Obituary: Yancosky, 67

The late Bill Yancosky, 67

Bill Yancosky, a gay former manager at Trio Restaurant, died at George Washington University Hospital Jan. 4. He was 67 and had been a long-time Washington resident.

Yancosky was a 17th Street fixture, according to his friend of nearly 40 years, Roger Gilkeson. He was known to many in the D.C. gay community for the 17 years he spent as a manager at Trio, which ended in 2007. In recent years, he was at Annie’s Paramount Steakhouse each morning except Sunday where he enjoyed reading newspapers and having a martini and lunch.

Yancosky was born July 23, 1943, in Mt. Pleasant, Pa. He’d been in Washington for more than 30 years and is survived by his partner, Killian Swift, whom he met in 2000 and lived with since 2007. Yancosky was married early in life. He’s also survived by a former partner who remained a friend, Darryl Burrell; two sisters, Joyce Fair and Janice Stone; a niece, Lee Ann Pawlak; and friends Margie DeJarnette and Carlos Crutchfield.

Yancosky, who enjoyed travel and reading, had suffered from health problems in recent years. He died of cardiac arrest.

Friends and survivors are planning an informal “celebration of Yancosky’s life” at Trio on Jan. 22 from 4 to 6 p.m. For more information, contact Gilkeson at 202-333-0879 or rogerg@erols.com.