NEW BEDFORD — Gerald A. Costa, Sr., age 80 years, of New Bedford, died suddenly on Sunday, March 25, 2018 at St. Luke’s Hospital. He was husband of the late Mary S. (Dexter) Costa.
A life long resident he was born in New Bedford, son of the late Clarence Costa Sr. and Matilda (Amaral) Costa. A graduate of New Bedford Vocational School, he was a former communicant of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church.
He enlisted in the National Guard in 1959, served during the Gulf War, a recipient of the bronze star, the Army Service Ribbon and lapel button and commendation medal, good conduct medal, and oak leaf cluster. Then his entire career in the National Guard, he was employed at Otis Base on the Cape, retiring as Chief Warrant Officer W4.
Survivors are his sons Gerald A. Costa Jr. and his wife Cheryl A., James P. Costa and his late partner Ethan A. Tarr, and Patrick L. Costa, his daughter Joanne M. Fitzgerald and her husband Thomas N. Jr., his sister Dolores M. Adesso, seven grandchildren and a great granddaughter.
In lieu of flowers remembrances may be made in his name to Habitat for Cats, P.O. Box 79571, No. Dartmouth, MA 02747.
Visitation will take place on Wednesday from 5-8 p.m. in the Wilson Chapel, 479 County St., N.B. His funeral service will be on Thursday at 11 A.M. in the funeral home, followed by burial in Riverside Cemetery with military honors.