1924
B.
2015
B. Costello
May 25, 1924 — April 4, 2015
B. Patrick Costello, Esquire of Greensburg, completed his final takeoff and entered into eternal life on April 4, 2015, at the age of 90 years. A beloved husband, father, friend, Naval Aviator, and attorney, Pat died peacefully at Redstone Highlands in Greensburg, Pennsylvania.
Born May 25, 1924, in Farmington, West Virginia, and formerly of Pleasant Unity, Pennsylvania, Pat was the son of Elizabeth Regina Coulahan Costello and Paul Daniel Costello.
Pat was seventeen years old when Pearl Harbor was bombed. After he graduated from Latrobe High School and turned eighteen, he enlisted as an aviation cadet in the United States Navy in 1942. He earned his coveted "wings of gold" in 1944, and was carrier qualified in the F-4U "Corsair" fighter plane. Pat served as an active duty Naval Aviator until December 1945. He then transitioned to the Naval Air Reserve and flew F-9F "Panther" fighter jets based at Naval Air Station Willow Grove, Pennsylvania (VF-931) and later at Naval Air Facility Columbus, Ohio (VF-692) for nearly twenty years until his retirement as a Lieutenant Commander.
Pat was a proud Eagle Scout, and felt that Scouting and his parents' guidance gave him the necessary maturity and wisdom to be successful in life. He was a very proud alumnus of the University of Notre Dame, class of 1949, where he was elected senior class president. Pat then earned his law degree at the University of Pennsylvania in 1952. To earn money for his education, Pat worked during summers as a coal miner at Jamison Mine No. 20 in Pleasant Unity, and accepted Naval Reserve flying orders as often as the Navy would allow.
Pat loved the practice of law and, until his retirement last year, he had been a practicing attorney in Greensburg since 1952. Pat was admitted in numerous courts in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, as well as the United States Supreme Court. He was an Elected Fellow of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers and of the American College of Trial Lawyers. Pat was always willing to mentor younger lawyers, and was an active member of the Inns of Court.
Throughout his career, Pat served as General Counsel for a number of organizations including the Boy Scouts of America - Westmoreland Fayette Council, West Penn Power, Westmoreland Hospital, and Jeannette Hospital. He especially loved his work serving the Sisters of Charity for more than forty-two years as the General Counsel for Seton Hill University, his wife's alma mater. He received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Seton Hill University in 1984, and was recently named Emeritus Trustee and General Counsel Emeritus.
Pat was an active member of the local community, serving lengthy terms on numerous boards including the American Cancer Society, the Ireland Institute of Pittsburgh, the Westmoreland County Airport Authority, the Boy Scouts of America - Westmoreland Fayette Council, and Seton Hill University.
When not in his law office or in court, Pat relished working in his yard and garden, and travelling to Notre Dame football games and Deep Creek Lake, Maryland, with his family. Earlier in life, he enjoyed hunting deer and pheasant with his brothers, sons, nieces and nephews on his brother Mike's farm.
A man of deep faith, Pat had a special reverence for the Blessed Virgin Mary. He was an active member of the Blessed Sacrament Cathedral parish where he served as a Eucharistic Minister, lector, and for many years as a member of the parish council. In addition, he served on the Finance Council of the Diocese of Greensburg.
More than all of his professional accomplishments, military accolades, and civic volunteer duties, however, Pat treasured his wife Lou, their four children, and their sixteen grandchildren. He strongly encouraged his children in their academic pursuits and supported them selflessly in their endeavors. He greatly enjoyed stories and anecdotes, especially those involving his family and close friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents and brothers R. Michael Costello, M.D., P. Daniel Costello, infant John Costello, and sister Judy Costello. Pat is survived by his wife of more than forty-eight years, Mary Lucretia O'Neil Costello of Greensburg, and their four children: B. Patrick Costello, Jr. (Mary) of Alexandria, VA; John M. Costello, M.D. (Doyle) of Western Springs, IL; Elizabeth Costello Amaris (Troy) of Minneapolis, MN; Maureen Anne Shinnick (Daniel) of Libertyville, IL. Pat and Lou have sixteen grandchildren: Mary Kate, Patrick, Michael, James, and Colette of Alexandria; Jack, Liam, Colin, Michael, and Kevin of Western Springs; Brendan, Maggie, and Anna of Minneapolis; Paul, John, and James of Libertyville. Pat is also survived by his sister Anne Bordas of Greensburg, his special sister-in-law Naomi Costello of Pleasant Unity, PA, and many treasured nieces and nephews.
The family thanks the wonderful caregivers and staff at Redstone Highlands in Greensburg for the kindness and compassion they showed Pat during the past eight months. The family also greatly appreciates the close friends and family who visited Pat during his time at Redstone.
The family will receive friends at the Kepple-Graft Funeral Home, 524 North Main Street, Greensburg, on Wednesday, April 8, from 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. A Funeral Mass will be offered at Blessed Sacrament Cathedral, 300 North Main Street, Greensburg, on Thursday, April 9, 2015, at 9:30 a.m. Private burial will follow at Saint Vincent Cemetery, Latrobe.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that expressions of sympathy in memory of Pat may be made to Seton Hill University's "Mary Hogan O'Neil and James Michael O'Neil Endowed Scholarship Fund," One Seton Hill Drive, Greensburg, Pennsylvania 15601, or to a charity of the donor's choice.
Visitation:
Kepple-Graft Funeral Home
Wednesday 2-4 and 6-8 PM
Funeral Mass Thursday 9:30 am in the Blessed Sacrament Cathedral
Born May 25, 1924, in Farmington, West Virginia, and formerly of Pleasant Unity, Pennsylvania, Pat was the son of Elizabeth Regina Coulahan Costello and Paul Daniel Costello.
Pat was seventeen years old when Pearl Harbor was bombed. After he graduated from Latrobe High School and turned eighteen, he enlisted as an aviation cadet in the United States Navy in 1942. He earned his coveted "wings of gold" in 1944, and was carrier qualified in the F-4U "Corsair" fighter plane. Pat served as an active duty Naval Aviator until December 1945. He then transitioned to the Naval Air Reserve and flew F-9F "Panther" fighter jets based at Naval Air Station Willow Grove, Pennsylvania (VF-931) and later at Naval Air Facility Columbus, Ohio (VF-692) for nearly twenty years until his retirement as a Lieutenant Commander.
Pat was a proud Eagle Scout, and felt that Scouting and his parents' guidance gave him the necessary maturity and wisdom to be successful in life. He was a very proud alumnus of the University of Notre Dame, class of 1949, where he was elected senior class president. Pat then earned his law degree at the University of Pennsylvania in 1952. To earn money for his education, Pat worked during summers as a coal miner at Jamison Mine No. 20 in Pleasant Unity, and accepted Naval Reserve flying orders as often as the Navy would allow.
Pat loved the practice of law and, until his retirement last year, he had been a practicing attorney in Greensburg since 1952. Pat was admitted in numerous courts in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, as well as the United States Supreme Court. He was an Elected Fellow of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers and of the American College of Trial Lawyers. Pat was always willing to mentor younger lawyers, and was an active member of the Inns of Court.
Throughout his career, Pat served as General Counsel for a number of organizations including the Boy Scouts of America - Westmoreland Fayette Council, West Penn Power, Westmoreland Hospital, and Jeannette Hospital. He especially loved his work serving the Sisters of Charity for more than forty-two years as the General Counsel for Seton Hill University, his wife's alma mater. He received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Seton Hill University in 1984, and was recently named Emeritus Trustee and General Counsel Emeritus.
Pat was an active member of the local community, serving lengthy terms on numerous boards including the American Cancer Society, the Ireland Institute of Pittsburgh, the Westmoreland County Airport Authority, the Boy Scouts of America - Westmoreland Fayette Council, and Seton Hill University.
When not in his law office or in court, Pat relished working in his yard and garden, and travelling to Notre Dame football games and Deep Creek Lake, Maryland, with his family. Earlier in life, he enjoyed hunting deer and pheasant with his brothers, sons, nieces and nephews on his brother Mike's farm.
A man of deep faith, Pat had a special reverence for the Blessed Virgin Mary. He was an active member of the Blessed Sacrament Cathedral parish where he served as a Eucharistic Minister, lector, and for many years as a member of the parish council. In addition, he served on the Finance Council of the Diocese of Greensburg.
More than all of his professional accomplishments, military accolades, and civic volunteer duties, however, Pat treasured his wife Lou, their four children, and their sixteen grandchildren. He strongly encouraged his children in their academic pursuits and supported them selflessly in their endeavors. He greatly enjoyed stories and anecdotes, especially those involving his family and close friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents and brothers R. Michael Costello, M.D., P. Daniel Costello, infant John Costello, and sister Judy Costello. Pat is survived by his wife of more than forty-eight years, Mary Lucretia O'Neil Costello of Greensburg, and their four children: B. Patrick Costello, Jr. (Mary) of Alexandria, VA; John M. Costello, M.D. (Doyle) of Western Springs, IL; Elizabeth Costello Amaris (Troy) of Minneapolis, MN; Maureen Anne Shinnick (Daniel) of Libertyville, IL. Pat and Lou have sixteen grandchildren: Mary Kate, Patrick, Michael, James, and Colette of Alexandria; Jack, Liam, Colin, Michael, and Kevin of Western Springs; Brendan, Maggie, and Anna of Minneapolis; Paul, John, and James of Libertyville. Pat is also survived by his sister Anne Bordas of Greensburg, his special sister-in-law Naomi Costello of Pleasant Unity, PA, and many treasured nieces and nephews.
The family thanks the wonderful caregivers and staff at Redstone Highlands in Greensburg for the kindness and compassion they showed Pat during the past eight months. The family also greatly appreciates the close friends and family who visited Pat during his time at Redstone.
The family will receive friends at the Kepple-Graft Funeral Home, 524 North Main Street, Greensburg, on Wednesday, April 8, from 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. A Funeral Mass will be offered at Blessed Sacrament Cathedral, 300 North Main Street, Greensburg, on Thursday, April 9, 2015, at 9:30 a.m. Private burial will follow at Saint Vincent Cemetery, Latrobe.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that expressions of sympathy in memory of Pat may be made to Seton Hill University's "Mary Hogan O'Neil and James Michael O'Neil Endowed Scholarship Fund," One Seton Hill Drive, Greensburg, Pennsylvania 15601, or to a charity of the donor's choice.
Visitation:
Kepple-Graft Funeral Home
Wednesday 2-4 and 6-8 PM
Funeral Mass Thursday 9:30 am in the Blessed Sacrament Cathedral
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