Obituary: John R. Costa, 64, Of New Haven

NEW HAVEN, CT — (From Cody-White Funeral Home): John Rusinko Costa, beloved brother of Johanna Costa Asher, died Saturday, August 12 at his home in New Haven. He was 64. The cause of death was accidental.

Mr. Costa was born March 4, 1959 in Urbana-Champaign, Ill. the son Michael and Anna Costa. He grew up in Poughkeepsie, NY where he attended the Spackenkill public schools. Mr. Costa excelled in all subjects, and particularly loved mathematics and science. He was an excellent debater and loved astronomy, chess, reading, and photography. He played the trumpet in the school band.

Despite struggling with what would become life-long mental illness, Mr. Costa graduated fifth in his class, was a National Merit Finalist, and received the Thomas J. Watson Scholarship to the engineering college at Cornell University. He loved learning, valued education and eventually completed his bachelor’s degree in physics from Southern Connecticut University in 2013.

Mr. Costa lived in New Haven, Conn. for most of his adult life and spent the last eight years as a beloved resident of The Parents Foundation where he loved participating in many activities. Every Christmas, he handed out gifts as the house Santa Claus. When staff members would leave for the day, he would urge them to “drive home safely.”

Mr. Costa loved his family. He especially enjoyed twice weekly calls with his sister and visits with his sister, his nieces, nephews and brother-in-law over chocolate chocolate chip ice cream from Ashley’s.

Mr. Costa is survived by: sister Johanna Costa Asher (Joey Asher), of Cold Spring, NY.; nephew Benjamin Asher (Meredith Callan) of San Francisco; nephew, Elliott Asher of Boulder, Co.; niece Annie Asher, of New York City.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to The Parents Foundation.

For more information and to leave online condolences, visit Cody-White Funeral Home here.