James Lawrence Kielt Costello

James Lawrence Kielt Costello, 20, of Houston TX, a cherished son, brother, and friend, was a kind and gentle young man who loved his family dearly. James, Jamie to his family, died at home on May 11, 2024. The day before that was a very happy one spent with his parents and his beloved pets.

He was born in Houston TX on November 7, 2003, to parents Sarah and Robert Leo Costello, whose lives were changed in every way by his arrival from the first moment. Sarah and Leo delighted and marveled in his quiet thoughtfulness, dry, subversive sense of humor, and incredible gentleness. Jamie, from the first, was an extraordinarily loyal friend, son, and brother who formed deep, lasting relationships. He happily adopted the Sicilian motto “Omerta,” which to him meant loyalty to his friends and family over everything. The impact of his kindness, wit, and humor will remain with everyone who knew him. He spoke often of a wonderful childhood, most of it spent in the loving company of his brother Connor and his friends, on long summer days and nights at the Maplewood Pool, and in backyards in the neighborhood. He loved to talk of his allegiance to the “096,” referring to his home zip code. Jamie was an avid baseball player and dearly loved his time at Westbury Little League, where he later returned to help coach a team of 4- and 5-year-olds. He was a skilled swimmer who spent many summers with the Maplewood Marlins and later as a lifeguard at the Maplewood Pool. He was an adventurous, if sometimes grumbling, hiker, who loved being in nature in places like Wyoming, Big Bend, and the northeast. When he and his family were once faced with the prospect of feral hogs in West Texas, his typical Jamie reaction was to find a large stick to protect them, which he dubbed “Pigsmacker.” Jamie also loved history, and enjoyed travels with his family to Rome, London, and Normandy. He did not much like Paris. More and more, he loved spending time with his family in recent years, whether he was helping his mother garden, birding with his father, or watching movies or the Sopranos with his brother. His deep empathy and inherent kindness meant that loving animals came naturally to Jamie and he spent many happy days throughout his life at the Houston Zoo. But most dear to him, in every way, were his cats Cairo and Gigi and his dog Pepper.

Jamie attended St. Catherine’s Montessori, and played cello at Parker Elementary School and Meyerland Middle School, before attending and graduating from Bellaire High School in 2022. He was a student at Texas State University and was looking forward to spending his summer with his family and friends in Houston. For all the many places around the world he went, Jamie’s favorite place on earth was his hometown. He was a proud Houstonian.

Jamie is survived by his parents Sarah and Leo Costello, his brother Connor Costello, his grandparents Mary and Lawrence Costello and Fran and Jim Kielt, his aunt and uncle Carolyn and Christian Lewerenz, his aunt and uncle Megan and Matt Kressin, his cousins Erik Lewerenz, Sigrid Lewerenz, Liam Kressin, and Finian Kressin, and many friends he considered his chosen family. He knows how much we all love him.

His memorial service/celebration of life/commemoration will be held June 4th from 4-6 pm at the Rice Memorial Center. There will be limited seating in the Rice Chapel, and an overflow space in the nearby Grand Hall. A reception with light food and drinks will follow at Cohen House, also on campus, and a short walk away.

Donations to Houston Cares Animal Rescue made in James’s honor would be appreciated in lieu of flowers.