GORHAM – Dr. Richard Albert “Doc” Costello died Monday, April 7, 2008, at his residence. He was born Oct. 30, 1928, in Burlington, N.J., the son of Phillip and Ernesta Costello. He was a graduate of Burlington High School, earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Alabama, a Master of Science degree from the University of Illinois and a doctorate of phy-sical education from Springfield College. Doc served the in the U.S. Army 7th Cavalry Regiment from 1946 to 1948, and received a World War II Victory Medal and Army of Occupation Medal Japan. He began a teaching/coaching career in 1953 as an instructor of health and physical education, and assistant coach of basketball and baseball at Gorham State Teachers College. In 1955 he became director of athletics, a position he held until 1990. He was also varsity basketball and baseball coach. Doc instituted the first collegiate soccer program in Maine and coached that sport at Gorham State Teachers College. Included among athletic teams that were added under his guidance were cross-country, tennis, golf, skiing, sailing and ice hockey. At Gorham State/Uni-versity of Southern Maine, Doc was head coach of the men’s basketball team, 1955-1971, and women’s basketball team, 1977-1987. He was the only NCAA coach in the nation’s history to win at least 200 games with each of the men’s and women’s teams. Due to Doc’s leadership as athletic director, Southern Maine became a member of the NCAA and ECAC. He was vice chairman of NAIA District 32 and chairman of District 5. He was one of the founders of the Western Maine Athletic Conference, and a founder and first commissioner of Little East Conference. The sports complex on the Gorham campus of University of Southern Maine is named for Richard and Melissa Costello. Among numerous awards, Doc was inducted into the NAIA Hall of Fame, the University of Southern Maine Hall of Fame, the Maine Sports Hall of Fame and Burlington High School Hall of Fame; several times he received NAIA District 5 Women’s Coach of the Year, Maine Coaches and Writers Coach of the Year, Little East Coach of the Year, New England Women’s Basketball Coach of the Year, Distinguished Leadership Award from the Maine Association of Health, Physical Education and Recreation. He also received several soccer awards and the University of Southern Maine Richard A. “Doc” Special Achievement Award. Doc was a member of and leader in many organizations such as charter member of Gorham Country Club, Portland Elks Lodge, Italian Heritage Center, Westbrook American Legion, Special Olympics Board of Directors, Maine Sports Hall of Fame Board of Directors, secretary and master of ceremonies, Phi Kappa Phi, Phi Delta Kappa and Phi Epsilon Kappa. He was a life long New York Yankees and New England Patriots fan. Doc is survived by his wife of 51 years, Melissa Dunn Costello; a sister, Elvira Liberatore; many nieces and nephews. There will be no visiting hours. A memorial Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated 11 a.m. Saturday, April 12, at St. Anne’s Roman Cath-olic Church, Main Street, Gor-ham. Private burial will take place at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations in his mem-ory may be made to Athletic Director, The USM Athletic Department, University of Southern Maine, 37 College Ave., Gorham, ME 04038. Arrangements by Dolby & Dorr Funeral Chapel.
DR. RICHARD ALBERT COSTELLO
