Carl Joseph Costantino

Carl J. Costantino, age 92, passed away on Sunday, October 19, 2014 in New Bern, North Carolina. He was born in Dunkirk, New York in 1921. He attended Niagara University, where he received a B.A. and Master's Degree in Education, and a Master's Degree in Social Work from the State University of New York at Buffalo. He served as a medic in World War II in both the Pacific and European theaters. He humbly cared for German prisoners of war and upheld principles of duty and service to country throughout his life. He was a shining example of the Greatest Generation.

Mr. Costantino worked as a professional social worker and served forty-two years as the Director of the Niagara County Probation Department. A strong proponent of group homes and alternative sentencing for juvenile offenders, Mr. Costantino was called upon in a consultant role to assist Probation Departments in other states in their attempt to initiate rehabilitative programs for troubled youth. He was later appointed by Governor Rockefeller to serve on the New York State Crime Commission. Mr. Costantino also taught sociology and cultural anthropology at several area colleges in Western New York. He and his wife Jeanette, team-taught Sociology and Social Problems at the Carmelite Seminary in Canada for many years.

They moved to the New Bern area from Lewiston, New York in 2005. He became an avid reader of biographies, loved raking, making puzzles, rocking on his porch, and visiting with neighbors.

Mr. Costantino was a talented musician, playing the trumpet, French horn, and piano. He and his twin brother, Frank, played in a small band. He composed many songs and ballads, some of which were published and produced by several country and western artists. As a wedding gift to his children, he wrote each of them a cherished song.

Mr. Costantino suffered the loss of his son Paul in 2007.

He is survived by Jeanette, his wife of sixty years, daughters Cathy Costantino and, husband, Jack Moran of Burkittsville, Maryland and Carol Harshman and husband, Dr. David Harshman of New Bern, North Carolina. He had four grandchildren- Chelsey Harshman, of Grand Rapids, Michigan, Lisa Harshman of New York City, and Andrea and Nicholas Costantino of Albany, New York.

Arrangements by Cotten Funeral Home.

A mass of Christian burial will be held at St. Paul Catholic Church at a later date.

Flowers are gratefully declined; donations can be made to the Prison Ministry, St. Paul Catholic Church.