Copyright 2002 Wilmington Star-News, Inc.
Morning Star (Wilmington, NC)
June 3, 2002, Monday

CAPTAIN ERIK TORSTEN NILSON

Captain Erik Torsten Nilson, age 30, of 4101 Chandler Dr., Wilmington, passed away Friday, May 31, 2002, at his residence. He was born April 11, 1972 in Stanford CT.
Captain Nilson was a parishioner of St. Marks Catholic Church. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1994 and became a Naval Aviator in 1996. He honorably served with the Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 266 MCAS New River for five years. He participated in humanitarian and in peacekeeping operations in the former Yugoslavia and Republic of Macedonia.
Captain Nilson is survived by his wife, Christine P. Nilson; and a son, Luke Anthony Nilson; his mother, Deborah S. Nilson of Ridgefield, CN; grandmother, Barbara G. Smith of Naples, FL; a brother, Matthew Nilson of Ridgefield, CN; father and mother-in-law, Anthony J. and Denise M. Petricola of Pinehurst, NC; two brothers-in-law, Mario I Petricola of Dublin, OH, and Louie Lecce of Windsor, Ontario; sister-in-law, Gina A. Lecce of Windsor, Ontario.
Funeral services will be held 12:00 P.M. Tuesday, June 4, 2002 at Marine Corps Air Station New River Chapel with Chaplain Bernard Bezy officiating. Interment will follow in Sandhills State Veterans Cemetery in Fayetteville, NC on Wednesday, June 5, 2002. Pallbearers will be family and friends. Honorary Pallbearers will be Mario Petricola, Louie Lecce and Colonel Jeffery Marshall. The family will receive friends 6-8 P.M. Monday, June 3, 2002 at Coble Ward-Smith Oleander Chapel.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made for St. Marks Education Center Fund and directed to Mrs. Christine Nilson, 4101 Chandler Dr., Wilmington, NC 28405.
Coble Ward-Smith Funeral and Cremation Service Oleander Chapel. 7914444.

We are looking for a volunteer to write an obituary for Shipmate.

Jim Keck
94 Corresponding Secy