Born in New Bedford, a son of the late Joseph and Henrietta (Hammond) Costa; he was a lifelong area resident, and resided in Lakeville for 45 years.
Bill graduated from the Greater New Bedford Vocational Regional Vocational Technical High School in 1958. After graduation he served as a Quartermaster in the United States Coast Guard. He was a NRA member.
Bill and his wife Ann owned Hammond’s Greenhouse for 45 years, initially growing and selling tropical plants from their greenhouses in Lakeville. Bill and Ann then constructed a larger greenhouse and started their hydroponic tomato enterprise, selling their almost perfect tomatoes to many local grocers, fruit and vegetable stands and restaurants. While working in his own greenhouses, Bill also worked at Spillane’s Nursery in Middleboro and was a foreman for A.J. Tomasi Nurseries.
He is survived by a sister, Joan Richards and her husband Kevin, of E. Freetown and a brother, Gerald Costa and his wife Anita Baron, of Fairhaven; He was the brother of the late Patricia Smith Guay. Bill is survived by many loving nieces, nephews and cousins, and a long-time friend and helper at the greenhouse, Bruce Morin of New Bedford.
His funeral service will be Saturday, May 1, 2021 at 9:30 a.m. in the WARING-SULLIVAN HOME at FAIRLAWN, 180 Washington St., Fairhaven, MA 02719. Visitation will be prior to the service from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Burial will be in Naskatucket Cemetery, Fairhaven. For online tribute/directions: www.waring-sullivan.com.
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