Charles (Constantine) Condike, 96, a longtime resident of Scarsdale, New York, passed away peacefully in his home surrounded by his loving family and devoted aide of 3.5 years, Diane Hooper, on Thursday, January 4, 2018.
Born on August 9, 1921, in Brockton, MA, Charlie was the 4th of five sons of Charles Condike and Mary MacDonald. He was later raised by step parents, Ellen and Wesley Nelson. Charlie is survived by 2 loving daughters, Eileen Lillyan Condike Togashi, and her ex-husband, Kiyoshi Togashi, of New York City, and Barbara Jane Condike-Furlong and her husband, Thomas J. Furlong, of Gorham, ME. Charlie is also survived by 2 devoted granddaughters, Elena Kiyoko Togashi and her husband David M. Suchy, of Arlington, MA and Erika Seiko Togashi of New York City and Bali, Indonesia. He is also survived by one great-grandson, Kiyo Togashi Suchy, 16 months. He is survived by brother George Condike, 101, of Granbury, TX. He was the brother of the late James Condike, the late Robert Condike, and the late Richard Condike and has many nieces and nephews. He is also survived by his ex-wife, Eileen Florence Barnes Schinlever, 94, whom he was married to from 1945-1959.
Charlie was an enterprising young man and completed his education in aviation in CA at the age of 20. He proudly served his country in WWII from 1942-1945 in the US Army Air Force as a radio operator behind enemy lines in Germany and Belgium. He served in the 306th Fighter Control Squadron in the US 1st Army Air Force under the 29th Tactical Air Command of the US 9th Army Air Force (Europe). He was awarded the prestigious Belgian Fourragere for his courageous and dangerous work in the Battle of the Bulge.
As a young boy, Charlie loved building model airplanes. His interest in aviation and building things led him into a successful career in audio-visuals and electronics at the dawn of television. He worked for RCA, Westinghouse, The Sonotone Corporation, and was Vice President of Sales for British Industries, Garrard Engineering, and Fisher Electronics. In his early retirement years he spent over one year building each of his granddaughters all wood, custom dollhouses, that they proudly still cherish.
Charlie’s greatest pride and passion was his family. He was a devoted and loving father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He loved photography, cars, cigars, martinis, Scotch and sports – his Boston Red Sox, the NY Mets and the NY Jets. He was an avid reader on American History and WWII, who also loved to cook, entertain, and savor sweet desserts.
His family will greet relatives and friends on Saturday, January 27, from 9 to 10am at the Dinoto Funeral Home, 17 Pearl Street, Mystic with a funeral service immediately following at 10am at the funeral home. Interment with his brothers and with full military honors will immediately follow at River Bend Cemetery, 117 Beach Street, Westerly, RI.
Memorial donations may be made to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, www.michaeljfox.org
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