Fr. Aquinas Costello, O.P.
Born Richard Costello in Lincoln, NE on September 1, 1926, Fr. Aquinas Richard Costello passed away quietly at Nazareth House on December 1st after a lengthy illness. Having been pre-deceased by his parents, Clarence Emmett Costello and Hazel May Hills Costello, his brothers, Donald, Edwin and John Costello, he is survived by his brothers, James and Paul, 23 nieces and nephews and 33 grand-nieces and nephews.
In 1941, the family moved to San Diego where Fr. Costello attended Hoover HS and St. Augustine’s HS. He attended Villanova University, San Diego State University and finally the University of Nebraska where he earned a BS in Education and an MA in English.
Having taught English at Marston Middle School in the late 50s, he entered the Dominican Novitiate which was then in Thousand Oaks in 1962. In 1965 he made final vows as a Dominican Friar at St. Albert’s Priory in Oakland. On June 15, 1968 the Most Reverend John Quin, D.D. ordained him to the priesthood at his home parish, St. John the Evangelist in San Diego.
Having taught Religion and English for one year at Daniel Murphy HS in Los Angeles and one year at Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks, CA, he then taught at University High School in San Diego from 1971 until 1983. He then left teaching to become his mother’s primary care-giver until her death. From 1988 until 1991 he taught at Pater Noster HS in Los Angeles, where he was also the chaplain to the Brothers of St. Patrick.
From 1991 until 1998 he taught at Bellarmine-Jefferson HS in Burbank, CA. He was subsequently assigned to Holy Rosary Priory in Portland, OR, St. Dominic Priory in Los Angeles and finally to St. Raymond of Penyafort House in San Diego in 2008 where he retired.
His family invites friends to a Rosary and Mass at Nazareth House, 6333 Rancho Mission Road, San Diego on Tuesday, December 11 at 9:30 a.m. To make a gift in memory of Fr. Aquinas, please click here
In 1941, the family moved to San Diego where Fr. Costello attended Hoover HS and St. Augustine’s HS. He attended Villanova University, San Diego State University and finally the University of Nebraska where he earned a BS in Education and an MA in English.
Having taught English at Marston Middle School in the late 50s, he entered the Dominican Novitiate which was then in Thousand Oaks in 1962. In 1965 he made final vows as a Dominican Friar at St. Albert’s Priory in Oakland. On June 15, 1968 the Most Reverend John Quin, D.D. ordained him to the priesthood at his home parish, St. John the Evangelist in San Diego.
Having taught Religion and English for one year at Daniel Murphy HS in Los Angeles and one year at Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks, CA, he then taught at University High School in San Diego from 1971 until 1983. He then left teaching to become his mother’s primary care-giver until her death. From 1988 until 1991 he taught at Pater Noster HS in Los Angeles, where he was also the chaplain to the Brothers of St. Patrick.
From 1991 until 1998 he taught at Bellarmine-Jefferson HS in Burbank, CA. He was subsequently assigned to Holy Rosary Priory in Portland, OR, St. Dominic Priory in Los Angeles and finally to St. Raymond of Penyafort House in San Diego in 2008 where he retired.
His family invites friends to a Rosary and Mass at Nazareth House, 6333 Rancho Mission Road, San Diego on Tuesday, December 11 at 9:30 a.m. To make a gift in memory of Fr. Aquinas, please click here
