A Chester man who sued the Catholic Diocese of Richmond and other defendants in 2003 after alleging that two priests abused him decades earlier died Friday at his home. He was 55.

A native of Hopewell, Stephen Edward Kopalchick Sr. graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 1974 with a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering. In 1997, he earned a master's degree in educational administration and supervision from Virginia State University.

He was a former plant manager at Berry Plastics Corp., a leading manufacturer of injection-molded plastic packaging, thermoformed products, flexible films and tapes and coatings.

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Mr. Kopalchick filed a $5 million suit alleging that he was abused by two priests from 1962 to 1966. The suit alleged that officials of the diocese knew the two priests were pedophiles but only moved them to different positions when questions arose. He said publicity about sexual abuse by priests in Boston in 2002 stirred memories of the molestation he endured.

A 1994 amendment to the state constitution extended Virginia's two-year statute of limitations for filing personal-injury lawsuits related to childhood sexual abuse. The two-year period now begins when the victim remembers sexual abuse he or she had forgotten.

But last year, the Virginia Supreme Court upheld a Richmond judge's ruling that the extension applies only when the abuser is a "natural person," not the entity for which he or she works. At trial, Mr. Kopalchick's attorney argued that "person" can include corporations and entities such as the diocese. The Supreme Court's ruling effectively ended the case.

Edward L. Weiner, the attorney who represented Mr. Kopalchick in Richmond Circuit Court, said last night that he thought it was unfortunate his former client never had his day in court.

After news reports about the case, Weiner said, other people contacted him and Mr. Kopalchick and said they, too, had been victims of clergy abuse and had admired his courage in stepping forward.

"He felt this was not just about him," Weiner said. "He felt he owed it to others who were similarly situated and had gone through this."

Mr. Kopalchick maintained his grace and dignity during stressful situations, Weiner said.

"It never came through as a bitter anger," Weiner said of Mr. Kopalchick's pursuit of his legal case. "It just came through that it has to be made known, and it has to be made right."

Whatever hardships he endured, Mr. Kopalchick didn't give up on his faith, said the Rev. Jeffery B. Ginn, who served as Mr. Kopalchick's pastor at Mount Pleasant Baptist Church in Colonial Heights.

Mr. Kopalchick was very active in his church, where he served as a deacon and was involved in Sunday School and worship.

"It didn't hinder him from being a believer and a committed disciple," said Ginn, who recently left his position as pastor and became executive director-treasurer for the Southern Baptist Conservatives of Virginia.

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Described as a gentle and friendly man, Mr. Kopalchick was an avid runner and weight lifter. He also was very devoted to his family.

He was a member of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests.

Mr. Kopalchick's survivors include his wife, Linda Kopalchick of Chester; three sons, Stephen Edward Kopalchick Jr. of Reston, Chad Jarvis of Chester and Michael Goodrow of Midlothian; two daughters, Kendra Leatherland of Buffalo, N.Y., and Wendy Thornton of Chesterfield; three brothers, Thomas Kopalchick of Prince George, Joseph Kopalchick of Richmond and John Kopalchick of Baltimore; and 17 grandchildren.

A funeral will be held Wednesday at 10 a.m. at Mount Pleasant Baptist Church, 3110 Greenwood Ave., in Colonial Heights. Burial will follow at Appomattox Cemetery in Hopewell.
Deputy news editor Tina Eshleman contributed to this report.