Selectman John DeCosta dead at 58

MATTAPOISETT — Selectman John DeCosta died on April 28, two weeks after sharing his cancer diagnosis at an April 13 Selectmen’s meeting. 

Born in New Bedford, DeCosta lived in Mattapoisett his whole life. 

DeCosta worked as a Park Supervisor for the Department of Conservation and Recreation, served as a call firefighter for 17 years and worked for the Water and Sewer Department for 15 years. 

In addition to serving as a Selectman, DeCosta was a founding member of the Community Preservation Committee. He was also a member of the Capital Planning and Open Space and Recreation committees.

Mattapoisett firefighters honored DeCosta with services on May 2, and the Selectmen paused for a moment of silence at their May 3 meeting. 

“That was very shocking, as we all know, to have lost John,” Selectman Paul Silva said at the meeting. 

In order to fill DeCosta’s position on the Board of Selectmen, Town Clerk Catherine Hueberger said, Selectmen will vote in the coming weeks on whether to have a special election. 

John DeCosta died at the age of 58 at Charlton Memorial Hospital. His obituary is linked here.