Sergeant. Howard T. “Ted” Costa Jr., 76, Retired Gloucester Police Officer, passed away on Wednesday evening, February 6, 2019 at the Kaplan Family Hospice House following many years of battling numerous ailments. He was the husband of Carole I. (Morash) Costa.
Born in Gloucester on July 9, 1942, he was the son of the late Howard and M. Phyllis (Brown) Costa. Ted was a graduate of Gloucester High School with the Class of 1961. He then served in the U.S. Navy on the USS Paul Revere during the Vietnam War.
Following his discharge he briefly worked for Babco Industries as a machinist in Danvers. Ted was appointed a Reserve Patrolman on the Gloucester Police Department in 1970, was promoted to the rank of Sergeant in 1992 until his retirement in 1996. While on the Police Department he furthered his education attending North Shore Community College and Springfield College where he earned his Bachelor of Science Degree.
During his career, Ted took great pride in becoming the City of Gloucester’s first Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E. ) Officer and went on to become President of the D.A.R.E. Officer’s Association always seeking to help the youth of his city.
Ted also served in the capacity of Harbor Master and Head of the City of Gloucester Traffic Commission. Very devout in his faith, Ted was a lifelong communicant of Our Lady of Good Voyage Church where he was a longtime member of the Holy Name Society, Eucharistic Minister and former Crowning Emporator. Following his retirement Ted worked for many years as a Funeral Assistant for the Greely Funeral Home.
He was a lifelong member of the Massachusetts Police Association, Gloucester Lodge of Elks, Manchester American Legion and Rockport Golf Club. Ted possessed a great sense of humor and easily made friends with all he came in contact with. Throughout his life, he met all challenges often with a joke and a smile.
His presence will be greatly missed by his family and many friends. In addition to his wife Carole, Ted is survived by his sons, Howard “Ted” Costa III and wife Janice; Scott Costa and wife Erika; grandchildren Brittany and Aaron Costa of Falmouth, ME, Jenna Costa, Sophia Costa, both of Gloucester; and Marlin Welcome of Gloucester; his sister Pamela Marr and husband former Gloucester Chief of Police James Marr, Sr.; niece Kimberly Marr Foster and husband Colin; nephew James Marr, Jr. and companion Sarah Harwood; and nephew Timothy Costa. He was predeceased by his brother Timothy Costa.
His funeral mass will be celebrated in Our Lady of Good Voyage on Monday, February 11th at 11:00 a.m. Extended family and friends are cordially invited to attend. Visiting hours will be held on Sunday from 3 to 6 p.m. in the Greely Funeral Home, 212 Washington Street, Gloucester. The burial will be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Kaplan Family Hospice House, 78 Liberty Street, Danvers, MA 01923 or to the Gloucester Fund – FLAGS, 45 Middle Street, Gloucester, MA 01930, or thegloucesterfund.org For online condolences, please visit greelyfuneralhome.com. To plant a tree in memory of Sergeant Howard Costa Jr., Retired, please visit our Tribute Store.
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