William Samuel Costen ’50

Bill died of a heart attack on Jan. 13, 2001, at his home in Chesterfield, Mo. A native of St. Louis, he entered Princeton from the John Burroughs School and returned to Washington [Mo.] U. school of medicine to complete his medical degree in 1954.

Two years in the Medical Corps with the 101st Airborne developed his interest in orthopedic surgery, which became his lifetime pursuit. He was one of the first doctors in the St. Louis area to use arthroscopy. Hunting for ducks and geese, and fishing provided relaxation from his work at St. Luke's Hospital, from which he retired in 1998 after almost 40 years. He was a member of the Intl. Assn. of Arthroscopy and the Southern Medical Assn. and served on the staffs of several St. Louis hospitals.

"Doc Bill" volunteered as doctor for the John Burroughs football team for 10 years. He established the Tom Costen Scholarship there for his son, a Navy lieutenant who was shot down during the Gulf War.

Bill is survived by his wife, Karla, daughter Catherine Swope, son Clark, two stepdaughters, two sisters, two grandchildren, and four step-grandchildren. To his family the class extends its sympathy.

The Class of 1950