John D. Costa, 84, of Dartmouth, passed away peacefully at home on Thursday, December 12, 2024, surrounded by his family and with love all around him. He was the beloved husband of Kathleen A. (Tripp) Costa with whom he shared 65 years of marriage.
John was born in New Bedford, son of the late John DeSouza Costa of Fall River and Mary C. (Vasconcellos) Costa of Azores. He was a lifelong resident of Dartmouth.
He is the brother of David Costa and his wife Alice and Lillian Rapoza and her husband John, both of Dartmouth, and an uncle to many nieces and nephews.
Survivors along with his wife Kathy include his five children: John P. Costa and his wife Charlene of Dartmouth; Robin L. Sullivan and her husband Steven of Dartmouth; Pamela L. Estrella and her husband Mark of Topsham, Maine; Wendy S. Dagle and her husband Stephen of Sharon; and Todd M. Costa — who was born on his father’s birthday — and his wife Julie of Middleboro.
John was Papa to his 12 grandchildren: Shannon, Drew, Joshua, Zachary, Alicia, Cameron, Brendan, Tyler, Garret, Grayden, Jackson, and Aidan; and his great granddaughter Natalie.
His greatest joy was spending time with his children and grandchildren. No matter the event or the distance, you could always count on his presence at their soccer, baseball, hockey, or lacrosse games, band concerts, track or gymnastics meets, parades, school plays, dance recitals, ballroom dance competitions, and graduations.
John began his career working for the Dartmouth Water Department in December of 1960. In 1968, he became a police officer, where he worked for the majority of his career, and retired as a detective in 2004. Following his retirement, he worked for the Dartmouth Parks Department until December 2022.
During his time with the police department, he created countless memories with his fellow officers and their families through the Dartmouth Police Athletic League and its annual Christmas party. With the parks department, he took immense pride in hard work and formed friendships with the many high school students who joined him on the job. Throughout both jobs, he showed up with his radio in tow and passed the time by listening to country music while he worked.
If you enjoyed any of the local parks or beaches in town, you have him to thank, in part, for keeping them in good shape. All summer long, you could find him sitting on a tractor donning his signature suspenders and a bandana, mowing the lawn.
John enjoyed the outdoors, his vegetable garden, camping, and hunting. For years, he was an integral part in the Smith Mills Congregational Church clambake. While most of his grandchildren were growing up, he and his wife Kathy organized a yearly camping trip to Steep Falls, Maine, where he’d wake up early to take his grandchildren fishing and stay up late tending to the campfire and devouring the accidentally burnt marshmallows.
Family and friends are welcome to join us in our tribute and celebration of his life to be held 10 a.m. on January 18, 2025, at Round the Bend Farm, located at 92 Allens Neck Road, South Dartmouth, MA 02748. Those who wish to share their favorite memories of John are invited to do so.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to:
- Community Nurse Home Care, 62 Center Street, Fairhaven, MA 02719. The
family would like to thank them for their kind and caring support.
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in memory of John to support cancer research and
patient care at: Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, P.O. Box 849168, Boston, MA
02284. A sincere thank you to Dana-Farber and Dr. Marcoux’s team for their care and thoughtfulness during his treatment.