Henry "Hank" Nowak

Henry "Hank" Peter Nowak shuffled off this mortal coil on December 18, 2024, in Fort Collins, Colorado, surrounded in spirit by the love of his family. He was many things during his 69 years on this planet, including but not limited to: a devoted husband, loving brother, jovial uncle, playful great-uncle, dependable attorney, dedicated scientist, charismatic college instructor, and walking encyclopedia of classic movies and music.

Dedicated to learning everything there is to know, Hank earned his JD from Florida State University, his MBA from Florida State University, his MS in Chemistry from Utah State University, and his BS in Biology from Tulane University. Following a prolific early career in pharmaceutical patent law, he spent the second half of his career working at universities including Utah State University, Colorado State University, University of North Carolina, North Dakota State University, and University of Wyoming, helping them bring their discoveries and inventions out of the academic realm and into the real world.

After many years filled to the brim with world travel and adventure, his retirement was happily spent taking walks, baking cookies, doing puzzles, painting, watching Looney Tunes with his grand-niece, and making friends with the entire staff at Rally5.

Hank invited levity and whimsy into his life on a daily basis, from trading jokes with cashiers, to sneaking caramels into unsuspecting pockets, to carrying a two-dollar bill on him at all times. He firmly believed that the most important thing you can do with your life is to live the life you wanted to live, no matter what anyone else thought of it.

While he lived a number of places over the course of his life, for the past few years Hank called Fort Collins, Colorado his home. He was the type of person who could talk to anybody about anything, and with that trait he built a community of his own with those who were lucky enough to meet him - because even if you met him only once, you left that encounter as a friend.

Though he has now joined his wife, Debbie Nowak, his mother, Madeleine Nowak, his father, William Nowak, and his brother, Thomas Nowak on the other side, Hank lives on through the stories, jokes, and memories shared by his siblings Jennifer, Suzanne, Jackie, Yvette, and Niki, as well as his nieces and nephews John Thomas, Corinne, Cody, Meg, Lou, Madi, and Adam, and his grand-nieces and nephews Watts, Davis, and Romy. He remains loved beyond measure.

Hank's ashes will be scattered in the Rocky Mountains during a private ceremony, as he requested. In lieu of flowers, please live your life unapologetically, love others unconditionally, and make sure to take the time to enjoy a few caramels every once in a while.