James Edward Costello

James E. Costello, 78, of Sparta, NJ, passed away on March 13, 2015 while on vacation in St. Petersburg, FL. Jim was born in NYC and was raised in Flushing, Queens; he was a resident of Sparta for 45 years. Jim proudly served in the US Army in Korea 1955-57. Jim was appointed to the Fire Department City of New York in 1962 and served as a fireman with Engine 54 and Ladder 4 in Midtown Manhattan until his retirement in 1983; He was a member of the FDNY Holy Name and the Emerald Societies. Jim was co-owner and operator of Costello Sports Camp in Mill Rift, PA and coached girls basketball at Pope John XXIII, Wallkill Valley and Newton High Schools. Jim is survived by his wife of 54 years, Joan Spellman Costello; devoted Father of James N. Costello, Mary Costello, Ann Lazar, Kathleen Patire and her husband Angelo, and Timothy Costello and his wife Anita; Brother of Thomas Costello and Mary Ellen Smith; loving Grandfather of Jacob, Ryan, Katherine and Aiden Lazar and Courtney, Liam, and Declan McHale. Visitation will be held Friday, March 20th, from 2-4, 7-9pm at the Goble Funeral Home, 22 Main St., Sparta, NJ 07871. A funeral mass will be held 10am Saturday at Good Shepherd RC Church, 48 Tranquility Rd (Route 517), Andover, NJ 07821. Interment will follow with military honors at Sparta Cemetery. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made in his memory to: Birth Haven, 4 Academy St, Newton, NJ 07860.