats, with a good wine in hand, Lou would debate the use of the word humanism versus atheism. Lou was deeply convinced that addressing our lack of belief in god head-on was the hurdle we had to clear if secular Americans were ever going to achieve genuine legitimacy. He didn’t like the idea of watering down the message or tiptoeing around the word atheist to make folks comfortable. Still, what mattered to Lou more was not just the word, but what we were doing, and the AHA was winning public arguments, landing in the press, and building credibility across the country. That impact, along with the consistency of his humanist values, is why Lou continued to participate in AHA events and give steadily. 

Lou and Laurie later supported the American Humanist Association’s work in bioethics and legal advocacy. The AHA’s legal department, which they made possible and supported annually, has handled numerous high-profile cases that garnered national news attention, argued its first case before the Supreme Court in 2019, and continues to support the rights of humanists and atheists today. Never trying to seize the reins, he always told us to pursue the direction our team saw fit and let him know what progress we’re making.

Lou wanted to legitimize and normalize atheism in a world where a majority of the country would not vote for an otherwise qualified atheist for public office. His support and involvement helped us get to significantly change that key metric and build a movement known for its credible approach to the issues of the day.

Lou and Laurie belong to an extraordinarily rare circle—one of only a handful of families in our entire movement’s history who reached multi-million-dollar lifetime giving. But as large as that financial contribution was, those of us who had the privilege of sitting around a table with Lou will remember the man himself just as much. We’ll miss the candid advice, the sharp jokes, the refusal to settle for second best, and the heart behind it all. Lou was a true force for progress, and our movement is infinitely stronger today because he was in our corner.