Paula C. Hollinger, a trailblazing Maryland State Senator, dedicated nurse, and fierce advocate for healthcare and reproductive rights, died on March 25, 2026, at her home in Florida. She was 85 years old. Her death followed a courageous battle with leukemia, marking the end of a remarkable life defined by public service and legislative achievement. Throughout her nearly three decades in Annapolis, she consistently fought to protect the vulnerable and expand medical access for all Marylanders.

Before entering the political arena, Hollinger built a foundational career in healthcare that deeply informed her later legislative priorities. She worked as a night nurse in the emergency room of a Spanish Harlem hospital during the 1960s, confronting the stark realities of urban medical care. Later, she served as the head nurse of a surgical intensive care unit and worked in the stroke unit at the University of Maryland Hospital. These frontline experiences exposed her to the critical intersections of medical ethics, patient care, and systemic healthcare challenges, ultimately inspiring her transition into public policy.

Hollinger transitioned into politics with a clear mandate to improve public health and welfare. She was elected to the Maryland House of Delegates in 1978, representing the Pikesville and Randallstown areas of Baltimore County. In 1986, she successfully ran for the Maryland State Senate, where she served with distinction until 2007. During her tenure, she broke significant barriers, eventually becoming the only woman to chair one of the four standing senate committees when she led the Senate Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs Committee.

Throughout her years in the General Assembly, Hollinger authored and sponsored landmark legislation that reshaped Maryland's healthcare landscape. She was the driving force behind the 1990 Freedom of Choice Act, which codified the protections of Roe v. Wade into Maryland law and was subsequently approved by voters in a 1992 referendum. Additionally, she sponsored the nation's first Patient Care Advisory Committees in 1987, providing hospitals with ethical frameworks for treating life-threatening conditions. Her legislative portfolio also included crucial bills that prohibited mandatory overtime for nurses, expanded Medicaid home care, eased organ donation processes, and mandated automatic defibrillators in public spaces.

Beyond healthcare, Hollinger was a steadfast champion for environmental conservation, particularly concerning the Chesapeake Bay. She played a pivotal role in passing early environmental protections, including a phosphate detergent ban that helped initiate the Bay's restoration efforts. After leaving the Senate following a 2006 congressional bid, she continued her commitment to public health by serving as the associate director for the health workforce in the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. She remained in this administrative role until her retirement in 2015, continuing to shape the state's medical infrastructure.

In her personal life, Hollinger shared a devoted marriage with her husband, Paul, whom she married in 1962. Together, they raised three children—Ilene, David, and the late Marcy—and welcomed seven grandchildren into their family. Even in her later years, she remained a vocal champion for reproductive rights, appearing at rallies to encourage younger generations to protect their freedoms. Her legacy as a compassionate caregiver and a formidable legislative force left an indelible mark on the state of Maryland and the countless lives she fought to protect.