Satoshi Tamagawa
February 13, 1960 ~ July 21, 2022
Born in:
Yokohama, Japan
Resided in:
North Haven, CT
Satoshi Tamagawa, of North Haven, Connecticut and a resident of Yokohama, Japan, passed away on July 21, 2022 after a long battle with cancer. He was 62 years of age. Born in Japan on February 13, 1960, he moved with his family to the United States as an infant and spent most of his childhood in North Haven, attending elementary, junior high and high school there. He graduated as valedictorian from North Haven High School in 1978, and from Princeton University in 1983, with majors in Economics and East Asian Studies. He returned to Japan soon afterward to pursue a career in international business at Nomura, the largest financial services group in Japan. Over the years this took him to places such as Singapore, London, and Mumbai. His linguistic command of both English and Japanese was invaluable in his international work. When not working Satoshi enjoyed music, especially playing classical guitar, golf, photography, and ski trips with his family. He is survived by his wife, Yukako, son, Hisayuki and daughter, Rieko; brothers Kiyoshi and Takashi; sisters Sahoko and Emiko; niece Mira Gordon and nephew Leo Gordon; and many members of his Japanese extended family. He was predeceased by his parents Tsuneo and Kimiko Tamagawa.
Funeral Service will be held in Japan. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society.
I am really devastated to learn this news. Satoshi (or Tosh as he was known in college) was my room-mate and one of my best friends in college. We bonded over classical music, global economics and politics and our romantic lives. We shared many significant times, deep conversations and trivial moments, and were very central to each other’s lives during the three years we shared at Princeton. We had only been in sporadic contact after a visit I made to Tokyo to see Tosh in 1989. But I was supposed to visit him in Japan for a weekend in 2019, which got postponed until 2020 and then sidelined by COVID. Tosh was a sensitive, caring, thoughtful and sardonic soul during his college years, and I regret not having had the chance to see what he was like with his family and as a fully formed man. I send empathy and support to all of Satoshi’s family and friends.
I’m very sad to hear of Satoshi’s passing. I only knew him from 2nd – 4th grade at Ridge Road Elementary. My memory of him was of a very joyful and happy boy who I really liked as a friend. My condolences to his family and close friends!