Joseph Kopechne Obituary (father of Mary Jo)

Times Leader ^ | 12/31/03

[Born Conservative]

Posted on Wed, Dec. 31, 2003

Kopechne, Joseph

December 24, 2003 Joseph A. Kopechne, 90, of Swiftwater, died Dec. 24 in Stroud Manor Nursing Home, East Stroudsburg.

Born April 25, 1913, in Forty Fort, he was the son of Frank and Mary (Leitinger) Kopetchny. He served in the Civilian Conservation Corps. He worked at the shipyards in New Jersey during World War II and was employed by the Washington National Life Insurance Co. He attended Our Lady of Victory Roman Catholic Church, Tannersville, and was a member of the Knights of Columbus.

He was preceded in death by his only child, MaryJo.

Surviving, in addition to his wife of more than 60 years, the former Gwen L. Jennings, are his brother, Raymond; many nieces and nephews.

A memorial Mass will be held at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at St. Vincent's de Paul Roman Catholic Church, Church Street, Plymouth, with the Rev. Donald Williams officiating.

Funeral arrangements are by Kielty-Moran Funeral Home, 87 Washington Ave., Plymouth.

[BartMan1]

Ping for #26 and #37...

[OSHA]

"If she had lived, Mary Jo Kopechne would be 62 years old. Through his tireless work as a legislator, Edward Kennedy would have brought comfort to her in her old age.” – Charles Pierce, January 5, Boston Globe Magazine

If he hadn't killed her, he would have really taken good care of her....and just think of lives of misery we are saving these babies by aborting them....and have mercy on the poor ORPHAN Menendez brothers.

Sick!

It's amazing to me the contorted(and I mean at right angles to reality) positions that liberals will take to protect their precious ideology and heroes.

[RobbyS]

Mary Jo did not die in vain. Were it not for her death, Teddy K may well have become president.

As you say, he saved us from a president who would have been even more imcompetent than Jimmy Carter and probably would have kept Reagan from the presidency.

[RobbyS]

Like you I find it hard to believe. They have no shame, do they?

[Temple Owl]

Unfortunately yes. I think it is the best quote of 2003!

[Temple Owl]

I think there should be a Mary Jo Kopechne Day. She should be honored for saving America from another Kennedy.

[dennisw]

Salt of the earth who has his heart torn out by an idiot Senator.

[onyx]

I think there should be a Mary Jo Kopechne Day. She should be honored for saving America from another Kennedy.

From the quote here:

If she had lived, Mary Jo Kopechne would be 62 years old. Through his tireless work as a legislator, Edward Kennedy would have brought comfort to her in her old age.” – Charles Pierce, January 5, Boston Globe Magazine

it looks like January 5, was her date of birth. Do a thread to her on the 5th; we'll all gleefully post on it. Good idea.

[faithincowboys]

Why no mention of Teddy? Can you imagine that that would be the case if Old Teddy were a Republican?

[hunter112]

Wow, there were a lot of details in there that I was not aware of, and even though I was only 13 at that point, I kept a good eye on the news (I could give you the full names of each astronaut on the Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo flights that had taken place).

The difference today is the Internet. Even Vince Foster's death was pre-Internet, as far as a sizable minority of Americans having access. And we did get an investigation by Kenneth Starr, if the Kennedys had a whitewashed one like Fosters, it would have cost them a lot more money than the Koepechne case did.

[IncPen]

I notice by the clock on the wall that you've been logged in at FR for one year, though you've lurked as long as I've been here. Congrats...

[nmh]

"The man took money from the Kennedys to remain silent."

That's right! He was easily bought. If it were me, I wouldn't take money to be silent about my daughter being left to drown. Hell no! I'd squeal worse than a liberal. I don't feel sorry for someone who takes money over justice. I don't believe he nor his wife were fine people for doing that.

[rbessenger]

The man took money from the Kennedys to remain silent. I wonder who made more $- the Kopechnes or Strom Thurmonds "Secret" daughter?

[Diddle E. Squat]

I would guess that their decision to remain quiet was likely heavily influenced by not so subtle threats to completely trash Mary Jo's reputation and past in public.

[ValerieUSA]

The "secret daughter" wasn't aborted or killed. She's still alive, and feels that her father did love her and provided support. You have no point, troll.

[cynicom]

You shilling and trolling for socialists???

[rbessenger]

If I'm called a socialist for trying to stand up for a father who lost his daughter in a terribly public, tragic accident, then so be it.

This man was not responsible for the fact that Massachusettes authorities were (are) in the pockets of the Kennedys and did not file charges against Teddy. He is the victim and you are treating him like he is a conspirator.

You may ask why he didn't raise a stink and try to inflict the damage on the Kennedy family that would make you happy. He had just lost a daughter (can you imagine going to bed every night with the thought of your little girl gasping for her last breath). It was a different time and he was certainly ashamed of the circumstances surrounding the "accident"- (Married men out partying with young girls- not their wives). He was grieving and you wanted him to place his shame out on parade so you could score some political hits!!!

This poor man coped the best way that he knew how and to spit on his grave is dispicable.

[FITZ]

I would guess that their decision to remain quiet was likely heavily influenced by not so subtle threats to completely trash Mary Jo's reputation and past in public.

I think that's true --- I doubt it was just for the money and that they just wanted her to rest in peace.

[FITZ]

I won't spit on his grave --- but I think they should have not helped Kennedy get by with murder. I can see how they might have just wanted to keep their daughter's name from being completely slimed --- which would have happened but they also prevented justice for what happened.

[ValerieUSA]

I certainly did nothing to spit on Kopechne's grave. You were spitting on Thurmond's, and it was inappropriate and unconnected. Lecture yourself.