Mark Costa

MARK COSTA, a husband to one, a father to five, and a friend to many, died unexpectedly aged 49 on June 26th, 2012, in Orlando, FL. A fifteen year resident of Winter Garden, FL, he was born in Cambridge, MA to Dennis and Rose Costa and had two sisters, Denise and June, all of whom survived him. On September 26th, 1987, Mark married the love of his life and his best friend Paula (née Debenedetto) and had five children named Nicholas Mark, Chelsea Paige Marie, Thomas Ryan, John Dominic, and Francisco James, all of whom he left behind. He attended Middlesex Community College, where he obtained an A.S., and Rollins College, where he was awarded a B.S. in Computer Science. Mark proudly served in the United States Naval Reserves as a cryptologist for six years. While in the Navy he began his career at Harris Corporation and later worked at Lockheed Martin, Motorola, VERITAS, and Walt Disney World, where he was a Systems Administrator. Mark loved sports and played baseball and ran track as a teenager. As an adult he played in a Baptist Softball League where he was awarded “Most Valuable Catholic”. He was known as a hard worker by everyone who knew him. After he fell through the ceiling while inspecting damage from the 2004 hurricane season he only took three years to patch it up. At work, however, he could always be relied on to fix the big problems as fast as possible. His family knew him as a health nut who detested his wife’s Irish tendency to add salt and butter to everything, and it was a rare night not to see him taking a walk around his neighborhood. He was a devout listener of the daily Sinatra three-pack on the radio which greatly annoyed his children and his friends’ children when they drove with him, and his CD player was always full of Miles, Bird, or Ol’ Blue Eyes. Mark was a selfless man because he loved his family greatly, so the only thing he ever bought for himself was his dream car, a 2010 Chevrolet Camaro. Although Mark liked to compare himself to Vasco da Gama and other Portuguese explorers because of his navigational skills, he was always seasick whenever he went on a boat. Mark was a good and simple man who was never happier than when he was watching his children play soccer or cheer or play jazz. In the Boston tradition he loved talking about sports and politics, especially his beloved Red Sox, with friends and family. Mark always supported his wife and children in whatever they did and he was an honest and forthright person who loved everyone. He will never be forgotten. A wake will be held on Friday, June 29th, from 5:00 to 9:00 at Woodlawn Memorial Park and Funeral Home, which is located at 400 Woodlawn Cemetery Road, Gotha, FL, 34734. The funeral will be held at 10:30 in Holy Family Catholic Church, which Mark was a member of for many years, at 5125 S. Apopka Road, Orlando, FL, 32819, and the burial will be at Woodlawn Cemetery. In lieu of flowers contributions may be sent to The Mark Costa Memorial Fund, c/o Fifth Third Bank, 2900 Maguire Road, Ocoee, FL, 34761. Mark is loved.