Republican political consultant Lance D. Copsey died Sunday at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore after suffering from a stroke. He was 40.

Copsey cut his teeth in Maryland politics, leading the state's Republican party at its executive director in the mid-90s. He moved to national politics at age 25 when presidential hopeful Lamar Alexander hired him to be the campaign's northeast political director.

Most recently he was the international director at the D.C.-based firm Marsh Copsey + Associates.

Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele sent out a statement this afternoon calling Copsey "a dear friend" and "an integral part of my team."

"I valued his advice and counsel," said Steele in the statement. "Lance could always cut through the noise and provide well thought out insight."

Copsey graduated from Frostburg State University and married his high school sweetheart Jenny. The couple had two girls, Molly, 10 and Besse, 5. They live in Annapolis.

When not working, Copsey enjoyed time on Chesapeake in his powerboat and rarely talked shop at home, said his mother-in-law Cheryl Jetmore. "I would have to pry things out of him that I needed to know," Jetmore said.

Copsey's death was unexpected, Jetmore said. He'd recently been diagnosed with lateral medullary syndrome and was seeking treatment for it when he died, she said.

Viewings are scheduled from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Lee Funeral Home in Owings. A funeral will be held 11 a.m. Thursday at Calvary Bible Church in Lusby.