Nick Costanzi's Obituary
Frank A. (Nick) Costanzi passed away peacefully on December 4, 2025 in Baltimore, Maryland. Nick was the beloved husband of Jane Elizabeth Costanzi. He was born in Los Angeles, California in 1943, only child of Frank and Joanna Marie Costanzi. He grew up in Alhambra, California surrounded by a large close knit family. He was a devoted son, husband, stepfather and grandfather.
Nick was awarded a California State Scholarship to the University of Santa Clara, where he graduated Cum Laude in 1966 with a B.S. in Physics. He received a full National Science Foundation Fellowship to Northwestern University where he earned his Ph.D. in Theoretical Physics in 1971. Nick spent a year teaching and doing research for the National Science Foundation at Kansas State University before joining the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) in Washington, D.C. to continue that research. Over the course of 27 years with the AEC and subsequently the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) Office of Research, he was engaged in engineering and scientific programs including nuclear waste management, nuclear physics, thermal hydraulics, and civil, mechanical and nuclear engineering. He was elected to the Senior Executive Service in 1981. In 1987 he became head of the NRC’s Severe Accident Research Program, an international cooperative research program led by the NRC. Following his retirement in 1999, Nick spent 10 years consulting for the Department of Energy, through two firms: Jupiter Corporation and Energetics.
Nick met his beloved wife, Jane, in 1985 at a sailing brunch on the Chesapeake Bay in Annapolis, Maryland. They married 9 months later, and Nick happily became stepfather to teenagers Jennifer, Maureen and Michael. They lived in the Ruxton and Towson areas until 2005, when they excitedly moved to the inner harbor and adopted an urban lifestyle. They were members of the Annapolis Yacht Club, and enjoyed many days with family and friends sailing their boat, Blew Magic, on the bay. Nick was an avid racer, especially during the Frostbite series, winning various awards for first and second place, with the expertise of his crew of six. They competed annually in the overnight Governor's Cup Yacht Race to St. Mary’s City in southern Maryland.
Nick was fascinated with trains from a very young age. He built realistic model locomotives and other cars from scratch. He was a board member of the oldest model train club in the country, the Baltimore Society of Model Engineers (BSME). He spent many Sundays at BSME working with members on layouts for public display, most notably for the Rawlings Conservatory in Druid Hill Park.
For almost 30 years, Nick made an impact at the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) where he participated in a longitudinal study for Gauchers Disease, a rare genetic disorder. He was generous with his time while in treatment by helping educate students at NIH. He volunteered for 7 years as a member of the Institutional Review Board offering critical insights that promoted the implementation of outstanding clinical research at NHGRI. His remains have been donated to NIH, with specimens to be made available worldwide, in perpetuity, to researchers of Gauchers and Parkinsons.
A “perfect gentleman”, Nick was humble, kind, giving, and passionate about who and what mattered to him. He was happiest surrounded by his family. He volunteered in pediatrics at a local hospital and in a literacy program for disadvantaged children. He became a fan of classical music and opera, volunteering for the Baltimore Opera Company. He served on his condo’s Maintenance Committee for over 10 years. Nick had a subtle wit, and was ever ready with a Dad’s joke for the family. To his delight, there was always a problem to solve, concept to learn, encouragement to share and positive energy to bestow. His actions were conveyed with loving intention and authenticity. In retirement Nick devoted his time to family, friends, travel, the train club, and furthering his knowledge of physics, math, and history. A nature lover, his favorite place was in the mountains of Vermont, where he and Jane loved exploring, becoming involved in village life, hiking and sharing special family time, especially at their son’s cabin, Cedar Pond.
Nick is survived by his loving wife, Jane, and his children, Jennifer (Dwayne Reynolds), Maureen Cunniff, and Michael (Kris Cunniff) and his adoring grandchildren, Julianna, Catherine and Josephine Reynolds, and Scarlett Cunniff and many cousins, nieces and nephews. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.
Donations may be made in Nick’s honor to the Gaucher Community Alliance (https://gauchercommunity.org) or to (BSME) The Baltimore Society of Model Engineers (https://bmoremodeltrains.org).
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