Joseph Mario Costanzo

Mario was born with the gift of a tender, loving, and artistic heart. He moved through life with a rare kind of intelligent freedom—a freedom filled with grace, empathy, and willful imagination.

He was at once kind and deeply sensitive. Generous to a fault, he gave freely—his time, his care, his possessions, his heart. If it meant another’s comfort, he would gladly take on discomfort himself, and bear it with quiet pride. Empathy wasn’t something he practiced; it was simply who he was.

A gifted and imaginative artist, Mario brought beauty and wonder into the world with everything he touched. He had a particular reverence for the pre-Columbian art of the Americas, and that influence lived in his work. For years, he shaped visual stories as a graphic artist at the CBC and Global TV, where pieces of his imagination reached millions of Canadians. But his creativity didn’t stop there—he was equally skilled with his hands. He built movie sets, crafted furniture, and constructed more than 50 houses in his lifetime. Yet it wasn’t just that he could build a house—it’s that he knew how to make it a home. And he was always ready to help you with yours—whatever it might cost him.

Mario lived with a spirit that was both free and deeply rooted. He loved to travel, to explore, to connect. Always guided by the spiritual dimension of this world, and moved by intellectual curiosity, he was just as joyful striking up a conversation with a stranger as he was gathered around a table with family and friends. Despite a lifelong challenge with dyslexia, he read voraciously, teaching himself through determination and wonder. He was as sharp as he was soulful.

Imaginative and fun-loving, he was especially adored by children. He was exceedingly fun to play with. He threw great parties, made people laugh, and brought lightness into every room he entered. In truth, Mario could go anywhere—and it often seemed like people already knew him.Throughout his seventy years, Mario cultivated a wide, loving circle of chosen family. But at the center of his heart were his sons, Paulo and Mitchell; his grandson Jack and his de facto son Nick and daughter-in-law, Kinga, and their daughter Rain, who brought him deep joy in his later years. His long-time friend and caregiver, John Orlicky, was a source of strength and tenderness, standing by Mario through his years of struggle with unwavering devotion.

He is survived by all of them, and by his brothers Domenic, Antony, Robbie, and his only sister Mary—each holding memories of his loving affection, his loyalty, and his wild, beautiful spirit.

Mario lived vividly. He loved deeply. He gave everything he had. And in return, he was loved by all who met him. He lived freely, and—as Thoreau said—he “sucked the marrow out of the bone of life.” His 70 years on this earth, too few for us, were lived as if a hundred—through his determined exploration and vibrant spirit.

He will be missed beyond words.

Please Join us in Memorializing Mario

Celebration of Life/Memorial

Saturday, October 11th, 2pm-4pm

St. Michael & All Angels Church - 611 St Clair Ave W Toronto ON M6C 1A3

Ceremony: 2-3pm Celebration to follow: 3-4pm

Please RSVP:  Will you attend?

In lieu of flowers, consider making a donation to the Heart and Stroke and/or Diabetes Foundations on Mario's behalf.

Please share stories and photos of Mario in the guestbook below so we can remember him together.