Peter Louis Costas

1931 - 2017

New London - Peter Louis Costas, beloved husband of Joan Bennett Costas for 64 years, and devoted father to his children, passed away on Feb. 16, 2017, at the age of 85, from complications of Parkinson's.

Peter was born in Binghamton, N.Y., the son of Louis and Emma Costas, where he attended local schools until college. He was a graduate of Syracuse University with a BS in chemistry, and then graduated from the Syracuse University College of Law in 1954. Peter was a member of the Army Reserves while in law school and subsequently served two years on active duty in Germany during the Korean War. After his service in the army, he became a member of the Patent Department of ALCOA in Pittsburgh, Pa. Peter and his wife, Joan, moved to the Hartford area when he joined the firm of Linsdey & Prutzman. He remained with them until he opened his own firm in 1962.

Peter was an active practicing attorney in the Hartford area for over 50 years, with a specialty in Intellectual Property. His bar memberships included Connecticut, New York, the U.S. Supreme Court, the Patent and Trademark Office, and various U.S. District and Courts of Appeals. He had his own law practice for many years located on Lewis Street, in Hartford. Then, in 1992, he joined the law offices of Pepe & Hazard as a senior partner.

Peter's legal career included other activities as well. He was the chair of the Ad Hoc Committee to revise Connecticut Drug Laws, and the vice chair of the Drug Advisory Council, State of Connecticut in 1966, and in 1967 received the Bell Award from the Connecticut Association for Mental Health for leadership in promoting improved mental health legislation.

Peter was the president of the Connecticut Bar Association in 1997, and during all his years of membership served on many committees during his long membership with the CT Bar. He also served on the board and in different editorial positions of the Connecticut Bar Journal for over 20 years. In 1987, he was awarded the John Eldred Shields Memorial Award for Distinguished Professional Service. He was the author of many legal public publications. He was a Fellow of the American Bar Association, served as president of the Connecticut Patent Law Association, and was staff council for the Connecticut Citizens for Judicial Modernization.

Although Peter was very active in his professional career, his personal life involved sailing. The sailboat Poseidon was always a part of the family activities, and the many eventful trips with his family, as well as with his close buddies, were among his fondest memories. The family always lived in West Hartford, but because of the sailing connection, the Costas family has had a close connection with New London, and has maintained a home in New London for the past 20 years. Peter then elected to retire in New London when he retired from active law practice. He was an active member of the Thames Yacht Club and served as chairman of the New London Port Authority in 2010.

The family wishes to thank Cindy Carviaglia, Nova Edwards and Maria Hays for helping Peter remain comfortable in his own home for some time. We also extend our sincere and grateful thanks to all the wonderful staff of Fairview, the people who helped to ease Peter's last difficult days.

Peter Costas is survived by his wife, Joan; his three children, George Costas, Carol Raywood, and Barbara Costas; and his son-in-law, Marc Liebig. He is also survived by six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. There are no calling hours and the burial will be private. The family plans a Celebration of Life in the early spring. An announcement for that will be posted.

Memorial donations may be made to: Greater Hartford Legal Aid Foundation, 999 Asylum Ave., Hartford, CT 06105; Connecticut Legal Services 62 Washington St., Middletown, CT 06457; Connecticut Legal Services, 153 Williams St., New London,CT 06320; and the National Parkinson Foundation.

Please visitwww.byles.com to sign his registry.