1934 – 2021
Thompson – Peter Kostacopoulos, 86, of Breaults Landing Rd., died Thursday evening, March 25, 2021 at Day Kimball Hospital. He was the loving husband of Joann (Hanson) Kostacopoulos. Born in Pawtucket, RI, he was the son of the late Theodore and Irene Kostacopoulos.
Mr. Kostacopoulos worked as an athletic coach at Wesleyan University.
A celebration Of Peter’s life is being planned for this summer and will be announced on this website.
Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the Valade Funeral Home and Crematory, 23 Main St., N. Grosvenordale, CT 06255. For memorial guestbook please visit www. GilmanAndValade.com.
Florence & Joe Wood
Joann and family, deepest condolences to you all. Peter meant so much to us, and will be greatly missed
Pat Donnelly
So very sorry to hear this news. Sending many thoughts and prayers to my Kostacopoulos neighbors.
Kevin McGonagle
Just wanted to say thank you to the Kostacopoulos family for sharing Pete with all his baseball guys. Love you Coach. His story will always be remembered.
Chris Roellke
The entire Roellke family sends love and sympathy to the Kostacopoulos family. Coach Kosty had a significant impact on my life by providing me an opportunity to join fantastic teammates at Wesleyan University. He was a terrific teacher and coach and made us all better athletes and people. The first time I met him was during one of my high school games in which he was scouting me and future teammate Mark Borkman. I also have incredibly fond memories of playing for both Coach Kosty and his son. May he rest in peace.
Paul Gallo
Prayers of healing and love to the Kosty family. Thank you Coach for all you did for me and the hundreds of players like me.
Alexander Tucci
So sorry to hear this news. Pete was a huge part of my Wesleyan experience, a splendid coach and a towering presence in the football program. May his memory be a blessing. Vaya con dios, Kosty.
Charles E. Holbrook
Coach Kosty was a valuable member of Wesleyan University’s football coaching staff during the 1969 undefeated season. Although I did not play baseball for him, I know he was an outstanding Head Baseball Coach and I enjoyed returning to Wesleyan in 1997 to play one of the Alumni games he sponsored. Coach Kosty was always passionate and enthusiastic and was an excellent role model. He will be missed. I offer my deepest sympathy to his family.
Sincerely,
Charles E. Holbrook Class of 1970
Jim Maynard
Thank you, Coach. Simply, thank you.
Best to the Kostacopoulos family.
Gary G Gilyard M. D.
I am so sorry for your loss. I played for coach “Kosty” at Wesleyan for two years. I didn’t play a great deal and upon my return for my junior season I decided to stop playing to focus on my studies. I would have had a greater roll that year but not being a starter my first two years it probably wasn’t considered a huge loss. When I informed Coach Kosty he was so kind and understanding. We sat and talked and he told me I had been a pleasure to coach and if I had decided to keep playing surely would have played an important role but he thought I was special and was headed for great things. He was 100% behind me and I could always come talk to him. I so appreciated his words. I am now an Orthopedic Surgeon but I often think about Coach and his kindness and understanding. May God bless his soul
Joe Grasso
My deepest condolences to Joann and the entire Kostacopolous family. So few individuals/coaches had the impact that Coach Kosty had on me especially on the baseball Diamond where I truly learned the game under his tutelage. He was such a special guy and I will never forget the honor of playing for him and enjoying so many other life memories in his company. Rest In Peace Coach. Thanks for all you did for me and so many others.
John Hanson
Dear JoAnn and Family: I felt such sadness when I learned my brother-in-law Peter had passed. I have many fond memories of our experiences together. I recall playing racketball together on many occasions (he was definitely the better player). Also, I remember fishing and boating together on Hadley’s Lake. I always looked forward to spending some time with Pete. Thinking of Peter brings a smile to my face and he will always be in my heart!
Thinking of you all during this sorrowful time. Love, John and Dorothy
John Hurley
Saddened and sorry to hear of Coach Kosty’s passing. It was such a privilege to know and play for him. He was truly one of a kind and made so many of us better ballplayers and better people. My best and condolences to the Kostacopoulos family.
Frank Barrett ‘87
I am very sorry for your loss. Coach Kosty was an unforgettable person who positively touched so many scholar-athletes and fellow college coaches. Thinking about him always makes me smile and I believe it will be that way forever. Rest in Peace.
Patrick Kiley
I am so sorry for your loss. I was so fortunate to have played for coach…he always pushed me to do my absolute best…I look back at the 4 years at Wes under Coach with such gratitude…going through life we have a few people that truly impact our life…Coach was one of those for me. After leaving Wes life happens, and while I did not get to see Kosty often…for several summers we would get together and play golf…great memories. RIP Coach…you will be missed.
Phil Rockwell '65
Deepest sympathies to Joann and the Kostacopoulos family on your great loss.
Kosty’s impact on Wesleyan athletics and those he coached will endure.
Always enjoyed any time I had the pleasure of being in Kosty’s presence–laughing and learning.
A wonderful man.
Winsor Schmidt '01
Joann and family, I share my deepest condolences for you all.
It was one of the great pleasures of my life to play for Coach in ’98-’01, as well as my privilege to share as a Captain for Coach’s last team in ’01. I have so many vivid memories from on and off the field – a casual ‘suicide squeeze’ signal late in a game my sophomore year and a ‘I guess that will do’ look after a homerun are two great ones, but in hindsight some of my favorites are the ‘what are you doing?!’ looks that I might have provoked from time to time. I’ve coached my son’s little league teams for a few years now and I still chuckle finding myself in similar situations on the coaching side.
I think the most important thing that Coach Kosty did for me and for so many other players was to create a program and an environment where kids knew they were important and loved. Off the field, I always knew that if I needed something I could talk to coach, and that security was extraordinarily valuable to me.
While Coach’s passing is heartbreaking, I’m so grateful for the time that I had with him and for all that he taught me. My prayers go out to the Kostacopoulos family and loved ones, and for Coach, may he rest in peace.
Mark Consorte
Thanks, Coach, for all that you did for me. You changed my life for the better in so many ways. You were a great coach, mentor, and friend. May you rest in peace.
Charles Cocores
Dear Kosty’s
Please accept our condolences upon the death of Coach Kosty. He was instrumental in my education and it was very much appreciated.
Best,
Charlie and Carol Cocores and family
Josh Pepe
Just want to send my sympathies to Joann, Junior and the rest of the Kosty family. Simply put, Coach had a huge impact on me. The four years that I played baseball at Wesleyan were some of the best years of my life. Our teams had amazing unity – the camaraderie we shared was a direct result of his leadership and incredible relationships with all his players. We respected him deeply and to this day still have fond recollections of our times with him on and off the diamond. He lived an incredible life and will be sorely missed by all of us.
Jim and Marlene Cole
Our condolences to the entire Kostacopoulos family. May your memories bring you comfort at this time.
Love,
Marlene and Jim Cole
Hank Rosenfeld (#41)
Sending condolences and I am looking forward to celebrating his life. Kosty was an excellent mentor and terrific defensive backfield coach (“The Perimetah” as he called it) when we tied for the Little Three title. Was so fun playing for him under his crooked smile and straight-as-an-arrow leadership.
Harvey Shapiro
Dear Joann and family,
We were very saddened to learn of Peter’s passing. I had the utmost respect for Peter as a teacher, coach and person. Peter had such a positive impact on so many players and their lives. We spent a lot of fun years coaching against each other and sharing many southern baseball trips together in Florida. I considered Peter a good friend and will miss him.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Sincerely,
Harvey and Lynne Shapiro
GEORGE A. GLASSANOS
Joann and the Kostacopoulos Family,
I send my deepest sympathies at this sad time and hope the many expressions you receive will help you through this huge loss. I was playing the first year Coach Kosty arrived at Wesleyan and it was a smile and a laugh a minute from them on. After all, we were lansmen and I played offense so all of our interactions were, more or less, outside of the business of college football. What a time. I have a special place in heart and mind for our dear Coach Pete Kostacopoulos.
Sincerely-George Glassanos 70
Robert " Jiggs" Cecchini
Joann and Family, Our sincerest sympathy to all of you. Bev and Jiggs
Peter, We met as Freshman in the Fall of 1953 and 68 years later, I still have special memories, laughs, golfing stories and thoughts to remember. What a tremendous friend you have been to me and the other K-Sigs and athletes at Maine.
You may have left for now, but never will I forget you. Until we meet again. Jiggs
Hugh Villacis
Coach Kosty was “ONE OF A KIND!” Countless memories coaching football with him that I will always cherish. To this day, he brings a smile and chuckle when I think of him, Biggest gift ever he loved his family!
RIP Coach Kosty.
john bozzi
I played football for four years for Kosty and then coached with him for seven more after graduating. Other than my wife, Pete was the single most important person I met at Wesleyan. He was one of the cornerstone people in my life. I owe my coaching career to him. He taught me logistics, strategy and organization. More importantly, he taught me that a coach can be tough and caring at the same time. During my forty years of coaching, there wasn’t a season where I didn’t tell at least one Kosty story to the the staff, the team and/or the parents.
So, thank you Pete, for all you’ve done for me and for every other Wesleyan athlete you coached. Your legacy lives on in us. And thank you Joann, John, Peter and Paul for sharing Kosty with us.