Raphaël Kopel

Raphael,
We still can’t quite realise you are gone.
You brought so much energy, warmth, and laughter into the lives of those who knew you. You were always striving to make life better for others. Whether through your friendships, your passions, or simply the way you lived, you left a mark that will never fade.

Your memory will live on in the smiles, the stories, and the joy you shared. I will make sure to keep your memory alive for the children, so they grow up always knowing the love and light you brought into this world.

Forever in our hearts.

With love,
Elena

Raph. I can’t believe you are no longer with us. It was pure joy working alongside you. You brought passion and enthusiasm wherever you went. You were the life of the party. I will miss your crazy entrepreneurial ideas and your love for a good DIY project. You are one of a kind Raph. Forever in our thoughts. Love Cayli x

Oh, Raph. I remain lost for words at your passing. You packed so much into your 47 years and I feel privileged to have spent some of that precious time with you. Your loss feels like such a waste, and yet your time on this earth was anything but. We will never forget your huge heart and tremendous energy for life. Your memory will live on through all the wonderful friendships you made, in the people you inspired and with your two beautiful boys who will be constantly reminded of their loving father. Your legacy will remain and your friends such as myself will always be available to support Elena, Enzo and Hugo in anything they need ever. Sleep well, buddy. You will be dearly missed by everyone whose lives you touched and who were fortunate enough to know you.

Raph, I enjoyed your company only briefly and remember fondly the welcoming home you built with your family.
I’m sure your boys will thrive in tribute to a life clearly well lived.

Rest, and watch over them.

Raphaël, je n’ai eu la chance de te côtoyer qu’une courte période, mais je t’avais tout de suite beaucoup apprécié. Je me souviens de ta joie de vivre, de ton tempérament optimiste, toujours prêt à entreprendre, toujours plein de projets… C’était passionnant de discuter avec toi. Je ne t’oublierai pas.

Valentina

Raphaël,
Je n’oublierai jamais ta joie de vivre, ton enthousiasme, l’énergie que tu dégageais à travers tes proches, tes passions.
Je veillerai toujours à être présente pour Elena et tes garçons.
Repose en paix mon ami ♥️

Raph,

You not only helped me to get back to football and enjoy it despite my average level, but more importantly, you pushed me hard to socialise, something I really needed as a newcomer in London.

I did not always listened to you, but I promise I will do better on that front.

You’ve built a community here, and none of us will forget you.

Repose en paix mon pote ❤️

Raphael I will so miss our exchanges. The founding of Experience French was a great moment . I was so glad you came to find me and to be involved. We shared a lot of laughter and there was such energy in the project. The founding of a gavel club to help the boys at your school with public speaking skills was another moment we shared. You contributed so much to so many people's lives and we will all have precious memories of you. Rest in peace Raphael.
I send my love and most comforting wishes to Elena, Enzo, Hugo and the family.

Raphael, words fail me. You left us on my birthday, a date I’ll now carry with a different kind of meaning. You were the life of every room, fun, cool, and so easy to be around. Thank you for the laughter, the company, and the way you made everyone feel. You’ve taught me that we must stay in touch, to pick up the phone, to show up, and not get lost in our own worlds. We’ll miss you deeply.

Rest easy, my friend.

Ralph, it is with a heavy heart that I write these words. Though life eventually took us in different directions, the memories we shared remain vivid and precious.

I will always remember the times we spent together —karting, Toastmasters, salsa dancing, and concerts — each one filled with your smile, your energy, and your drive. Those experiences stay with me as a reminder of the joy and ambition you brought into life.

I regret that our paths did not cross recently, but I will always treasure the times we did have.
Your life is a reminder to live fully, to embrace new experiences, and to spend time with the people we love. Though you are gone too soon, your spirit lives on through Elena, your boys, and the memories we carry in our hearts.

Raphael,

How to describe you... Amazing friend, dad, leader! Never lets you know, full of ideas, and his best line is, "I am a confident French man! Look at me! Why not!"

Losing you so young affected us all. It was one of the worst news I have ever heard in my life. But you will survive through both Enzo and Hugo (who is a copy of you!). Elena has been such a strong and fantastic mum.

We miss you dearly, but we will never forget you. My confident French friend...

Love you lots,

Ayse

Très triste et choquée d'apprendre cette nouvelle. Je ne connaissais pas bcp Raphaël mais il m'a remplacée qq fois à l'Institut français, et mes élèves l'ont énormément apprécié ! Nous n'avons pas eu bcp d'interactions mais il m'a semblé très sympa et enthousiaste. Un "aimant" de la vie, il aimait la vie et semblait attirer/aimanter d'autres bons vivants. Courage à Elena et aux enfants. Je crois que leur papa ne sera jamais oublié. Mes condoléances.

Raphael, était très
généreux, toujours très entouré et attentif aux autres. Son sourire, sa bienveillance et son énergie resteront gravés dans nos mémoires.
Grace à lui, nous avons découvert la Malaisie, Alicia en concert à Kuala Lumpur et explorer les fonds marins des îles Perhentians.
Des souvenirs magnifiques , Raphaël nous a donné l’envie de s’ouvrir, d’explorer le monde.
Toutes mes sincères pensées à vous tous.

Je vous présente mes sincères condoléances et je pense bien à ses deux jeunes enfants et sa femme. J’ai quelques emails de Raphaël retrouvés dans ma boîte. Je partage son goût pour le karting et le film Le Grand Bleu, tendres pensées. 🕊️

Raphael, we take comfort in the promise that nothing in all creation can ever erase the love, memories, and friendship that you have left with us. During the short time I had the privilege of knowing and working with you, your infectious enthusiasm and bright smile made a lasting impression. Our shared passion for The Great Game brought us together, and your eagerness to learn and coach others was truly inspiring. Thank you for sharing your world with me, even if only for a short time. You will be deeply missed, but your legacy will live on through the countless lives you touched. May your family and friends continue to celebrate the joy, love, and memories that you brought into so many lives.

Billy Mac

Raph,

I'm getting choked up writing these words and I can still scarcely believe I'm having to. You were supposed to live until you were old and grey. To watch Enzo and Hugo grow up. To train us all every Sunday until we became superstars. That it ended this way is a cruel reminder of how life can be.

I think I speak for everyone at football when I say that the impact you made on us can never be replaced, nor forgotten. You did more than coach; you created a tight-knit community and changed hundreds of people's lives for the better. And now you've inspired us all to carry it on in your name.

I hope we make you proud. Rest easy, brother.

Dan

Et oui, sur les photos comme dans la vie, tu avais toujours le sourire, l'envie de rire, de partager de bons moments pour rendre cette vie plus légère. D'une grande générosité, je garderai avec moi les cadeaux que tu m'avais fait car tu étais soucieux de la santé des autres.
C'est avec une très grande peine que j'ai appris ton départ. Toi qui m'avais fait découvrir le monde des jeux vidéo en me prêtant ta console Nintendo. J'ai des souvenirs avec toi qui remontent à la petite enfance. Je ne réalise pas. On se reverra là haut c'est certain.

Dear Raphael,

We had just started hanging more when you suddenly left the world. You were the French dude who oozed cool and seemed full of life and adventure. Even though you had so many ventures, hobbies, and two young boys, you somehow managed all of this with ease and always had time for people and fun.

Given how much you gave to the world whether it was through work, your family or your interests in football as well as so many other things, your sudden departure leaves a huge hole for those lucky enough to know you.

Overtime, I hope to remember you with a smile and gratitude, but right now, I feel so sad writing this. Rest in power brother.

Pavan

It is with deep sadness that we all mourn the loss of our beloved friend, Raphael. He was the kind of friend that everyone hopes to have — loyal, funny, energetic and always there when you needed him.

More than anything, he was a devoted father to his two beautiful children, who were the centre of his world. His love for them was evident every time I saw them together. He was the kind of father I genuinely admired.

Raphael’s warmth, laughter, and friendship touched us all and life will never feel quite the same without him.

Over the years, we became good friends, and I will miss him more than words can truly express.

RIP Brother!

Raph, where do I even start…

I first met you through a friend who told me about your Sunday coaching sessions. I was looking for a group where I could play football, improve my game, and be around good people and from the very first time we met, that distinct smile and grin of yours made me feel instantly welcome 😂.

We hit it off straight away. You had a way of putting people at ease, even when they were nervous about joining something new. Your passion for the game shone through in everything you did the structure of your sessions, the attention to detail, the love you had for coaching.

You quickly became one of my role models. You took me under your wing, gave me the chance to assist in your sessions, and helped me build the confidence and skills to eventually coach 22 players on my own. Today, I run a football coaching company that develops kids, and I honestly couldn’t have done that without the opportunities and belief you gave me. I’ll always be grateful.

But more than that, you were a true friend. At every opportunity, you were there if someone needed help that’s just the kind of person you were ❤️.

Rest in peace, Raph 🕊️

Raphael, my dear friend. I can scarcely believe I'm writing this and that you're no longer with us. We had so many fun times together that I will cherish and remember for the rest of my life. Not only were you a loyal, devoted and fun loving friend but you were the best dad in the world, truly. I will make sure to tell Enzo and Hugo all about you and what kind of a person you are and how much you loved them. You were above all someone who made a significant contribution to the world and a real difference in many people's lives. We are truly lucky to have known you. Nick and I and will never forget you and will always cherish happy memories of our fun and adventures together. Joy xx