Stephen Kopach

Stephen Kopach, age 94, of Ponte Vedra Beach, FL passed away January 11, 2017 surrounded by his family.  Born in Singac, NJ to parents Julia and Frank Kopach, Steve was a graduate of Central High School in Paterson, a lifelong member of St Johns RO Church, and a Freemason for more than 50 years.  In 1943, he entered the US Army serving in Europe with the 12th Armored Division and the 702nd Ordinance Light Maintenance Company.  In 1948, Steve married Halina Tczap, a registered nurse, and soon began work as a plastics machinist for Mack Molding Co/West Company, obtaining a boiler fireman’s license and retiring from the company in a management position in 1985.

Steve loved to dance, to sing, and most of all, to play golf.  Following the loss of his wife in 1997, he continued to enjoy the company of life-long friends until 2003 when he was persuaded to move to Ponte Vedra Beach to be near a watchful daughter with his own condo on the edge of a golf course and no snow during the winter months.  There, he made new friends at both St Justin and Annunciation Orthodox churches in Jacksonville. Sadly, he never was able to “shoot” his age but was still trying as late as the Christmas Eve just past.

Steve is preceded in death by his parents, wife, brother John, and son-in-law James Perry.  He is survived by his daughters Dr. Kathleen Kopach and Nina Kopach (Paul Hess) and his son Stephen Kopach (Karen); grandchildren from the Perry, Hess, and Kopach families; and loving friends.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, January 14 at St Justin the Martyr Orthodox Church, 12460 Old St Augustine Road, Jacksonville.  Visitation begins at 2 pm with funeral services following at 3:30 pm. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to St John’s RO Church in Singac, NJ or Mayo Clinic Foundation.