In Memoriam: San Utsunomiya, (B.ARCH ’54)
“Visual Training is a course which serves to train the eye and sense of design and to foster aesthetic appreciation in the world of proportions, forms, colors, textures, and spaces.” (Walter Peterhans).
San Utsunomiya, age 95, passed away on August 3, 2025, in his beloved townhome in Oak Park, Illinois. San was born on January 27, 1930, and the youngest son of Issei farmers in Santa Maria, California. San lost both his father and mother by the age of 7. His older brother and sisters, only teenagers themselves, took on a variety of jobs to support the family. WWII struck when he was 12. Although, native born American citizens, in April 1942, San and his siblings were forcibly relocated and incarcerated to the Gila River War Relocation Center, an American concentration camp in Arizona built to house Japanese Americans from the West Coast. Over 120,000 people of Japanese descent, the majority of which were American citizens, were sent to 10 concentration camps by the United States government during WWII). Despite being wrongfully incarcerated at Gila Bend, San managed to continue his education and was valedictorian of his concentration camp middle school class. San and his siblings were eventually released from the camp two years later.
Despite the rampant racism he faced, when he was 18, he tried to enlist in the United States Navy, where he flunked the physical exam initially due to "the only thing wrong with you is your eyes", alluding to his physical attribute as someone of an Asian descent. After completing his service in the Navy, San returned to California in search of work. But when opportunities failed to materialize, he made his way back to Chicago—ultimately joining the renowned architectural firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill. He worked there from 1958 to 1966. In 1966, he returned to his alma mater and became a professor of Architecture until his retirement in 1994. San was best known for teaching in the second- and third-year Visual Training studios.
San was an avid golfer who also loved to fish, often taking annual road trips to enjoy both pastimes with his closest friends. San was preceded in death by his two brothers, Robert and Tom Utsunomiya and his three sisters, Sadie Kubota, Tei Utsunomiya, and Betty Harris. He is survived by his nieces and nephews—Elaine Kubota, Daniel Kubota, Mary Ann Kubota, Carol Kubota, Wade Utsunomiya, Vicki Harris, and Kristi Harris—who carry forward his memory.
San Utsunomiya's life story is a testament to a remarkable individual who overcame hardship, pursued his passion, built a successful career, and uplifted students and his community, all while navigating the weight of historical injustices. His story reflects a resilient spirit—one that chose hope, opportunity, and joy over dwelling on the past. His courageous and gentle presence will be deeply missed.
This article is largely derived from: San Utsunomiya Obituary published on Legacy.com by Zimmerman-Harnett Funeral Home on Aug. 7, 2025.
San Utsunomiya at Mies Society’s Birthday Celebration 2017.
The work of Illinois Tech alumni from the College of Architecture’s Visual Training courses.