Richard F. Costello, (or “Dick”, or “Poppa Dick”, or “Uncle Dick” as just about everyone knew him), 89, of Lakewood, NJ passed away on March 27, 2018 surrounded by his loving wife of 64 years, Fran, and his three children.

Born and raised in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, Dick began high school at Brooklyn Prep. Prior to his senior year his family moved to New Jersey and he graduated from Rumson High School where he was the quarterback of the football team. He then attended and graduated from Seton Hall University where he earned a degree in marketing.

Dick proudly served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War, spending most of his time in the war bravely fighting on the front lines.

Dick’s 64-year marriage to his wife Fran was the kind that storybooks are written about. They met as teenagers when he was a camp counselor at Camp St. John’s on Hunter Lake, NY, across the lake from where Fran’s family had a summer house. As the legend goes, during their courtship he would paddle a red canoe to call on her. They were married soon after he returned from the war. They eventually settled in Garden City, NY where they raised their three children, Mary, Suzie and Richard. After retirement Fran and Dick moved to Lakewood, NJ. Their lives together were filled with lots of love and laughter and with great times spent with family and friends. They spent time every summer with their children and their extended family at Hunter Lake, a place they considered to be their “home away from home” and their slice of heaven. Their love never waned.

Dick had a long, very successful and award-winning career in advertising sales, mostly with the Los Angeles Times out of their New York City office. But his life was defined more by his love of family and friends, by his kindness to everyone he met, by his enjoyment of a good party, and by his wit and great sense of humor than it was ever defined by his job.

Dick’s father was a professional musician. When his parents were touring on the road, Dick would live with his grandmother who fostered his love of baseball and, especially, of the Brooklyn Dodgers. More than once he would hurry after school to sneak into Ebbets Field to catch the end of Dodger games. After the Dodgers broke his heart by moving to the West Coast he became a loyal fan of the New York Mets, even though they rarely rewarded his loyalty.

He enjoyed sports of all kinds – whether it was by playing them when he was younger and, later, by watching them on TV, by placing a modest wager on a horse or two, by coaching his children, or by cheering on his grandchildren.

Dick was predeceased by his parents, Richard and Anna Costello. He is survived by his loving wife, Frances Ann (McAward) Costello; his two daughters, Mary Frances Vohden and her husband Jeff of Chatham NJ and Suzanne Marie Starzynski and her husband James of Holmdel NJ, by his son, Richard Francis Costello, Jr and his wife Brenda of Glen Cove, NY, and by his five grandchildren, Brian Vohden, Patrick Vohden and his wife Megan, Danny Vohden and his wife Kelly, Lucy Costello and Micaela Costello.

Visiting will be on Monday, April 2, 2018 from 3-8pm at the O’Brien Funeral Home, 505 Burnt Tavern Road, Brick. A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered 11am on Tuesday, April 3, 2018 at Sacred Heart RC Church, Bay Head. Burial will be private at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his name to the Dominican Sisters of Peace, 2320 Airport Drive, Columbus, Ohio 43219.