The Life of Ilya Romanov

Hello everyone,

We are all shocked and heartbroken by the sudden passing of our dear friend, Ilya Romanov.

Ilya was and always will be one of a kind. He was fiercely loyal, reliable, and thoughtful. Ilya was hilarious, always making us laugh with corny jokes or just generally being a loveable goofball.

Talented and always curious, Ilya was a jack of all trades and master of many. Ilya could tackle any challenge with his fearless ingenuity.

Ilya was incredibly creative and hardworking. Watching him develop Bar Iris was so fulfilling and exciting. Meticulously designing every detail and doing so much of the work himself. Often I'd see Ilya covered in dirt, with paint on his overalls, and cuts on his hands. But no matter what, I always saw him with that massive smile on his face.

He did it his way and he loved it. He was completely driven by his passion to create, curate, and refine. It was no surprise that Ilya and his Bar Iris would be a massive success but Ilya wasn't satisfied just with his own successes. Ilya was always driven to bring up others around him. He was a mentor to so many. He would often fundraise for the community, hosting pop-ups, and guest shifts for other up-and-coming hospitality professionals.

Ilya was handsome, strong as an ox, and completely in his prime. My only solace at this moment is knowing that he had such an amazing year. Making so many friends, and receiving recognition and awards for his incredible work, Ilya was in a good place. I hope he knew how much he was adored.

Ilya was also a prideful and loving father to an equally handsome and curious little boy named Ezra. While it's heart-rending to know that Ezra will no longer be able to spend time with his dad, he's fortunate to have such a strong mother, Maya, who will undoubtedly guide him well through life. I hope one day he will know just how much impact his father had on everyone around him.

Words cannot adequately describe how much his family, friends, and community will miss Ilya. He was an absolute gift to all of our lives.

Being unable to give him our love and appreciation and being unable to receive his signature firm handshake or tight embrace will forever be painful.

All funds raised in this campaign will support his little boy and any other expense related to the passing of our beloved Ilya. Please give whatever you can, as Ilya would have done for any of us.

Thank you,

Emilio Salehi