John G. Costa, MD

John G. Costa, MS,MD, JD, passed away in Danbury CT on October 3, 2024 after a battle with dementia. He was born on October 22, 1945 in Brooklyn, NY to the late George and Josephine (Bahash) Costa. After a visit from Danny Thomas, the founder of St. Jude’s Research Hospital, to his elementary school, John was inspired to become a doctor and dedicated his studies to medicine as well as mathematics.

John was a graduate of Xaverian High School in Brooklyn and of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) where he earned a BS in Mathematics. After graduating from RPI, he took a position as a Math teacher on Long Island while pursuing his MS degree, which he obtained in Industrial and Applied Mathematics from Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn. Utilizing his skills in Math, John also took a position on Wall Street as an actuary.

John was accepted to Medical School at the University of Pavia in Italy where he simultaneously learned Italian and graduated from medical school with his MD. He returned to the U.S. where he became board certified in both internal medicine and emergency medicine.

John also graduated from New York Law School in NYC with his JD and became a registered patent attorney. As a patent law attorney, he had many interesting clients whose inventions intrigued him.

John’s love of people endeared him with many of his patients. He always tried to help his patients in any way he could so they could feel comfortable and get through their illness. He was always willing to assist anyone in need of his help. While traveling, John was often called upon as the only physician on the flight to perform CPR and saved many lives.

John was employed in the emergency rooms at Lutheran Medical Center in Brooklyn, Vassar Brothers Hospital in Poughkeepsie, NY as well as Bassett Hospital in Cooperstown, NY and Bon Secures Health System in western NY. He was also a part time house physician for Mohonk Mountain House for many years. He also worked for Sterling Drug Co in NY as an associate medical director and attorney and served as the president of the Dutchess County Medical Society.

He is survived by his longtime partner Kathleen Crowley, his daughter Mary Lee Costa and his 3 nieces Theresa (McCafferty) Gannon, Christine (McCafferty) Wipert, and Denise (McCafferty) Mahon, who are the daughters of his late sister, Barbara.

A funeral Mass will take place on Thursday, November 21, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. at. James Church, 94 Broad St., Red Bank, NJ 07701. Graveside services follow at Mt. Olivet Cemetery, 100 Chapel Rd., Red Bank, NJ 07701. In lieu of flowers, a contribution can be made to St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 in John's memory.

Published in Poughkeepsie Journal and Posted online on November 12, 2024

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