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’s classes—especially the electives he taught—filled quickly. 

“The students loved him,” she said. “He had so much professional experience that he brought to the classroom. When you have an elective course that fills quickly, it’s a sign that somebody is doing a really good job. 

Gromacki’s love for teaching was evident, and he brought his experience trading for larger financial institutions into his classes. 

“What he brought to the class was so much real-world knowledge. He was very, very valuable to the department,” said Frank D’Souza, Ph.D., professor of finance, who was the finance department chair when Gromacki came to Loyola. “Who can do that? Who has the gravitas to really bring it into the classroom? But he did.” 

D’Souza recalls how much Gromacki’s 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’Souza was also grateful to Gromacki for his contributions as a colleague in the department. 

“He was very versatile, and he was a team player,” D’Souza said. “Some people just take on extra work with grace, and he was one of those.” 

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. “He was just able to adapt,” D’Souza said. “And he loved teaching.” 

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. 

“He came in and did a good job, and he wanted to make a huge difference,” Fairchild said. 

Gromacki’s survivors include his wife of 33 years, Kathy. 

Arrangements 

Visitation

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’s Alumni Memorial Chapel. A future celebration of his life will be planned at Loyola.