It is with deep sadness and a heavy heart that we wish to inform you of the death of a colleague, innovator and friend, LCol (Ret’d) Joe Costello, who passed away on 26 August 2022 peacefully surrounded by his family after a battle with a prolonged illness.

A valued member of the Canadian Armed Forces for over 25 years, Joe enlisted as a reservist at 763 (Ottawa) Communication Regiment in the summer of 1987 before attending the Royal Military College to complete a bachelor’s in computer engineering. After graduation, he was posted to 2 CMBG HQ & Sig Sqn, 2 RCHA, 7 Comm Gp HQ and various units within the NRC. During his time in uniform Joe also completed a master’s degree in computer engineering and deployed to Croatia, Bosnia and Afghanistan, eventually retiring in 2012 at the Rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

Upon retirement, his love for the Army and Signal Corps continued with his employment at DLCSPM, where he worked his way up to Chief Engineer, responsible for all of the Canadian Army’s tactical communication systems. Throughout his time at DLCSPM his dedication, loyalty and compassion inspired all that worked with him and he served as a mentor and role model for many engineers and military personnel that had the good fortune to work with him.

Outside of work Joe kept a close relationship with the Signal Corps and C & E community, helping with many history projects including, for example, updating the CFJSR’s unit history books. Joe knew practically everything about Signals history and would routinely bring items from his own collection into his office to keep the rich history of the Signal Corps alive. He shared his passion for all things Signals through his site RCSigs.ca. His most meaningful work was his Graves of our Fallen project, a repository and tribute to fallen RCCS members – he collected and published military files and photos of every fallen RCCS member’s grave, often recruiting friends to visit cemeteries abroad for him to ensure our fallen members would forever be remembered.

Joe Costello will be missed, and remembered.

VVV

 

 

COSTELLO, Joseph P. (Joe) LCol (ret’d)

It is with profound sadness that we share news of the death of LCol (ret’d) Joseph Patrick Costello, CD, who died peacefully August 26, 2022 in his home and surrounded by loving family after a brave battle with nodular melanoma cancer. He was 52 years young.

Joe is survived by his loving and caring wife, Margaret Deneumoustier of Ottawa, Ontario, his loving daughters, SLt Katherine (Lucas), Cleo, Jamie, and Lily, by his mother, Martha Costello (nee Patterson) and by his siblings, Capt(N) (ret’d) Brian Andrew (Maureen) and Lt(N) Sean Michael (Pam). Predeceased by his father, LCol (ret’d) Brian Denis Costello (2015).

Enrolling in the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) as a reservist with 763 (Ottawa) Communication Regiment and following a brief (and unenjoyable) stint in the Royal Canadian Navy, Joe transferred to the Canadian Army. He graduated from the Royal Military College of Canada with a Bachelor of Computer Engineering with first class distinction (1992) and a Master of Computer Engineering (2000).

He enjoyed a diverse career filled with both field and staff positions, including deployments to Croatia (1998), Bosnia-Herzegovina (2003-2004) and Afghanistan (2010). He spent time in Petawawa, ON, Trenton, ON, Kingston, ON, and Alert, NU, before concluding his distinguished military career in Ottawa, ON. After retiring from the CAF in 2012, he worked for the Department of National Defense supporting Canadian Army communications capability development, ensuring that Canada was capable of working with our NATO partners.

His hobby of collecting R.C.C.S. (Signals) memorabilia grew into a passion for collecting, preserving and sharing all manners of Signals Corps history on his website, RCSigs.ca. His most meaningful work included Graves of our Fallen, a repository and tribute to fallen Canadian Signal Soldiers. He collected and published military files and photos of every fallen signals soldier’s grave, often recruiting friends to visit cemeteries abroad for him.

The family would like to thank Joe’s healthcare providers, notably Dr. Xinni Song, Dr. Nair, Dr. Alkerhayf, Dr. Sinclair, Dr. Bruni, Dr. Coté, Dr. Swami, and all of his dedicated nurses and caregivers.

Friends may pay respects on Tuesday, September 6, 2022 (2-4 pm and 7-9 pm) and at 12 noon on Wednesday, September 7 at the Beechwood National Memorial Centre (National Military Cemetery) 280 Beechwood Ave, Ottawa, ON K1M 8E2  613-741-9530

Visitation will end shortly before the 1:00 pm funeral and the 2:00 pm military burial, followed by a reception. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Ottawa Hospital Foundation – Irving Greenberg Family Cancer Centre.