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PHOTO SLIDESHOW: Bobby Costello night a big success
A former Haverhill High School basketball captain, Robert Costello Jr., was one of the city's all-time best hoops players. Costello died nearly seven years ago, but his memory lives on through the annual Bobby Costello Night. This year's event, the seventh annual, was held along with the Hillies boys basketball game against Central Catholic on Friday, Jan. 18 in Haverhill High School's Mansfield Gymnasium. The Hillies fell to the powerful Raiders, 69-43, but Bobby Costello Night was still a smashing success as about $15,000 was raised for a scholarship fund in Costello's name. To date, the scholarship fund has generously awarded $30,000 in Costello's memory. "It was a fantastic night," said William Costello, Robert Costello's brother. In a ceremony prior to the game, 2004 Haverhill High graduates Erica Lupi and Kevin Powers received the seventh annual Bobby Costello Scholarship award in the form of checks totalling $5,000. The scholarship is awarded to Haverhill High graduates who will be or are attending St. Anselm College, Costello's alma mater. Both Lupi and Powers are scheduled to graduate from St. Anselm College this year. In addition, former Hillies hoops co-captain Robert Sacco, a 2007 Haverhill High graduate, was awarded the Bobby Costello Award for basketball achievement at Haverhill High. Frank and Deborah Sacco, Robert's parents, accepted the award on their son's behalf. Robert Sacco is serving with the Army in Iraq. Joe Hart, a former teammate of Costello's at Haverhill High School, served as the event's master of ceremonies. A post-game party was held at the Garibaldi Club. Bobby Costello captained the 1968-69 Hillies squad. A 6-foot-1-inch forward, Costello averaged 21 points per game that season. Costello followed up his Hillies career by playing at St. Anselm, where he was a basketball team captain. Costello graduated from St. Anselm in 1973 and was later inducted into the school's athletic hall of fame. "Bobby was very effective, a great teammate, and someone who led by example," Hart said. "To be not only a captain at Haverhill High but also a captain at St. Anselm tells you how good a player and leader Bobby was." And thanks to Bobby Costello Night, his memory lives on.
