Vladimír Kopecký (ice hockey player)|Vladimír Kopecký

Vladimír Kopecký, a beloved artist, teacher, and gentle soul who filled our world with color, light, and laughter, passed away peacefully on April 17, 2026, at the age of 95. Born on a snowy January day in 1931 in the quiet village of Svojanov, Vladimír grew up with a sketchbook tucked under his arm and a fascination for the way sunlight danced on the glass of his family’s modest windows. That curiosity blossomed into a lifetime of creating beauty that still warms the hearts of anyone who steps into a gallery, a classroom, or even his modest kitchen, where he was famous for serving steaming bowls of mushroom soup to anyone who dropped by. Family was the anchor of Vladimír’s world. He cherished his wife, Alena, whose steady presence was the perfect counterpoint to his boundless imagination. Their children—Marek, Petra, and little Jana—remember him not only as a master of glass and paint but as a tireless storyteller who could turn a simple walk in the park into an adventure about hidden dragons living in the leaves. On Sundays, the Kopecký home echoed with music, the clink of porcelain, and Vladimír’s warm chuckle as he taught his grandchildren how to melt colored glass into tiny beads, patiently guiding their tiny fingers while sharing the quiet wisdom that “every crack is just a chance for a new pattern.” Vladimír’s passion for glass art was matched only by his love for teaching. From 1990 to 2008 he led the Glass Studio at the Academy of Arts, Architecture and Design in Prague, where he became a mentor, a confidant, and, for many, a second father. Former students still talk about his habit of stopping mid‑lecture to point out a stray sunbeam on the studio floor, insisting that inspiration hides in the most ordinary places. He encouraged them to experiment, to let their mistakes become part of the work, and to always stay humble—lessons that have rippled outward, influencing a whole generation of Czech artists who carry his spirit in every shimmering pane they create. Beyond the studio, Vladimír found joy in the simple pleasures of life: a stroll along the Vltava, fishing with his grandson, and the occasional game of chess where he would let his opponent win just to see that bright smile. His kindness was quiet but profound; he would often slip a hand‑crafted glass ornament into the mailbox of a neighbor who was ill, or donate a series of vivid prints to the local school’s fundraiser. Those who knew him say that his legacy isn’t just in the stunning glass sculptures that now hang in museums, but in the countless lives he brightened with his generosity, humor, and unwavering belief in the beauty of the everyday. Vladimír leaves behind a family who will miss his steady presence, a community of artists who will forever feel his guiding hand, and a world that is a little dimmer without his radiant glow. As we say goodbye, we remember his favorite saying: “Even the smallest shard of glass can catch the sun.” May we all find the light he so lovingly reflected throughout his remarkable life.