William "Bill" Joseph Copich

Liberty- William passed away on Monday, April 22, at home surrounded by his loving family. Born in Niles on June 12, 1925. William was the son of Joseph and Frances Rebek Copich. Bill graduated from Niles McKinley High School in 1943 and enlisted in the Navy immediately after graduation.                                                                                             

William served as a U.S. Navy aviation radioman 2nd class from 1943 to 1946 on a PB2Y-5 Coronado over the Pacific which included Seymour Isle, Galapagos, Nicaragua, and was in Okinawa when the A-bomb was dropped on Japan. He was honorably discharged from military service in April 1946.                          

 After Navy service, William attended Kent State University for one year studying architecture; then transferred to the University of Cincinnati where he graduated in 1951 and passed the licensing requirements to become a Registered Architect. After graduation, he worked in the architectural department for Firestone in Akron. In 1953, he moved to Youngstown and took the position as lead architect in the office of Arsene Rousseau. In 1957 William became a member of NCARB (nationally registered), opened his own architectural office, established the firm of Copich & Associates Inc. (C&A) Registered Architects, which carries on to this day under the management of two of his children. C&A specializes and is award-recognized in the design of veterinary hospitals and is known nationally throughout the states, as well as Europe and Asia. They have consulted on several major zoo veterinary facilities. William is an Emeritus member of the American Institute of Architects and was elected Man of the Year in 2003.                                                                                                                                                        

Bill was a member of the Slovenian National Benefit Society (SNPJ), the Polish Arts Club, Sts. Peter and Paul Church, and St. Casimir Church until its closing. He enjoyed fishing, golfing, and gardening with his family.                                                                                                                                                                         

 William is survived by his sister and brother-in-law, Sylvia and Stephen Fabian; his wife of 62 years, Alexandria (Sandy) Orze; children, William (Kathleen) Copich of Syracuse, NY, Helen (Daniel) Durflinger and John Copich both of Youngstown, Catherine (Rick) Van Noy of Christiansburg, VA, Robert (Sarah) Copich of Pittsburgh, PA, Susan Copich of New York, and Michael (Cindy) Copich of Lincoln, NE; seventeen grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.   

Calling hours will be held from 6:30 to 7:30pm on Monday, April 29 in Schiavone Funeral Home and from 9:30 to 10:30am on Tuesday, April 30 in Sts. Peter & Paul Croatian Catholic Church with a mass to follow at 10:30. Burial will be in Tod Homestead Cemetery.                                                                                            

The family would like to thank the loving care given by Pat, Nadine, Harriet, Mary Ann, Tim Queta, Erica, and Hospice of the Valley.                                                                                                                                           

The family requests no flowers be sent; however, to honor Bill’s memory donations may be sent to the building funds of the Rescue Mission, 962 Martin Luther King Blvd, Youngstown, OH 44510; Angels for Animals, 4750 W South Range Rd, Canfield, OH 44406; or the Animal Welfare League, 812 Youngstown Kingsville Rd SE, Vienna, OH 44473.

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