Celebrate the Life of Brendan Costello, Jr.

Family and friends please note:

At Darlene Costello’s request, funds are being handled by friends Megan Breslin Swartz and Richard Swartz.

Because GoFundMe autopopulates the organizer/beneficiary information unless the fundraiser admin overrides it, Richard briefly showed as “beneficiary, with Darlene now showing as “team member.”

Brendan’s funeral expenses and the creation of a scholarship in his memory remain the sole application of all funds raised here.

Pretend that you owe me nothing

And all the world is green

We can bring back the old days again

When all the world is green

He is balancing a diamond on a blade of grass

The dew will settle on our graves when all the world is green

—Tom Waits

It is with tremendous grief that I must write: Brendan Costello, a cherished brother, nephew, cousin, romantic partner, and friend, has left this world.

Whether you knew him as a writer, teacher, mentor, activist, devastatingly witty conversationalist, wise and loving commentator on the sorrows of life, or more likely, all of these…this loss touches his massive circle of family, friends, and acquaintances profoundly.

Please help Brendan’s beloved sister, Darlene, fund his funeral and celebration of life. After the memorial event(s), Darlene will donate any funds remaining to seed a scholarship in Brendan’s memory.

Even if you wish to remain anonymous, please share a memory of Brendan here, however tiny or momentous.

Richard Swartz notes (posted at the express request of Darlene): “He was probably funnier than you, but now you can take your chance.”

There will be a Memorial Mass of Christian Burial with Jazz Ensemble at Ascension Roman Catholic Church, West 107th Street, Morningside, NYC, on February 8, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. with reception details TBA.

Brendan, you were my dear friend of several decades…to lose you is agony. But to have known you and to call you my friend is the one of greatest gifts of my life. Know how greatly we love and miss you today, and will continue to do, for every remaining day of our lives.

—Megan Breslin Swartz for Darlene Costello and Family (and Brendan)

P.S. Language! (Seriously?)