Wenham Man Remembered as 'One of a Kind'

Donald Costin, who became one of Wenham's most well-known residents during the past 40 years, died over the weekend. He was 82.

Costin has been sick recently and last week hundreds of people came through Costin's cafe to visit him on the patio behind the cafe, according to Nick Katsoulis, who runs Henderson's Cafe, which Costin owned.

"He was one of a kind," said Jay Burnham, a local real estate agent who got coffee at Henderson's every morning.

Phyllis Perkins of Wenham said he would always say hi to everyone in the cafe - many by first name.

Costin served one term of the Wenham Board of Selectmen, was a member of the Board of Health and served as the town representative to the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority for more than 20 years. His home and business was right next door to the Hamilton-Wenham station.

He lived in an old railroad storehouse he moved to the property at 300 Main St. in Wenha.

"He supervised the whole thing, inc;uding traveling all over the area finding the pieces he wanted," said Leigh Keyser, a Hamilton resident.

See the attached videos where some regular customers at Henderson's - including Bob Cronin, Bruce Wadleigh and Jack Hauck -  talk about their memories of Costin.

Many photos of Costin that have been posted to Patch during the past three years are attached to this story.

Share you memories of Costin in the comments below.