John Robert Kopcso

John Robert Kopcso, 83, of Franklin, passed away peacefully on March 6, 2026, surrounded by his family.

Born on August 17, 1942, in Bridgeport, Connecticut, John was the only child of John and Irene (McBride) Kopcso. He graduated from Fairfield Prep in 1960 and proudly served four years in the United States Air Force at Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota. After his military service, he returned to Connecticut, earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in mathematics from Sacred Heart University, and married his South Dakota sweetheart, Bonnie Keester, in 1966.

John began his career in the warranty industry as a weight manager engineer at Sikorsky Aircraft. He later joined the Hertz Corporation as a real estate manager and went on to develop and manage the warranty department for the newly formed Hertz Equipment Rental Corporation. When the company headquarters relocated, he moved his family to Franklin, New Jersey, where he continued working until his retirement in 2005.

Deeply committed to his community, John was a 36-year member of the American Legion Francis M. Glynn Post 132, serving as commander ten times. He organized and participated in the Franklin American Legion Memorial Day parade for many years, served on the Franklin zoning board for 25 years, and was an avid Civil War reenactor. He loved music and worked as a part-time DJ in the 1980s. A history enthusiast, he collected antique items and cherished his 1965 Mustang. John enjoyed attending UCONN women’s basketball games with his life partner Sandy, duckpin bowling, visiting casinos, vacationing in Maine, working in his yard, playing chess, and taking long walks with his dog, Willow.

John was predeceased by his beloved wife, Bonnie, in 2004. He is survived by his daughters, Christine Horuzy and her husband Tom of Ogdensburg, and Valerie McKean and her husband John of Spearfish, South Dakota; three grandchildren, Carissa Horuzy, Chelsea Horuzy, and Weston Carlston; and his longtime companion and life partner, Sandra Marion of Wantage.