Samuel Joseph Costa

“Anything is possible.” That is what Samuel Joseph Costa believed about life. He was lovingly known by friends and family as Sammy. He was a creative man and perpetual inventor who was able to find a solution for any difficulty confronting him. Sammy thoroughly enjoyed understanding how things worked. He possessed an inquisitive, confident, and rational nature matched with a versatile and agile mind. Sammy was a person who believed that he could achieve whatever he set out to do.

Sammy was born on Wednesday, September 28th, 1949 at Highland Park General Hospital in Highland Park, Michigan to Sam Costa and Delores Francisco. Sammy was reared in Detroit, Michigan. He showed his ingenuity even as a child. This same talent for finding solutions had a positive bearing on Sammy’s family relationships with sisters Betty, Dorothy, Irene, Margie, June, Lilly, Toni and Maryann. When difficult situations arose, he was there to offer a way to make things better.

As a young boy, Sammy was curious, resourceful and interested in anything original. He took part in baseball and in his spare time he liked drawing and baseball cards. Sammy's memorable achievements included first place in Art.

With an appetite for knowing how the world worked, Sammy enjoyed school, especially when the learning experience involved dissecting and probing the unknown. He graduated from Eastern High School in 1968. His favorite class in high school was Art.

Sammy had a vibrant personality and sense of humor that drew a diverse and lively circle of friends around him. Always interested in his friends’ activities and interests, Sammy was uncritical of his acquaintances. Friends knew he was generous with his time and conversation. Sammy’s humor and curiosity were contagious. While growing up, some of his best friends were Allen Ladd, John Hatzen-Buhler, Reggie Randolph and Louis Clark. Later in life, he became friends with Betty Arnold, Bob McCallister, Dale Holland, Eulice Row, Gail Penny and Alfred and Louise Bourassa.

Sammy and Marilyn Jeanette Pearson began dating in 1980 and exchanged wedding vows October 19th, 1990 at Evangel Church of God in Christ in Detroit, Michigan. Sammy was adept at devising original and creative ways to enhance and improve the marriage partnership. Sammy was a dedicated and loving husband who was quick to respond to Marilyn’s needs.

Being a creative person, Sammy was in his element in the kitchen. His primary occupation was a chef for more than 30 years. He created fresh and unique culinary dishes with Big Boy's, Joe Myer, Carl's Chop House and Harry's at the Pointe.

Sammy's “can do” attitude was an attribute he carried with him into the military. Sammy was a United State Army Veteran who served during the Vietnam War. He was stationed stateside at Fort Ord, California and was deployed overseas to both Vietnam and Germany. Samuel achieved the rank of Corporal.

Having the opportunity to visit and explore a new place always intrigued Sammy. Traveling and going away on vacations offered yet another opportunity for him to expand his ever growing inventory of knowledge. Favorite places included traveling to Pforzheim, Germany; Palermo, Italy and exploring small towns and mining sites in Nevada and Arizona.

Sammy developed many interests and leisure pursuits. His favorite hobbies were playing bingo, video poker, coin collecting and card games. Throughout his later years, Sammy was an active member of the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews. Politically, he was a member of the Democratic Party. Faith and religion were also important to Sammy. He was a member of Foothill Baptist Church. During that time, he was part of the Men of Faith and a Sunday School Member. With his talents and ingenuity, it is no surprise that Sammy was recognized as a Patriarch Fellowship Abraham member for seven years.

In 1997, Sammy and Marilyn relocated to Las Vegas, Nevada from Detroit, Michigan. Sammy loved and cherished his pets. Sammy's favorites included Midnight, his cat, Speckels & Ginger, his two dogs who never left his side. His family was rounded out by an aquarium full of fish. For Samuel Joseph Costa, the fun of living his life could be found in sharing all of its challenges and wonder with Marilyn Jeanette Costa, his wife and best friend. Sammy was called home to the Lord on Friday, June 29th, 2018.

Viewing services were held at Palm Northwest Mortuary, Las Vegas, Nevada, July 10th, 2018. Samuel was laid to rest in Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery, in Boulder City, Nevada, July 11th, 2018.