Paul Douglas Houk

Paul Douglas Houk, 58, of Timonium, MD, passed away Oct. 18, 2023. Born June 8, 1965 in Boston, MA to Theodore L. and Carol J. (née Linstrom) Houk, Paul spent his youth in many states, as his dad’s employment location changed: New York, Illinois, Washington, and Wisconsin. The family moved to Maryland in 1978 and Paul remained there for the rest of his life. After graduating from Towson High School, Paul earned his English major, French minor B.A. at Johns Hopkins University in just three years, was awarded Phi Beta Kappa (1985) and also Departmental and General Honors. He began work in the investment business at T. Rowe Price. He pursued his MBA, concentration: Finance (1991) at Loyola University, graduating with Beta Gamma Sigma honors. Paul simultaneously studied for the three-year testing program to become a Chartered Financial Analyst, earning this certification in 1990. Having worked a wedding into all of this, Paul married the love of his life, Dorothea A. Tucker on December 21, 1986. He transitioned to Mercantile Bank, working as an analyst and portfolio manager.

In 1995, when recruited by a New York financial firm, Paul led a dual life, working for Cowen Asset Management in Manhattan during the week, returning to Timonium for weekends. His position as Senior Portfolio Manager there continued for seven years, through the change of the firm’s ownership to SG Cowen. Having contemplated starting his own money management business for some years, the 911 disaster of 2001 convinced Paul and Dot to return permanently to their home in Maryland where Paul founded New Harbor Investment Management, LLC in 2002. He devoted the next 21 years to doing the best possible job he could for his clients. His medical problems, beginning in 2022, and the manipulated market finally led Paul to close his business just weeks before his untimely death.

His career was only a small part of who he was. Paul was known as a source of information, voracious reader, seeker of truth, lover of language and humor. While not blessed with children, Paul and Dot’s ‘babies’ were their string of miniature poodles who brought so much joy. His faith in God supported him all his life, but especially when major health issues hit. Miraculously recovering from two strokes and heart failure, Paul bravely fought back from them all and was doing well until Jesus came for him. His massive cardiac event was his ticket home.

Paul is survived by his wife of 37 years, Dot; his brothers and sisters-in-law Theodore C. (Pamela Jenkins) Houk, Gareth M. (Carolyn) Houk; special cousin Tristan (John Lindberg) Wise; his nephews/nieces Clifton (Mary), Sean (Kylie), Morgan (Sarah), Keelan (Nick), Orion and Chloe; his Tucker in-laws E. Stuart (Ruth Anne) Tucker, M. Susan Gentile, and nephews/nieces Eric (Gretchen), Angelina (Andrew), Margaret (Jens).

A celebration of life will be held Saturday, November 11, 2023, 9:30 am at Church of the Nativity, 20 E. Ridgely Road, Timonium, MD 21093, www.churchnativity.com. His cremains will be privately interred at Gardens of Faith, Rosedale, MD.

Memorial gifts may be sent to the ASPCA, www.aspca.org/memorial