Obituary of Joseph Peter Costello

Joseph Peter Costello, 81, of Syracuse, died September 2, 2023, after several months of ill health.  Peter was born in Annapolis, MD, on September 15, 1941, to Joseph and Ruth Costello.  He received his undergraduate degree in Electrical Engineering from Penn State and his master’s and PhD degrees from Purdue University.

He met his wife Elizabeth while at Purdue, and they were married in 1968.  The following year, they moved to Syracuse when Peter accepted a job at General Electric in their Electronics Laboratory.  He stayed with the company for an astonishing 47 years, through its change to Martin Marietta and then Lockheed Martin.  He retired in 2016 as a Senior Project Manager after a very successful career that spanned space, air, land, marine, and submarine systems.  He was recognized many times for his outstanding contributions to the company, including the prestigious Jefferson Cup and Chairman’s awards.

In his younger years, Peter loved to run and to dive, passions he passed on to his children along with his sweet tooth.  He was an avid reader and could often be found immersed in a spy novel or a history book.  He was very handy and enjoyed fixing up his residences, especially after he had his dream house built when he retired. He loved picking out paint colors to get just the right look for each room.

Peter is survived by his wife Elizabeth; his children Kristen, Kim (Eric) Rose, and Keith; his grandchildren Liam and Nolan Rose; and his sister Ann.  He was predeceased by his parents and his sister Cathleen.

The family is grateful to the staffs of Elderwood and Iroquois Nursing Homes, and especially to Crouse Hospital, for the wonderful care he received.

Services were private.  Contributions to the Crouse Health Foundation, 736 Irving Avenue, Syracuse, NY 13210, would be greatly appreciated.