SCARBOROUGH — James R. Costello Sr., 81, of Scarborough died Thursday, July 9, at home surrounded by family following a courageous eight-month battle with cancer.

Born on June 14, 1934, in Lewiston, son of Russell Hill and Jane Cassidy Costello, he graduated from Lewiston High School and the University of Maine. He served in the U.S. Army European Theater of Operations 1956- 1957.

He was married to Janice Callahan on July 12, 1958. Together they had five children and eight grandchildren.

One was likely to find Costello on a golf course in Naples, Fla., or summering at Pine Point. Costello was a talented athlete and a fierce competitor. Among many of his sports accomplishments, he shot his age while golfing at age 78 and made three holes-in-one, two occurring two weeks apart in 2013. He also won the Windemere Senior Club Championship in 2007. Costello looked forward to family vacations and his fishing trips with friends. He shared his enjoyment of sailing, golf, skiing at Mt. Abram and Sugarloaf, tennis and woodworking with his family.

Costello joined the Sun Journal in 1952, working part time in the press room and composing room.

He was named production manager in 1960. He was named general manager in 1979, publisher and treasurer in 1983, and president and publisher in 1993, a position he held until his death.

Costello demonstrated his commitment to the newspaper industry and his community through his involvement. Costello has been past president of the Maine Daily Newspapers Publishers Association and the New England Newspaper Association, past member of the Advisory Board of the American Mutual Insurance Company, member of the board of directors of Northeast Bank, campaign chairman and past president of the Lewiston-Auburn United Way Fund, past member of the Governor Curtis State Mental Health Program, past president and governing board member of the St. Marguerite d’Youville Pavilion, past president and member of the board of directors of Tri-County Mental Health Planning Board, past president and governing board member of the St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center, past director of Northern Utilities Inc., past director of the Maine Criminal Justice Planning and Assistance Agency, past chairman of the Lewiston Police Commission, past treasurer of the Festival by the Lake, past member of the Advisory Board for Fleet Bank, member of the board of directors of Falmouth Country Club, and a lifelong, active member of St. Joseph’s Parish.

Costello is survived by his loving wife, Janice, of 57 years; his five children, Catherine Snook and her husband Edward, of Auburn; James Jr. and his wife Debra, of Lewiston; Stephen and his wife Mary Ellen, of Lewiston; David and his wife Carie, of Falmouth; and Maureen Wedge and her husband David, of Westbrook; eight grandchildren, Edward (Ted) Jr., Meghan and Anna Snook; Kevin, Stephanie and Courtney Costello; and Caitlin and David Costello; one sister, Jane Wellehan of Portland. He was predeceased by his parents and his sister, Alice Dillingham.

The family would like to extend their heartfelt appreciation for the care and compassion Costello received from Central Maine Medical Center, Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, and Hospice of Southern Maine.

The family has expressed their gratitude to Dr. William Lee for his kindness, concern and support for his extraordinary care of Costello.

Services were scheduled for Tuesday morning at Saints Peter and Paul Basilica and internment at Mt. Hope Cemetery in Lewiston. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to Maine Cancer Foundation, 170 US Rt. 1, Suite 250, Falmouth, ME, 04105; The Patrick Dempsey Center for Cancer Hope & Healing, 29 Lowell St., Lewiston, ME, 04240, or The Boys & Girls Club of Lewiston/Auburn, 43 Second St., Auburn, ME, 04210.