John H. Costello Jr.

Former Lowell Sun Publisher and Editor

COSTELLO JR., John H. - Former Editor and Publisher of The Sun, and beloved husband, father and brother passed away peacefully on August 28, 2023 at Avita of Newburyport surrounded by family. He was 78.

John "Jack" Harrington Costello, Jr. was born in Lowell in 1944 to Peggy Palmer Costello and John Harrington Costello, Sr.

In 1963, Jack graduated from Lowell's Keith Academy High School, where he was a standout football player. He graduated from Boston College in 1967 after studying business.

He attended Officer Candidate School in Newport, RI, and proudly served his country as a Lieutenant in the U.S. Navy from 1967-1970.

His family founded The Sun in 1878, and it remained family-owned until 1997. Jack who joined the paper in 1970, served many roles, from sportswriter to sports editor, editor and eventually publisher.

Besides his family, The Sun was Jack's greatest pride and over a span of 30 years he helped grow the paper and create a community of professionals dedicated to providing local news throughout the Greater Lowell area.

Jack made countless civic contributions to the City of Lowell. He served as chairman of the Lowell Memorial Auditorium, chairman of the Tsongas Arena Commission, and was also influential in bringing professional hockey and baseball teams to the city.

He was a longtime communicant and benefactor of the Immaculate Conception Church in Lowell. In his later years, he was also a member of The Visitation Parish in Manchester, MA.

He was a writer, photographer, rock n' roll addict and a legend on the dance floor.

He leaves behind his wife of 54 years, Brenda (Geoffroy), his children, John III and his wife, Alba Figueroa, of Manchester, MA, Peter and his wife, Rose Cordero, of New Rochelle, NY, Nicole and her husband, Jason Kershner, of Boston, MA, and Suzanne and her husband, Eugene Wong, of Wellesley, MA, as well as, his siblings, Charlotte LaPierre, and her husband, Michel, Andrew Costello, and his wife, Michelle, Alexander Costello, and his wife, Antoinette, Thomas Costello and his wife, Erin, brother-in-law, Roberto Biadi and numerous nephews, nieces and cousins. His grandchildren, John IV and Katherine, Aisha and Sarah, Theodore and Kaia, will miss their Grumpy dearly. Jack is survived by his sister-in-law Marilyn (Geoffroy) McLaughlin, brother-in-law, John Geoffroy and his partner Fernando Blanco, sister-in-law Jill Geoffroy and her partner Gary Comeau. He is predeceased by his parents and his sister, Dana Costello Biadi and brother-in-law John J. McLaughlin, Jr..

Family and friends are invited to Jack's Calling Hours, to be held on Tuesday, September 5th from 4 until 8PM at the HALL OF FLAGS, LOWELL MEMORIAL AUDITORIUM on 50 E. Merrimack St, Lowell. His Funeral will be held on Wednesday, September 6th at 10AM at THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION CATHOLIC CHURCH on 144 E. Merrimack St, Lowell. PLEASE GO DIRECTLY TO THE CHURCH FOR THE FUNERAL MASS. Burial will take place at St. Patrick's Cemetery. A Celebration of Jack's Life will follow at the HALL OF FLAGS.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations in Jack's memory to Massachusetts General Hospital's Frontal Temporal Dementia Unit. Designate the gift to Dr. Bradford Dickerson Dementia Research Fund at: Mass General Development Office, 125 Nashua Street,Boston, MA 02114 or at giving.massgeneral.org

ARRANGEMENTS BY THE FAY McCABE FUNERAL DIRECTORS 978-459-9222

www.faymccabe.com



View the online memorial for JOHN H. COSTELLO, JR.