Thomas Leo Hollowak

Thomas L. Hollowak, age 71, passed away peacefully after a long battle with cancer. He was born February 4th, 1954, in Baltimore, Maryland to Stanley Adam and Martha Lee (nee Murphy) Hollowak. He was the older twin brother of Stanley Adam Jr and brother-in-law to Stanley's wife Eva (nee Berger). He is also survived by two sisters, Barbara A. O'Neal, Mary R. Hollowak, his partner of 26 years, David Amos, and brother-in-law James Hyson, the widower of Louise. He is also survived by nieces, nephews, & their children, an uncle, Francis Kelly, and numerous cousins. He was predeceased by his parents, his older brother William F. Hollowak, and younger sister Louise M. (nee Hollowak) Hyson. Tom retired in 2013 as the Associate Director of Special Collections at the University of Baltimore. He was later given Emeritus status. He began his career in January 1973 as a page at the central branch of the Enoch Pratt Free Library on Cathedral Street in Baltimore, Maryland. He was promoted to Library Assistant in the Business, Science, and Technology Department at the Central Library. In March 1978, he was promoted and moved to the George Peabody Library (now part of the Johns Hopkins University) where he was the assistant to Evelyn (Lynn) Hart, the head of the department. This later led to numerous opportunities and returning to college to earn a degree in History. He was awarded a BA in 1984. He later received a Master of Arts in History at the University of Maryland College Park in 1990. He worked briefly at the Albin O. Kuhn Library and Gallery at UBMC. From there, he became the Baltimore City Archivist and Records Manager. After 4 years' service as Baltimore City Archivist, he began working in the Special Collections of University of Baltimore in September 1995, where he retired in 2013. After earning his degree, he became active in a number of Polish organizations and clubs. He began research, writing, and publishing the history of Baltimore and Maryland Polonia. This led to him establishing his desktop publishing company in 1990. Besides his research and writing, he enjoyed travel, photography, spending time with family and friends, and sitting on his deck reading books of European history. He was an avid opera lover, both listening at home and attending a variety of operas in Baltimore. This love of opera began through friends Lynn and her husband Richard Hart.
A Celebration of Life will be held at the Evans Life Celebration Home, 8800 Harford Road, Parkville, MD 21234, on Sunday, August 10, 2025, from 1-4 P.M. with a Prayer Service beginning at 4:00 P.M. In lieu of flowers donations may be made in Tom's memory to the American Cancer Society and the Maryland Polonia Collection at the University of Baltimore, 1420 N. Charles St., Baltimore MD 21201. Polish National Alliance and Polish Heritage Association of Maryland or a charity of your choice.