By Albert Amateau
The Xavier High School football team, their fellow students and faculty members paid tribute to Bill Costa, the Xavier junior varsity and conditioning coach, at his funeral Tues., Oct. 4, at Our Lady of Pompeii Church on Carmine St.
William James Costa died unexpectedly of a heart attack at age 56 in his home in Greenwich Village on Thurs., Sept. 29, according to his son, James, a history teacher and freshman football coach at Xavier.
Bill Costa first got involved in the Xavier football program in 1998 when James became a student in the Jesuit school at 30 W. 16th St. Bill Costa officially joined the Xavier athletic staff in 2005 as the junior varsity assistant and strength and conditioning coach.
He developed the junior varsity’s off-season training to prepare them for the regular season and helped to condition student athletes on other Xavier teams.
His son said part of the reason he returned two years ago to teach and coach at Xavier was to spend more time with his father.
William James Costa was born in St. Vincent’s Hospital in Greenwich Village to Richard and Assunta Costa. He went to St. Joseph’s Academy on Washington Place and to high school at LaSalle on Second Ave. and E. Second St.
“He started lifting weights when he was 15 and played football with a traveling St. Anthony’s [Church] team,” said his son.
In addition to his son, James, a daughter, Ishe Costa, and a sister, Judy Costa, both of the Village, also survive. His longtime partner, Diane, and her two children, who considered Bill as their father, also survive.
Perazzo’s Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
