Edward Michael Costello II called West Seattle his home because all his friends live here.

Mike was known to everyone as Bubba. He moved to Washington State in the early 1960s. As a young man he played football at Everett Junior College. As the Viet Nam war escalated he became a merchant seaman. When containers became a shipping industry standard he worked for the Sealand Corporation. Mike shipped out and sailed the globe for many years. When the shipping industry changed, Mike tried other avenues of work, but was most successful at sea or around the waterfront.

Bubba was charismatic, and gregarious. He loved to tell stories of his extensive world travels. He enjoyed socializing with his many friends, and he found humor in everything. Mike's sense of history gave him an intellectual view of the world. Bubba always measured success by experience, not achievement. He loved sharing his views with anyone that would listen.

Bubba was the victim of a homicide in Seattle on August 16, 2006. He was born on September 9, 1945.

Bubba's friends took time to remember him at the Chelan Caf/ in West Seattle on Sunday, Oct. 8. Big Pauly and Stumblin' Jim, nicknames everyone in West Seattle knows, coordinated a wake in memory of Bubba, and a large gathering of many friends and family members told stories about this unforgettable character on a bright and sunny afternoon.

Mary Manning of the Chelan Caf/ provided the venue, Husky's Deli and the Puerto Vallarta restaurant contributed food and other refreshments, and Linda's Flowers decorated the restaurant with beautiful blossoms.

Mike Costello's life reminds all of us how short life is and to appreciate how blessed we all are to have known Bubba. He was famous for this remark: "Come on down and tell me a little bit about yourself." The spark of divine love that inhabits us all was contained in Bubba's warm expression of welcoming everyone to his table. May he rest in peace.