Married 43 years, LOWVELO rider honoring his late wife in a big way

Kristin Lee

October 29, 2024

a man and woman sit in an outdoor cafe and smile at the camera — Jack and Kathy Kopnisky were married for 43 years. Photos provided

It was a morning date that changed their lives. Jack Kopnisky and his wife Kathy were out to breakfast in New York, where they lived, when she told her husband something didn’t feel right.

“My wife never had been sick in her life – literally never took a pill,” remembered Jack. “She said, ‘I'm having a seizure’ and being a typical guy, I'm like, ‘Yeah, yeah, let's go.’ But she couldn't walk. So, that was the first time we've ever called an ambulance.”

A trip to the hospital and some testing confirmed that it was a seizure, and it had been caused by an astrocytoma in Kathy’s brain. An astrocytoma is a type of tumor found in the brain or spinal cord that is made up of cells called astrocytes. These cells help the nervous system to function properly, but when they grow abnormally, they can cause a tumor, or astrocytoma, to grow.

“We were stunned that it was as severe as it was,” said Jack.

The first step in Kathy’s treatment was surgery to have the tumor removed, which she had done at Mount Sinai in New York City. But when it came to further treatment, the Kopniskys chose to relocate to their second home on Kiawah Island so that they could come to MUSC Hollings Cancer Center.

“It was super convenient. The care and the types of treatments that MUSC was able to provide were equal to what they could have provided in New York City but a lot more convenient to access,” explained Jack. “Instead of fighting a big city hospital, it was much easier to come here. And the competency of the staff at MUSC, specifically Alicia Zukas, M.D., and her team, was really fantastic. Her sensitivity and MUSC’s resources for Kathy’s particular malady were really good.”

The Kopniskys, who were college sweethearts and married for 43 years, also found life by the ocean on Kiawah to be a peaceful place as Kathy underwent treatment at Hollings. They felt grateful to be living in such a relaxed environment, not only close to the care she needed but also close to the beach, where she enjoyed daily walks.

a family group of mom and dad with three adult children and a dog pose barefoot on the beach — The Kopnisky family enjoying the beach.

Jack, who described his wife as gentle, thoughtful and nicer than he is, knew how important his job as caregiver was. Kathy experienced times when she couldn’t speak or move her right side, but Jack understood the importance of respecting her needs and ensuring she stayed comfortable, enjoying the things she loved, surrounded by loved ones. They filled their home with friends and family and were even able to spend a week together in Bermuda.

“At every turn, we were pretty optimistic that we would solve this,” said Jack. “And from a caregiver standpoint, I think that's what you have to be. I think you have to be realistic and honest, but I think you have to be optimistic that, you know, something good's going to happen. And we were fortunate to have her for 18 months.”

After a courageous battle, Kathy passed away in September of 2023.

“We had a great life together,” said Jack. “She was a very giving, happy, wonderful person. We had three great kids, Joseph, Dane and Maggie. They’re all married, and I have six wonderful grandkids that are hilarious. We’ve had a wonderful, happy life, and this terrible thing that happened to Kathy has been tough on all of us. But we grind through that, as most families do. We do our best to support each other and deal with life as it goes on.”

The grief process

Jack has learned a lot about the process of grieving as he’s watched each of his children and their spouses grieve in different ways.

“I think you have to recognize that everybody grieves in a different way, in a different time frame. Some people need others to grieve with, and some people just do it themselves,” he said. “I think you have to honor how they grieve and what they need from a support standpoint.”

One thing the Kopniskys all have in common is that they are a family of doers. They don’t sit around and wait for things to happen.

Last year, several members of the Kopnisky family and their friends rode in LOWVELO, raising funds for the lifesaving research happening at MUSC Hollings Cancer Center – research that could benefit future patients facing challenges like Kathy’s.

“Being able to ride in LOWVELO and raise a lot of money and be able to put that toward research that has an outcome with it, is what I hope everyone would think about when they’re riding and donating and raising money along the way,” said Jack, who has been cycling for 20 years and found LOWVELO a natural fit.

Taking part as riders in LOWVELO is not all the Kopniskys do. Jack describes his family as very fortunate in life, and because of that, they created the Kopnisky Family Foundation. This year, they have decided not only to ride in LOWVELO, but to become a sponsor of the event.

“The primary function of the foundation is to give to education,” said Jack. “But in this case, given what happened to Kathy, we thought this is the right thing to do and in a major way. I’m not an incrementalist. I want to make a difference. So, I think we’ve given a pretty sizable dollar amount. It’s not about recognition. It’s only about taking the funds and making good things happen. My family's and my way of thinking is those of us that have been very fortunate – we need to find a way to help folks that aren’t as fortunate and in a meaningful way.”

The Kopniskys' generous donation will go toward research that will help future patients dealing with astrocytoma and glioblastoma.

“I think that makes a big difference when you're able to contribute dollars that make a difference in people's lives and solve problems.”

a couple, she in a pink dress and he in a pink polo, pose in front of large green bushes — Jack and Kathy Kopnisky.

Aside from the opportunity to raise money for a cause that has now become very personal to the Kopniskys, Jack said he takes part in LOWVELO because of how special the ride is. He’s done rides up and down the East Coast but said there’s something different about riding here in Charleston – riding through downtown, over the Ravenel Bridge and through the islands early in the morning sets it apart.

“I also think it's a little bit different in Charleston because you have many more individual donors, not big corporations,” said Jack. “So, every person here matters. The amount of money that each team and each individual raises makes a little bit bigger difference.”

To honor the Kopniskys' generosity and involvement with LOWVELO, every rider will have Kathy with them as they pedal their route. This year’s T-shirts and jerseys will have a heart with her name on them – a small token of thanks for a large gesture made in her honor.

“I ride LOWVELO for Kathy Kopnisky, my wife. I also ride LOWVELO for the ability to give back to MUSC for such wonderful support through the trials and tribulations that she went through. I’m very thankful for all the doctors, nurses and support staff that helped her along her path. So that’s why I ride.”