Sunday, February 6, 2011
To the Members of the Costelnock and Extended Family:
We will keep you in our prayers. Please accept our deepest sympathy at this most challenging time.
Over the years we were so very blessed to call Dave our true friend. For my daughter, Marika, during our visits with Dave at the West Penn Hospital and also at the Mt. Pleasant area hospital, over a famous Pittsburgh McCoy’s BBQ sub, when we were there to support and cheer Dave up – Dave quickly spun that around to boost Marika's confidence with her medical school endeavors. For my son, Brandon, during our Hoss’s and Old Country Buffet Restaurant visits, Dave always shared several of his favorite fresh baked chocolate chip cookies with him then when Brandon's National Honor Society application process, began – all it took was to mention to Dave that Brandon needed a reference and Dave immediately provided an excellent reference, which eventually led to Brandon’s acceptance into the National Honor Society. Such was true for me (Don) too – Dave and I met twenty years ago while working for the Salvation Army as colleagues, which quickly turned into a strong friendship. Later, Dave and I formed a non-profit Drug and Alcohol prevention and treatment center where, as colleagues, we worked to ensure consumers and their families received the highest quality mental health services possible primarily through private (our own – eventually going broke but loving every minute) funding. During the late 1990s we enjoyed Dave’s parent’s wedding anniversary all dancing to polkas and testing our singing voices. Although there were countless get-togethers with Dave and us over the past twenty years -- the few but significant get-togethers we had with Dave’s parents and family over the years were outstanding and will never be forgotten.
Shortly thereafter, my personal life struggles began through a nasty divorce coupled with a set of false allegations that led to civil and criminal battles. During these personal major battles -- never once did Dave turn the other way even though a few family member(s) chose to believe the media schewed reports for the same; Dave stood by our (my family) sides through to the victory, culminating, for the most part, just last year, in clearing my (our) name, in proving those claims were completely false as was the media reports for the same and also in proving totally meritless cases that were solely personally and/or professionally vindictive -- the end result being: both Juvenile Court and Children and Youth Service Orders of full and complete custody of my minor children to me; no unmonitored visitation rights to my former wife absent verifiable successful mental health treatment; Criminal Court Order of the significant case dismissal grounded in a full and complete jury verdict of innocent/not guilty of any and all of the claims/charges; and also a PA Supreme Court Ruling of Legal Malpractice grounded in significant part wherein a nearly half of a million dollar judgment was awarded to me (us) for the same. Again, through this entire personal struggle Dave continually unconditionally supported me (us)!
My children and I enjoyed our monthly visits during the more recent years to Dave’s first home in Mt. Pleasant (his trailer) to clean and assist him and to socialize usually ending in some good old fashioned story telling or good Disney Type Video Tape Movie. Just by knowing and loving Dave the way we do has sparked our souls to deepest eternal gratitude. It is in that gratitude for which we will continue to strive to be a little more like Dave each day. Dave has an abundance of enormous heart-felt compassion seldom regularly observed in mankind. As Dave was so proud to always be there for others in need -- whenever possible – we were just as proud to be there for him. Just this week, the Monday before Dave passed, he asked me to bring down another foot long famous Pittsburgh McCoy’s BBQ Sub when we spent an hour and a half together at Jo Ella’s watching his TV Disney comical show and talking about the good old times for which we enjoyed so very much. Thank God Marsha was kind enough to call me because it was such a shock to me to hear his passing when just a few days prior Dave seemed to be doing OK. Surely God has truly asked for the return one of his angels among us. May the blessings of heaven rest upon Dave and his family – thank you for being such an important part of our lives.
Dear Costelnock and Extended Family -- please call us if there is anything we can do, 412-608-0063, Dr. Donald, Marika, Brandon Stettner, Pittsburgh, PA
204 Eagle Street
