Antonio (Tony) Costa passed away suddenly at his home on March 12, 2021, he was 75. Tony was born on January 30, 1946 in Brisbane, Australia. In 1946 when Tony was four months old his mother Violet and sister Margaret moved to Palmer Massachusetts to live with his grandparents Sarah and Anthony Costa while his father Ernest was stationed on a submarine in Panama. The family lived in many places including, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Hawaii and Vallejo California.
Tony played baseball at the age of seven, played on the all stars little league team in Hawaii and went on to Williamsport Pennsylvania to play in the Little League World series. After returning back to California in junior high school, and he graduated from Hogan High. After graduating Tony went on to attend California Poly Tech University (Cal Poly) with a degree in Environmental Engineering. During this time he met Lynda Marco from Napa California, and married her soon after college. Tony and Lynda soon purchased their first home in Napa where their daughter Jennifer was born.
His love for baseball never ended. He became a coach. The highlight of his coaching career came in 1987 when he and fellow coaches, Jerry Aaron, Andy Dowdle, and Todd Maday took their Napa Yankees team to visit the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York and then traveled to Syracuse University to compete in the Junior Olympics where they won the gold medal-the first and only in Napa's history.
In Tony's spare time he enjoyed taking road trips with his wife Lynda, fishing trips with his friends, spending time on lake Shasta in luxury house boats, "OML" Old Mans Lunch with his buddies twice a month and spending every minute he could with his fur friend Gabby.
In 1972 he became a licensed mechanical engineer and Incorporated Costa Engineers in 1980. With over 40 years of experience, highly regarded for his knowledge in the design of energy efficient mechanical systems, which have earned clients and owners thousands of dollars in energy savings rebates. He has provided HVAC and plumbing engineering and design services in a wide variety of settings, including new and retrofit projects for commercial, governmental, medical, and institutional clients. His experience is immeasurable and includes more than 300 schools in the Northern California area, as well as a significant number of county facilities, medical facilities, commercial office buildings, restaurants, retail facilities, and wineries. Tony was invited to be a speaker at the 2007 annual ASHRAE conference in Long Beach, where he provided a presentation entitled, "Reducing Peak kW Demand at a California Campus". He has published two articles in the ASHRAE Journal and is also a member of the ASHRAE Technical Committee TC-51 (Evaporative Cooling). Tony became an ASHRAE "Fellow" in 2015.Tony retired in 2016.
Tony was preceded in death by his wife Lynda, Mother Violet Costa, father Ernest Costa, Tom Marco, (father-in-law), Kay Marco (mother-in-law), Pat Houston, (brother-in-law) and is survived by Jennifer Costa (daughter), Margaret Houston-Wright, sister (Les Wright, brother-in law), Jerry Marco, (brother-in law), Tom Marco, (brother-in-law), (Maryanne) along with several nieces and nephews Peggie Aaron, " Forever Friend" remembers, "Tony, you were a brother to Jerry. He was able to laugh and cry with you.
He has been waiting for you to catch up with him for those games of summer in that diamond in the sky.
We are so grateful for your love and loyalty over these many years. A golden friend forever, and You will be missed."
"And on behalf of your two coaches, Andy Dowell and Todd Maday and that amazing Yankee Team, the National Jr. Olympic Gold medal champs, and all their parents and the sports writers, Jack Bungart and Marty James, We love you Coach. Thanks for the memories.
"Tony Costa was a wonderful friend, loved him very much. He and Lynda made me a part of their life for over 50 years and I will always cherish those memories. They will remain in my heart. I take solace knowing that he is with the love of his life and they are once again together." Karen Ames
Loved by everyone who knew him, Tony will be dearly missed by all, especially his family.
In lieu of flowers please make donations to "Queen of the Valley Foundation" in the name of Tony and or Lynda Costa. 1000 Trancas St, Napa, CA 94558
The graveside service is at 1:30 on Wednesday, May 26th at Tulocay Cemetery. The celebration of life for Tony and Lynda will be held at their home on July 17th at 2pm.
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