Phil Kupisz
Niantic — Phil Kupisz, better known as “Koop,” was 65 when he lost his two-year battle with cancer. Koop passed away at home Wednesday, April 7, 2021, and as fate would have it, at 4:20 p.m. Phil was born in Hartford, to the late Zigmund and Theresa Delguidice Kupisz. As a child, he was raised on Park Street in Hartford, until in 1962, when his family moved to Giants Neck Heights, Niantic.
Phil was a 1973 graduate of East Lyme High School. It was during his early years that he met his lifelong friends and brothers, David Waddington, Bob Fisher, Stuart Mattison, Michael Anselmo, David Iwanicki and many more – all who have many “Koop” stories from their younger days.
Upon graduation, Phil completed a machinist apprenticeship at Pratt & Whitney in 1974. He was a “jack of all trades” — there wasn’t anything he couldn’t fix. Phil had many other jobs, such as working alongside his father at Caval Tool, to the oil fields in Ohio, driving trucks and operating heavy equipment for D.W. Transport; and he was also employed by Hermitage Hospital Products. He finally found his home in the engineering department at Lawrence + Memorial Hospital, retiring after 25 years. Here again, Koop was a friend to everyone he worked with and met, especially his dear friend, Peter Stelzner.
From a young age, Koop was an avid boater and fisherman. The next time you are out fishing at flood tide, throw out a line for Koop. As he got older, Phil enjoyed bringing his prize-winning car, a 1974 Cadillac Eldorado convertible, to various car shows in southeastern Connecticut. Every Monday you would see him and the “Big Daddy Caddy” at Ocean Beach. When the weather got cold, he would head south to Florida, where he loved spending time with his beloved “Girlies,” granddaughters, Dakotta and Brianna and his daughter Melanie. Phil was also very involved with Special Olympics through his nephew Danny, with whom he shared a special bond. “Uncle Phil,” as everyone there called him, made many friends and especially enjoyed watching Danny win his many medals. Phil was preceded in death by his parents, many uncles, aunts, cousins and great friends.
He leaves behind his daughter Melanie (Harold) Miller of Port Orange, Fla.; son Michael of Niantic; his brother Stan Kupisz of Coco Beach, Fla.; his sister Mary Ann (Fred) Zerio of Wethersfield; nephews, Paul, Bryan and Matthew Zerio, nephew Danny Kupisz; and Phil’s loving girlfriend, Toni Chamberlin, and her two sons, Gregory and Matthew Chamberlin.
There will be no funeral services at Koop’s request, because, as he said, “those are for old people.” And there was no way Phil was ever “old.” He was known for his humor (often sarcastic and immature); the easy way he formed friendships everywhere he went; and he was a wonderful story teller. His family and friends’ lives were made much fuller because of Koop.
There will be a celebration of Phil’s life Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021. More information will be coming as the time grows nearer. Save the date so you will be able to share your favorite Koop story. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Phil’s name to St. Jude.org or L+M NICU. Condolences may be shared on Phil’s memorial page at www. neilanfuneralhome.com.