Lockport, New York - Robert D. Kostoff, respected journalist, author, and community advocate, died peacefully on May 30, 2025, at Niagara Hospice House in Lockport, New York. He was 91.

Born April 30, 1934, in Niagara Falls, Bob was the son of the late James (Dimiter) Kostoff, a native of Bansko, Bulgaria and longtime city worker at Hyde Park, and Daisy Wheeler Kostoff of the Watertown area. He was predeceased by his beloved wife, Shirley, and his sister, Marion Pettitt of Newfane.

Bob graduated summa cum laude from Niagara University in 1958 with a degree in English, after attending Evershed Grammar School, LaSalle Junior-Senior High School, and NU. During his sophomore year, he worked full-time as a janitor at DuPont before joining the U.S. Army. He served from 1954 to 1956 in AA Batteries in Rockaway, NY, and later in Japan with General Custer's 7th Cavalry Regiment as a battalion clerk in Mizumisawa.

After military service, Bob began a long and distinguished journalism career. He started as a cub reporter in the Lockport Bureau of the Niagara Falls Gazette, covering farm news and later the County Board of Supervisors. He earned an honorable mention from the Newspaper Guild's Page One awards for an undercover series exposing vice, gambling, and prostitution in Niagara Falls. He also received recognition from the National Political Science Association in 1963 for his reporting on county budgets and public affairs.

Bob worked from 1966 to 1982 at the Buffalo Courier-Express, where he reported from the Niagara Falls, Lockport, Kenmore, and Williamsville bureaus. He covered police, city hall, court, and county beats. While still at the Courier, he also operated McGee's Tavern on Niagara Street until 1987. Afterward, he served as the Niagara County correspondent for Metro Community News in Cheektowaga.

In later years, Bob returned to journalism with the Lockport Union-Sun & Journal, working there from 1997 until his retirement in 1999. He also held various roles in the community, working at Wal-Mart, United Building Services, Summit Park Mall, and as a substitute teacher and lunch monitor in the Niagara Falls school system.

A lifelong Democrat, Bob ran in the 1987 city council primary and served six years as a Democratic Committeeman. He played an active role in four mayoral campaigns and many local political efforts. His civic involvement extended to the Niagara Street Area Business & Professional Association, where he served as secretary and president, and to organizations like the Echo Society of Niagara Falls, AARP, the Wheatfield Post 1451 American Legion, LaSalle Post 1142, and the parish council of St. Mary of the Cataract Church.

Bob authored several books, including works on Niagara Falls history and fiction, and contributed extensively to the Niagara Falls Reporter later in life.

He is survived by his daughter, Juliann Kostoff, and numerous nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews.

Visitation Thursday after 3 PM in the LANE FUNERAL HOME, Inc., 8622 Buffalo Avenue, Niagara Falls, where prayers will be said at 6 PM. The interment will be private in Memorial Park Cemetery. A celebration of life will be held at a later date.