Esaku Kondo, 98, of Middletown, passed away peacefully with his family by his side on Wednesday, April 19, 2023.

Esaku was born in Mishima, Shizuoka-ken, Japan, one of ten children of the late Goro Nagakura and Sata Kondo.

Esaku had a joy for life and the greatest joy of his life was his family. He was quiet and introspective, yet boldly determined. Driven by ambition and grit, he brought his family from Okinawa, Japan to the United States where he achieved his dream of creating a beautiful life for his family.

A curious mind and a lifelong learner, he received a diploma in airplane engineering from Yokohama National University and a Bachelor of Engineering in Architecture from Nihon University, Tokyo. He went on to receive the Andrew Mellon Fellowship and obtained his Master of Architecture in Urban Design at Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA.

An accomplished architect, he designed the Three River Stadium in Pittsburgh while employed by Deeter, Ritchey, Sippel. He also helped design the World Trade Center under Minoru Yamasaki, Troy, MI. Esaku's personal contribution was designing the Lobby of the World Trade Center.

Esaku left his mark on this world through the things he made and imagined. He unleashed his creativity through paintings that showed us pre-WWII Japan, caricatures that provided perspective on culture (and were always good for a laugh) and his poems, tankas especially, that often told the stories of his grandchildren.

And now, his family will forever cherish the marks he left behind. He is survived by his beloved wife, Iku, his son, Satoshi Kondo of NJ, daughter, Dr. Kayoko Opalacz (and husband Dr. Stan Opalacz) of Middletown, grandchildren, Aniella (and husband John) Doherty of NYC, Arissa Opalacz, and Stefan Opalacz, both of Boston.

Funeral services are private and burial will be at the convenience of his family. There are no calling hours. In lieu of flowers please consider donations in Esaku's memory to Middlesex Health Hospice, 28 Crescent St., Middeltown, CT 06457. For condolences, please visit www.biegafuneralhome.com.