Owen James Costello

MOUNTAIN TOP — Owen James Costello, known affectionately as "Jim" to his family, was born July 24, 1945, to Maureen (Barnett) Costello and Francis Costello. At a very young age, Jim's mother passed away and his father left Jim and his two younger siblings. His maternal grandmother, Hanna Barnett, tried her best to raise all three children who were under the age of five years old, but eventually Jim, his brother, Jack, and his sister, Jane, moved to the Masonic Homes in Elizabethtown.

Jim graduated from Elizabethtown High School in 1964. Upon his graduation, he moved to Wilkes-Barre and attended Wilkes-Barre Business School and Wilkes University, where he received a bachelor's degree in education.

A graduate of Wilkes University, he served as executive director for the Wilkes-Barre Recreation Board from 1974 to 1982. He was the catalyst behind the city's Farmers Market, St. Patrick's Day Parade and Old Fashioned Fourth of July Celebration. Jim and Jack developed and formed the first junior football program in the Wyoming Valley – the Heights Packers.

Owen "Jim" served as a school board director for 16 years for the Wilkes-Barre Area School District.

He served as president/CEO of Keystone State Games Inc. for 34 years. He was hired as the executive director in 1983. The games have become a major amateur sports event in the Commonwealth.

In 2009, Owen created his own sports administration organization, Premier Amateur Sports LLC, with his two sons so that he could expand to promote amateur athletics beyond Pennsylvania.

Governor Robert P. Casey appointed Jim to the Governor's Council on Physical Fitness & Sports in June 1988 and he was re-appointed by Governor Thomas Ridge. In 1990, Owen "Jim" was inducted into the Luzerne County of Pennsylvania Hall of Fame for his outstanding achievements in sports administration, and he was named the recipient of the Philadelphia John B. Kelly Jr. Memorial Outstanding Citizen Award for generously giving time to the community.

His family was and is vastly proud of all his achievements.

Owen "Jim" married the former Mary Ann Potichko of Wilkes-Barre in 1970. Jim and Mary Ann were truly meant for each other; they made a good team and had a great life together. Jim and Mary Ann lived in Wilkes-Barre for many years and moved to Mountain Top in 2004.

They have two sons who Jim was extremely proud of. Brian James, his oldest son, is the secondary director of curriculum for the Wilkes-Barre Area School District and is married to Mandy (Pashinski), an elementary teacher in the district. Brian and Mandy and their two wonderful children, Brian Anthony and Mia Rose, also reside in Mountain Top.

His youngest son, James John, is a physical education teacher for the Wilkes-Barre Area School District and resides in Mountain Top with his fiancee, Amanda. Jim and Amanda have two wonderful children, Chloe Elizabeth and Madison Celeste.

Jim felt very lucky that he got to know his grandchildren and enjoyed very much going to Brian Anthony's and Mia Rose's various games and recitals as well as Chloe's and Madison's gymnastics classes and soccer games. He was also quite proud that the children were learning to play the piano.

Also surviving are his sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Carol and Tom O'Hara and Elaine and Fred Lewis, Wilkes-Barre; nieces and nephews, Tracey (Costello) Bogdan and her husband, Rob, Swoyersville, Justin Costello, Wilkes-Barre, Tom O'Hara Jr., Wilkes-Barre, Patrick and his wife, Jen, Wilkes-Barre, Fred Lewis Jr. and his wife, Diane, Dunmore, Marcey (Lewis) Roberts and her husband, Walt, Wilkes-Barre; his sister Jane's children, Heath and Greg; and her granddaughter, Tara, all residing in Montana.

Deceased is his brother, Jack, who was a true friend throughout his life and shared a wonderful bond with Owen; his sister, Jane (Costello) Williams, who was always great for a laugh; his grandmother, Hanna Barnett, whom he loved very much; his uncle, Richard Barnett, a man with many stories and who lived a full life; and his mother-in-law, Theresa Potichko, who Jim respected and admired and who he truly loved like a mother.

We were all so very lucky that this outstanding man was in our lives. We know because of his kindness, thoughtfulness and caring that we have learned much from him; and although his life had a rough beginning, it ended better and with more love in it then he could have possibly imagined.

Funeral services will be held at 9 a.m. Wednesday from the Nat & Gawlas Funeral Home, 89 Park Ave., Wilkes-Barre, with a Mass of Christian Burial to follow at 9:30 a.m. in Our Lady of Hope Parish, 40 Park Ave., Wilkes-Barre. Entombment will be in St. Mary's Cemetery, Hanover Township. Friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Keystone State Games Inc., P.O. Box 1166, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18703.

Online condolences may be sent by visiting Owen's obituary at www.natandgawlasfuneralhome.com.