Bernard (Bernie) Costa, of Dubuque, IA, (by way of Clinton, NJ and Charleston, SC) passed away on December 3, 2025, at the age of 80.

Born in Brooklyn, NY, in 1945, Bernie moved with his family to Teaneck, NJ, at age 5. He graduated from Fairleigh Dickinson University with an M.S. in Mathematics. He was drafted into the U.S. Army and served as the company clerk for Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 48th Infantry, while stationed in Gelnhausen, Germany. 

Bernie was a computer programmer who developed software for pharmaceutical companies, producing the statistical tables required for FDA approval. He also created BEAST, a database system in the early days of the IBM PC that was reviewed in PC Magazine in 1984.

 His love of math—though he always insisted he was “not a mathematician”—was a lifelong passion. He relished solving puzzles and explaining mathematical ideas to audiences who were not always as enthusiastic as he was.  

Bernie loved driving great distances and explored much of the United States and Canada. On one trip, which he dubbed the “Magellan Minor,” he drove through all 48 contiguous states in just 13 days. He also visited all nine Canadian provinces. 

Bernie amassed an immense collection of over 2,000 movies and TV shows and he also loved playing video games. Bernie was active in politics during his retirement years, helping local candidates with their campaigns and working the polls on many election days. 

He is survived by his wife, Anne; his children, John (Leslie) and Jill; his siblings, John (Norma), and Barbara Cimicata (Tim); and nieces and nephews.

Bernie was predeceased by his parents, Salvatore Costa and Sebastiana Moltisanti Costa; and by his brother, Joseph (Mary).

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to your local PBS station, which Bernie proudly supported.

 Online condolences for Bernie’s family may be left at www.tristatecremationcenter.com