Stephen Kupka

FRANKFORD - Stephen Kupka, 81, of Frankford Township, died Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2014, at home.

Born in Perth Amboy, Stephen grew up in Elizabeth and Cliffwood Beach. He received his Bachelor of Arts in piano and a certificate in composition from the Peabody Conservatory of Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. He was a member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. A United States Army veteran, Stephen served during the Korean conflict.

He later taught piano at Peabody Preparatory in Towson, Md., and was a high school music teacher and choral director in Calvert County, Md., and Wayne Hills High School in Wayne. He also taught music at Hardyston Elementary school in Franklin. He was a professional music copyist in Los Angeles, Calif., as well as a composer of musicals performed in various high schools throughout the United States, including Mad Anthony, Gift of the Maji and many others. He lived in Ridgewood and Hamburg before moving to Augusta.

Stephen was a church organist and choral director for more than 50 years, most recently at the Andover Presbyterian Church in Andover, and was a private piano teacher.

The son of the late Stephen Kupka Jr. and Rose (Petrovey) Kupka, Stephen is survived by his wife, Harriet Helms-Kupka; his sister, Vivian Keeler and husband, Fred, of Wichutunk; his brother, Lewis Kupka, of Rockville, Md.; his sister, Rosalie and husband, Patrick McCarthy, of Keansburg; and many nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 23, at Andover Presbyterian Church.

Memorial donations may be made to Father John's Animal Shelter, 50 Father John's Lane, Lafayette, NJ 07848; or Andover Pesbyterian Church, 15 Lenape Road, Andover, NJ 07821; or Doctors Without Borders, P.O. Box 5030, Hagerstown, MD 21741; or Alley Cats, 7920 Norfolk Ave #600, Bethesda, MD 20814.

Arrangements are under the direction of Smith-McCracken Funeral Home, 63 High St., Newton. Online condolences may be offered at www.smithmccrackenfuneralhome.com.