Longtime Pennsauken resident Stephen Mucha passed away on October 18, 2023, at the amazing age of 102. Often seen at the Pennsauken Municipal Pool performing with his wife, Carol Ann Copper, the veteran and devoted family man left an indelible mark on his community.
Mucha was born on August 29, 1921, in Carteret, N.J. While serving in the Navy during World War II, Stephen worked on a couple of pioneering projects at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, including the tandem rotor helicopter, invented by Philadelphian Frank Piasecki, and the 3D camera system of Douglas F. Winnek Coffey. After the war, he became an aerospace engineer, designing helicopters for Sikorsky Aircraft. He was also a member of American Legion F.W. Grigg Post 68, in Merchantville.
A published author, Mucha wrote “How to Break 100: Golfing Shortcuts the Pros Don’t Teach You,” as well as “Advice From a 90-Year-Old Man,” which shared stories from his childhood, tips on saving money, lessons from his adult years, plus a few favorite jokes. By his count, Stephen and Carol played over 1,000 performances with dulcimers and autoharps over the decades, mostly at nursing homes. He was also a frequent patron of the Ritz Theatre in Oaklyn, N.J., and read hundreds of books to school children as part of the BookMates program.
Stephen was the beloved husband of Carol Copper; loving father of Janet Horton, Peter Mucha (Anne), James Muchovej (Angela), and David Mucha (Thalia); and loving stepfather of Sandra Johnson (Ken), Scott Anderson (the late Marta), and Steven Anderson (Monika). He is also survived by seven grandchildren, seven step-grandchildren, and one great-grandson. Mucha was predeceased by his parents, John and Mary Mucha; brothers, John and Paul; and first wife, Shirley Holder.
During a special ceremony in honor of his 100th birthday back in August of 2021, Stephen was quoted as saying “I never expected to reach 100, but I did, and I’m going to stay a while.” And that’s exactly what happened.
Family and friends are invited to ceremonies to celebrate his life on Saturday, Nov. 18, at St. Thomas’ Episcopal Church, 212 N. Main St., Glassboro, N.J. A church service at 2:30 p.m. will be followed by a burial service in the church’s cemetery with military honors. In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Stephen Mucha can be made to the Ritz Theatre in Oaklyn, BookMates, or the East Pennsauken United Methodist Church.
