Benjamin Basil Kosarek Jr. was born on June 20, 1956 in Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States to Benjamin B Kosarek Sr. (1922-1996).
He was a veteran of the Vietnam War, serving in the US Navy from November 9, 1973, until his discharge on November 8, 1977.
He passed away shortly after earning his bachelor's degree. As a single father to his only child, a son named Markos Kosarek, he balanced a full-time job and a part-time job while being the sole parent.