Joseph Costello, 85, Accomplished Athlete
Joseph Costello, age 85, of Lorain died Sunday, June 3, 2001 in the emergency room of Community Health Partners Hospital and Surgical Center-West after being stricken with an apparent heart attack. He was born January 2, 1916 in Punxatawney, Pennsylvania and had been a resident of Lorain since his childhood.A parishioner of the Catholic Church of St. Peter-Lorain, he had been employed in the management division of the Welded Pipe Mills at U.S. Steel's Lorain Works for 35 years; he retired in 1969.
An accomplished athlete and described as a slashing runner, he played semi-pro football for five years with the Lorain Czarniecki Club capturing numerous championships in the Ohio Semi-Pro competition. He also played softball serving as a third baseman with Sobel Jewelers, Yepko Meats, and the J.C. Schrader teams throughout the 1930s and 1940s. His name became synonymous with the long ball and he was named home run champion and RBI leader of the Lorain team in the National Softball League during several seasons. He was selected to the All-State First Team as a third baseman. He was inducted into the Lorain Sports Hall of Fame in April of 1974 and into the Ohio Amateur Softball Hall f Fame in 1985.
He was also an accomplished bowler and participated with the U.S. Steel Management league; he carried a 190-lifetime average. His favorite past time was fishing.
Survivors include his wife of 61 years: Ann (nee Machine), sons: Joseph, Richard, and William all of Lorain, daughters: Cheryl Barrow of West Salem, Carol White of Lorain, and Rosemary Taylor of Lakewood, 14 grandchildren, 5 great grandchildren, sisters: Frances Salatnai of Lorain and Madaline Szabo of Vermilion, and by brothers: Charles, John Phil, and Pete all of Lorain. He was preceded in death by his parents: Peter and Madeline (nee Cericella) Costello, and by brothers: Steven and Pat "Patsy". Visitation will be Wednesday from 2-4 & 7-9 p.m. in the Gluvna-Shimo-Hromada Funeral Chapel-3224 Broadway-Lorain. A memorial service will be conducted at 7:15 p.m. by members of the Lorain Sports Hall of Fame. Funeral services will be Thursday at 10:00 a.m. in the funeral chapel with the Rev. Kenneth Wolnowski, pastor of the Catholic Church of St. Peter officiating. Interment will be in Calvary Cemetery-Lorain.