Kevin James Wilk

His viewpoint and kindness encompassed both grand and intimate situations, from which those of us who had the great privilege to know him benefited deeply.

I know few that held him in disregard. Even many of those he had occasion to have conflict with, often later became colleagues or even friends.

As for his personal life, his family was always first in his heart. A better father and husband he could not have been. Nothing made him happier or more proud than to be with Ethan, interact with him and his friends and generally participate in his life. His loyalty quietly knew no bounds.

As for his true love’s feelings, well that runs private and deep. Suffice to say, I will honor his way of seeing the world, and go forward in lock step with him still filling my heart.

His absence leaves this world a bit dim."

~ Nina

Kevin James Wilk, beloved husband to Nina (Whiteside) Wilk and father to Ethan, passed to his heavenly reward on August 9, 2024. He was born in Arlington, Texas, June 3, 1959 to Frederick and Pauline (Gleason) Wilk. The family moved to Mendham, NJ in 1969, where Kevin attended West Morris Mendham High School, graduating in 1977. He graduated from Lehigh University in 1981 with Bachelor of Science degrees in Accounting and Finance, and was a brother of the Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity.

Kevin lived life with unique joie de vivre. He was a person who liked to challenge himself and constantly chose to widen his horizons. He was known to quietly help people who he met, with no need for recognition or acknowledgement. He was a passionate reader of fiction and non-fiction alike, and he enthusiastically supported the Carolina Ballet. Recently, Kevin was learning to sail in Boston Harbor and in the Outer Banks. He was also an active member of the “Warrior Brothers” men’s prayer group.

A member of the 1975 New Jersey State Champion Football team for West Morris Mendham High School, Kevin was an avid lifelong athlete. While attending Lehigh University, he was a member of the boxing club in the heavyweight category and was the Captain of the Rugby Club for Lehigh, in his Senior year. Since moving with his family to Raleigh, NC in 2008, he became a certified Advanced scuba diver, and competed in the Senior Biking Games in Raleigh. To try to keep up with his wife Nina, he became a certified yoga instructor in 2018. And in 2022, he competed in the International Powerlifting Association competition in York, PA.

Kevin was an entrepreneur and self-made business owner. He was a developer for commercial and residential properties in New Jersey and North Carolina for nearly 40 years.

Kevin was predeceased by his parents. Left to mourn his loss are Nina, his loving wife of 26 years, his son Ethan; sisters Kathleen Wilk and her fiancé, James Morris, Sharon (Wilk) Boutilier and her husband G. Richard; brother Thomas Wilk and his wife Kristina; his nieces, nephews, and brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law Lee and Cathy Whiteside, Mark Whiteside, Cathy Savino, and Chrissy August. His presence will be dearly missed by many members of the Raleigh/Cary community and friends and family around the world.

In lieu of flowers, donations are asked to be made in Kevin’s name to ”Tunnel to Towers Foundation” at https://t2t.org/ or as a non-tax deductible option to “Liberty Acres” at https://www.libertyacres.org/ , an Animal Haven & Equine Rescue located in Liberty, NC.

Kevin’s family is planning to establish “The Kevin J. Wilk Foundation”, a foundation dedicated in Kevin’s name, to support the provision of lifesaving capabilities to public athletic and recreational spaces in the communities Kevin loved. The family will let friends interested in knowing more, when the foundation is active and running.