Loyola celebrates the life of Scott Gromacki, affiliate professor of finance
Scott Gromacki, affiliate professor of finance, passed away on Monday, Feb. 24, 2025. Gromacki, who was 59, will be remembered for the way he brought real-world professional experience in trading to his courses.
Gromacki, who started teaching at Loyola in January 2019, taught both undergraduate and graduate classes, giving students an inside glimpse into financial services. He came to Loyola after a successful career as a trader, most recently as manager of overnight trading at Campbell and Company, a hedge fund where he had traded for almost 18 years.
Lisa Fairchild, Ph.D., professor of finance, noted that Gromacki鈥檚 classes鈥攅specially the electives he taught鈥攆illed quickly.
鈥淭he students loved him,鈥� she said. 鈥淗e had so much professional experience that he brought to the classroom. When you have an elective course that fills quickly, it鈥檚 a sign that somebody is doing a really good job.
Gromacki鈥檚 love for teaching was evident, and he brought his experience trading for larger financial institutions into his classes.
鈥淲hat he brought to the class was so much real-world knowledge. He was very, very valuable to the department,鈥� said Frank D鈥橲ouza, Ph.D., professor of finance, who was the finance department chair when Gromacki came to Loyola. 鈥淲ho can do that? Who has the gravitas to really bring it into the classroom? But he did.鈥�
D鈥橲ouza recalls how much Gromacki鈥檚 students enjoyed their time in his classroom, whether he was teaching the capstone course in the finance major or offering other higher-level classes. D鈥橲ouza was also grateful to Gromacki for his contributions as a colleague in the department.
鈥淗e was very versatile, and he was a team player,鈥� D鈥橲ouza said. 鈥淪ome people just take on extra work with grace, and he was one of those.鈥�
Gromacki taught at Loyola before the pandemic, then online through COVID-19, then coming out of the pandemic, with his courses evolving into asynchronous and online options and then back in the classroom. 鈥淗e was just able to adapt,鈥� D鈥橲ouza said. 鈥淎nd he loved teaching.鈥�
After graduating with a BBA in Finance from Walsh College in Troy, Michigan, Gromacki earned his MBA from DePaul University in Chicago, Illinois. He went on to gain almost 30 years of experience in the financial services industry on both the buy and sell side, acquiring experience with both people and project management with advanced Bloomberg and trading systems skills.
Outside of teaching, he volunteered in his community as a soccer and football coach and as treasurer for a Boy Scout troop. But at Loyola, he will be remembered best for his love of teaching and his impact on his students.
鈥淗e came in and did a good job, and he wanted to make a huge difference,鈥� Fairchild said.
Gromacki鈥檚 survivors include his wife of 33 years, Kathi.
Arrangements
樱花动漫ation
Friday, Feb. 28, 2025, 5-8 p.m.
Bel Air-McComas Family Funeral Home
50 W. Broadway, Bel Air, MD 21014
Saturday, March 1, 2025, 10-11 a.m.
Emmanuel Episcopal Church
303 North Main St., Bel Air, MD 21014
Funeral Service
Saturday, March 1, 2025, 11 a.m.
Emmanuel Episcopal Church
303 North Main St., Bel Air, MD 21014
Scott Gromacki will also be remembered in the 12:10 p.m. Mass on Friday, Feb. 28, 2025, in Loyola鈥檚 Alumni Memorial Chapel. A future celebration of his life will be planned at Loyola.