nˈoʊæk wʌz bˈɔːɹn ɪn bˈʌfəlˌoʊ, nˈuː jˈɔːɹk ɐtˈɛndᵻd pˈʌblɪk ˌɛlɪmˈɛntɚɹi skˈuːlz ɪn bˈʌfəlˌoʊ ænd ɡɹˈædjuːˌeɪɾᵻd fɹʌm ɹˈɪvɚsˌaɪd hˈaɪ skˈuːl, bˈʌfəlˌoʊ, ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd fˈɪfti θɹˈiː.
Nowak was born in Buffalo, New York attended public elementary schools in Buffalo and graduated from Riverside High School, Buffalo, in 1953.