Eliot, ME - Richard Costa, 81, died on Tuesday, January 25, 2022. Born in Bakersfield, California on December 3, 1940, Richard graduated from Garces Memorial High School and San Jose State University, Class of 1963. He subsequently served honorably in the National Guard and trained at the US Army Field Artillery School at Fort Sill in Oklahoma.

Richard's career in business began in the management training program at The Emporium, the landmark San Francisco department store. His time at "the Big E" in the store's luggage department set Richard on a path that led him to becoming a successful sales representative in Northern California for Samsonite. Richard left Samsonite for a career as an independent sales executive for a number of leading luggage and leather goods for companies of the era, including Lark, Schlesinger Gary's, Jack Georges, High Sierra, and numerous others. In 1993, along with partner Michael Stern, Richard founded Briggs & Riley, an upscale luggage brand that continues to this day under different ownership.

Richard later founded Inventive Travelware, a travel accessories business, with Joni Seymour, his partner of more than 25 years.

Richard and Joni moved to Eliot in 2006 and loved their time together in Maine. Richard was never far from his farming roots - and he and Joni had a thriving vegetable garden and an entertaining group of chickens that enjoyed their farm-raised kale.

Richard is survived by his partner Joni, his former spouse Sharon O'Hara, his brother John Picanso, his son Christopher and daughter-in-law Andrea, as well as grandchildren Ryan and Caroline.

A Spring burial will be planned for Mt. Pleasant Cemetery in Eliot, and a celebration of life event will take place subsequently.

Arrangements are entrusted to the J S Pelkey & Son Funeral Home in Kittery where condolences may be expressed at www.jspelkeyfuneralhome.com.