Half Moon Bay native Kevin Costello died Aug. 31 from injuries he sustained four days earlier in the Marin Headlands when he fell from a cliff 40 feet into the ocean.
Following his first week
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was on an overnight retreat with 22 other incoming
freshmen in San Francisco State University's Presidential Scholars Program when the tragedy occurred.
The National Park Service reported that he and another student "... headed up a steep slope trying to access Bird Rock from Rodeo Beach."
Costello fell into a cove between the two landmarks.
He is remembered for his wide range of passions and talents. Music and surfing were among his greatest joys, those close to him recall.
His uncle, Jim Costello, said his greatest memory of Kevin is "his enthusiasm for music. To me, it was the music that counted."
Kevin graduated last spring from North Monterey County High School with a 4.2 grade-point average. He was majoring in marine science and music at SFSU.
"He was wise beyond his years," said Steve Hirt, principal at North Monterey County High School. "I learned a lot from him."
He last saw Kevin at the school's graduation ceremonies last spring, where he gave a speech as an honored valedictorian.
"He made a real nice speech on staying positive, focusing, enjoying life, chasing your passion but having fun doing it," Hirt said.
"My best memory of Kevin is that he had such a positive zest for life," he said.
SFSU held an on-campus memorial Thursday, followed by a ceremony attended by 400 to 500 students at North Monterey County High School last Friday.
The family also held a memorial service Friday afternoon in Watsonville.
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