William S. Costa

William “Bill” Costa age 87, passed away September 27, 2012 at his home in Clinton Township, MI. He was born March 5, 1925 in Detroit. He worked for many years as an accountant in the automotive industry. He is survived by his loving wife Dolores; children Cynthia O’Malley and Carol (Jeff) Lowe and his well loved grandchildren Jeffery (Katelynn), Michael, and Kevin. Visitation will be Sunday from 3:00PM to 8:00PM, with a rosary at 7:00PM at Resurrection Funeral Home, 40800 Hayes, Clinton Township, MI 48038 and Monday 9:00AM until time of mass 9:30AM at St. Michael Catholic Community, 40501 Hayes, Sterling Heights, MI 48313. Burial will be at Resurrection Cemetery.

While it is possible to receive good counsel from a wide circle of family and friends, few could do it with the skill and aptitude of William "Bill" S. Costa. He had a true talent for helping others reach their full potential and brought out the best in those who sought his help. William was a forward-looking man whose personality was filled with empathy toward everyone he met. He could be quiet and reserved, but his style of communication was authentic and direct. An excellent communicator, William was a master at using imagery when he explained his ideas and concepts. He seemed to have an endless supply of innovative concepts and strategies for how to help those around him. His sensitivity, kindness and generous attitude made him a wonderful friend for all who knew him.

From the time he was born on March 5, 1925, William showed a deep concern for others. He was a giving and caring individual, ethical and full of integrity and warmth. William came into this world at at home in Detroit, Michigan. His parents were Sam and Minnie Costa. William was raised in Detroit.

Because fellowship was so important to him, William promoted harmony with his siblings. He was raised with 5 siblings. He had four older brothers, Joseph, Joe, Sam, Oscar, and one sister Elsie. William was something of the family diplomat. He helped to settle problems and conflicts and kept the family running smoothly.

A good student who was enthusiastic about learning, William was considered by many to be a high achiever. He graduated from St Joseph High School in 1943. He was most proud of being accepted to U of D.

William's talents in writing proved to be an asset for him during his college years. He excelled in classes, even in some subjects that didn’t particularly interest him. William became known to his peers as a seeker of wisdom who appreciated all types of courses, especially those in Liberal Arts which allowed him to build on his remarkable retention of general knowledge. He earned his Bachelor of Business Administration from University of Detroit. His favorite course was math.

Able to maintain a positive focus on the potential good to be found in others, William was always ready with solid advice and guidance to offer his group of friends. He was generally friendly to all who knew him, yet to some he seemed quite independent. For those who really knew William, they recognized that he could be full of surprises. William enjoyed a small but solid group of true friends. He would willingly support those friends when they needed it. Because of his ability to read people, he had an uncanny knack for knowing when a friend needed help. While growing up, his best friend was Joe Tocco.

William was romantic, even poetic at times. He was completely devoted to family and friends, able to show his emotions without going overboard about it. On July 3, 1954 William exchanged wedding vows with Dolores Bates at St Phillips Church in Detroit, Michigan.

All who knew him would agree that there was a certain kind of magic in how William was able to bond with his children. While he could be a firm disciplinarian, he could also fill the role of being a collaborator with his kids. William was always a mentor who helped his family reach its full potential. William was blessed with two children, two daughters, Cindy and Carol. They were also blessed with three grandchildren, Jeffery, Michael, and Kevin.

William projected a subtle but positive influence in his workplace. He was comfortable working behind the scenes to help everyone get their job done, and he worked hard at all times to help others to reach their highest potential. While his colleagues did not view him as a high-spirited type, William was effective at working with others to gain acceptance for his ideas. William could be a perfectionist at times, but wasn’t one to seek out personal recognitions. He possessed excellent insight and a strong ability to meet schedules. He was an innovator who worked well independently, and he enjoyed the task of meeting a constant array of challenges. His primary occupation was a financial ahalyst. He was employed by Ford Motor Company, Timkin, and Chippewa Valley Schools.

William was a Navy Veteran. He was stationed in Seattle, Washington. William saw action for WWII. Through his hard work and dedication, he achieved the rank of Yeoman third class.

As an imaginative and inventive person, William was comfortable showing his creative spirit. He enjoyed his leisure time by taking part in various hobbies. Once William took on a new project, he saw it through to its completion. His favorite pursuits were tinkering, bowling, and inventing. He was content to enjoy his hobbies alone but was also willing to share his interests with others.

Because William was a person who enjoyed helping, teaching and working with others, he was a perfect fit for many types of organizations. His ability to encourage others, energize the group and his ability to solve all sorts of problems made him a desirable member of a wide variety of organizations. In college, William joined the National Association of Cost Accountants and played trumpet in the Navy band.

William was a man with clear convictions and high principles, and his faith was important to him. He was an inspiration to many people who recognized his sense of commitment and esteem for others. He was a member of St Issac Joques and St Michael Catholic Community.

William was a well-respected man who was charitable in every way. He would contribute without hesitation for the benefit of others. As a result, William received many accolades for varied efforts throughout his life. Some of his most prestigious awards included the Greatest Grampa Award.

William possessed strong skills in long-range planning and project completion, a quality that positively influenced his travel and vacation planning. Favorite vacations included trips up north.

William was a lover of animals and cherished his pets. One of William's favorites was Rosie, a Jack Russell and a chihuahua. They were best friends for 7 years. His family was rounded out by his love of all wild animals, he would feed the deer and squirels in his yard.

As someone who treasured harmony and quiet, William accepted retirement and made the most of it. That day finally came in 1990, and William was well prepared. His new life involved relocating to Clinton Township, Michigan. In retirement, he found new pleasure in visiting friends at a local bar.

William passed away on September 27, 2012 at at home. He fought a brave battle against aging. He is survived by his wife Dolores; his daughters Cindy and Carol; son-in-law Jeff; grandsons Jeffery (Katie), Michael, and Kevin. Services were held at St. Michael Catholic Community. William was laid to rest in Resurrection Cemetery, Clinton Township, Michigan.

Though he could be a private person at times, William was always able and willing to give of himself. He was so in tune with others that he often seemed able to read their minds. William carried with him an almost mystical sense of life. He was a person who was highly original in his thinking and used metaphors and symbols to describe many aspects of his life. A poetic, intuitive “teacher”, William "Bill" Costa shared himself freely and family and friends will remember him for the strength of his convictions.