Sebastian Paul Costa

1941 - 2015

Sebastian Paul Costa "Paul," a resident of North Richland Hills, passed away from prostate cancer on Monday, Oct. 12, 2015. Memorial service: 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 24, at Gateway Church, North Richland Hills Campus, 7501 Davis Blvd., North Richland Hills, 76182, and at 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 7, at St. Peter's Episcopal Church, 19 Smith St. and Westchester Ave., Port Chester, N.Y. 10573. Memorials: In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Paul Costa Ministry, Inc., 8017 Kristina Lane, North Richland Hills, Texas 76182, www.paulcostaministry.com. Paul was born on Pearl Harbor Day, Dec. 7, 1941, in Port Chester, N.Y., to Paul Vincent Costa and Molly Pace Costa. He attended Port Chester High School where he was a first-team, All-American football player. Paul received a football scholarship to the University of Notre Dame, where he earned a degree in communications. After graduation from Notre Dame, Costa was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs of the AFL, as well as the Green Bay Packers of the NFL. Kansas City traded Costa's draft rights to the Buffalo Bills in 1965 and subsequently, Paul signed with the Bills where he became a starter his rookie year. Costa soon became one of the league's elite tight ends, being named to the AFL All-Star game five consecutive years (1965-1969). The Bills won an AFL Championship in 1965, Paul's rookie year. After eight years with Buffalo, Paul played with the Birmingham Americans and Birmingham Vulcans of the World Football League before hanging up his helmet. He went on to coach football at Evangel College in Springfield, Mo., and soon felt his calling as a pastor. Paul pastored churches in Port Chester, N.Y., and Birmingham, Ala., from 1980-1997 and received his master's and Ph.D. degrees from the California Graduate School of Theology. Paul was preceded in death by his son, Paul Costa Jr.; parents, Paul and Molly Costa; grandparents; aunts; uncles; and cousins. Survivors: Paul is survived by his wife of almost 39 years, Jan Medders Costa; son, Clark Costa (Alexis) of Grapevine; stepsons, Steve Allen (Judy) of Cibolo, and Greg Allen (Ruth) of Monticello, Minn.; six grandchildren, Pascal Allen, Carly Allen, Jacob Allen and Spencer Allen of Cibolo, and Alex Allen and Ozzie Allen of Monticello, Minn.; sisters, Catherine Brown (Alan) of Flower Mound and Anita Mukamal (David, deceased) of Dallas; brother, Frank Costa of Watauga; and many nieces, nephews and cousins. According to Costa, the most important thing that ever happened in his life was his acceptance of Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior.