Tustin Priest, 34, Dies of Heart Attack After Playing Basketball

A 34-year-old priest from St. Cecilia Catholic Church suffered a fatal heart attack after playing basketball with friends, the Diocese of Orange announced Thursday.

Father William R. Kuper, an associate pastor, was at the Boys and Girls Club of Tustin on Wednesday night with a youth minister and several others.

According to the Orange County coroner’s office, Kuper collapsed on the basketball court, complaining of pain, about 7:50 p.m. He died at Tustin Hospital Medical Center a short time later.

Kuper, who was born in Lynwood, received a degree in economics from Cal State Fullerton in 1981.

A spokesman for the diocese said that Kuper then went to St. John’s Seminary in Camarillo. He was ordained by the Most Rev. John T. Steinbock, the Orange Diocese bishop, on Oct. 4, 1986.

In Orange County, Kuper also had been assigned as associate pastor at St. Nicholas Parish in Laguna Hills.

He is survived by his parents, James Thomas and Regina Ann Kuper of La Habra, a brother and two sisters.

A rosary will be recited at St. Cecilia Catholic Church, 1301 S.E. Sycamore Ave., at 2 p.m. Monday, followed by a parish Mass at 7:30 p.m. A funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday. Burial will be at Holy Sepulcher Cemetery in Orange.