GORHAM – Dr. Richard Albert “Doc” Costello, died Monday, April 7, at his residence.

He was born Oct. 30, 1928, in Burlington, N.J., the son of Phillip and Ernesta Costello. He was a graduate of Burlington High School and earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Alabama, a master’s degree from the University of Illinois and a doctor of physical education degree from Springfield College.

Doc served the in the U.S. Army Seventh Cavalry Regiment from 1946 to 1948, and received a World War II Victory Medal and Army of Occupation Medal Japan. He began a teaching/coaching career in 1953 as an instructor of health and physical education and assistant coach of basketball and baseball at Gorham State Teachers College in Maine. In 1955, he became director of athletics, a position he held until 1990. He was also varsity basketball and baseball coach.

He instituted the first collegiate soccer program in Maine and coached that sport at Gorham State Teachers College. Included among athletic teams that were added under his guidance were cross country, tennis, golf, skiing, sailing and ice hockey. At Gorham State/University of Southern Maine, he was head coach of the men’s basketball team (1955 to 1971) and women’s basketball team (1977 to 1987).

He was the only NCAA coach in the nation’s history to win at least 200 games with each of the men’s and women’s teams. Due to his leadership as athletic director, Southern Maine became a member of the NCAA and ECAC.

He was vice chairman of NAIA District 32 and chairman of District 5. He was one of the founders of the Western Maine Athletic Conference and a founder and first commissioner of the Little East Conference. The sports complex on the Gorham Campus of USM is named for Richard and Melissa Costello.

Among numerous awards, he was inducted into the NAIA Hall of Fame, the USM Hall of Fame, the Maine Sports Hall of Fame and the Burlington High School Hall of Fame. Several times he received NAIA District 5 women’s Coach of the Year, Maine Coaches and Writers Coach of the Year, Little East Coach of the Year, New England Women’s Basketball Coach of the Year, distinguished leadership award from the Maine Association of Health, Physical Education and Recreation. He also received several soccer awards and the USM Richard A. “Doc” Special Achievement Award.

He was a member of and leader in many organizations such as charter member of Gorham Country Club, Portland Elks Lodge, Italian Heritage Center, Westbrook American Legion, Special Olympics Board of Directors, Maine Sports Hall of Fame Board of Directors, secretary and master of ceremonies, Phi Kappa Phi, Phi Delta Kappa and Phi Epsilon Kappa. He was a lifelong New York Yankees and a New England Patriots fan.

He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Melissa Dunn Costello; a sister, Elvira Liberatore; and many nieces and nephews.