Nicholas James Ilku 

May 31, 1955 - Apr 21, 2019

Nicholas James Ilku, Jr., 63, formerly of Trenton, passed away peacefully at his residence in Alexandria, Virginia on Sunday, April 21, 2019. “Nick the Bartender” or “Doc” as he was referred to by his family and friends graduated from St. Anthony's in 1973 with a scholarship to George Washington University where he graduated in 1977 and continued on to get his MBA Degree from Rutgers University in 1981.

During his college days he worked in construction, building the DC Metro, and started his working career alongside his father at Billy Martin's Carriage House in Georgetown, catering for Hughes Aircraft and other executives. For a number of years he worked at the Red Lion bar in DC and then followed his father to the former Sheraton Hotel, which is now known as the Washington Marriott Wardman Park, where he worked for over three decades. Nick was also a proud member of their union, Local 25, and a Shop Steward for the union for many years. During this time he was honored to have be included in a number of Presidential Inaugural Balls, along with many other major events. 

He was passionate about his job as a bartender and truly loved meeting people and touching their lives. A man who loved to tell jokes and stories about the exciting life he lived. Many of these stories included his track running days, fishing, hanging out at LBI, skydiving, hang-gliding, along with a number of other memorable events in his life. He enjoyed spending quality time with family and friends, the many friends that came into his life that he considered family. Nick was very generous and was always helping others.

A wonderful son, brother, uncle, husband, and excellent friend who will be missed by all that knew him and loved him dearly.

Nicholas is predeceased by his mother, Lillian Ilku; father, Nicholas James Ilku, Sr.; wife, Trish Ilku; step mother, Patricia Ilku and sister Adele Kososky.

Left to cherish his wonderful memory: loving niece Alex Kososky, caring brother in law, Chuck Kososky, cousin, James Ilku, Sr. and his son James Jr., and daughter Tyler, the McBurnie Family, Blum Family, Kolbert Family, Crane Family, Vedadi Family, Schwab Family, Byrne Family, the Runkle Family, and many others; all of those who had very fond memories of Nick will miss him deeply.


Memorial Service will be held Saturday; May 4, 2019, 10:00am with an 11:00am service at the Chiacchio Southview Funeral Home, 990 South Broad Street, Trenton NJ 08611 (parking facility and handicap access located directly behind the funeral home). Inurnment will follow at Newtown Cemetery, 600 E. Washington Avenue, Newtown, PA 18940. Flowers will be accepted however, you may also make memorial contributions in his honor to the Cancer Research Institute at www.cancerresearch.org.

Arrangements under the direction of Paula A Morocco and the dedicated staff of the Chiacchio Southview Funeral Home.