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Ben Costanzo
Benedict Nicholas Carl "Ben" Costanzo, age 76, of Mountain Home, passed away on Monday, July 4, 2016, at a Boise care center. A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m., on Friday, July 22, 2016, at Rost Funeral Home, McMurtrey Chapel, in Mountain Home.
Known as "Smokey" to his friends from the 525th FIS (Bitburg, Germany), he was born in Lakewood, New Jersey, on November 29, 1939, to Benedict and Ruth Stockman Costanzo. Ben graduated from Lakewood High School in 1957, were he played football wearing #42.
Ben entered the US Air Force in January of 1961 and served for 23 years. After waiting for 3 ½ years, he married the love of his life, Janice Clark, on September 17, 1961. Except when deployed to the Philippines and Vietnam, Ben traveled the world with his family by his side. Originally stationed at Stewart Air Force Base, New York, he continued to Dover AFB Delaware, Bitburg AFB Germany, Hill AFB Utah, Laughlin AFB Texas, Bentwaters, AFB England and Aviano AFB Italy before retiring at Mountain Home Air Force Base.
Ben enjoyed hunting and fishing, especially in Germany. He coached and officiated football for Department of Defense, high school and Italian teams. Later he purchased a Moxie Java business and became known as "The Coffee Man" on Mountain Home AFB.
Ben leaves behind his wife Jan, his son Benny and his wife Lisa, son Chris and his wife Sally and his son Rich, three grandchildren, his sister Mary Anne and her husband Don Furcillo. He was preceded in death by his parents.