Center Focus 1-16 ALL.pdf Center Focus May 2014 | Page 13

DCHS Announces 2014 Distinguished Alumni
Jim Willer ‘66
Dowling Catholic High School
is pleased to honor Jim F. Willer
`66 with the 2014 Distinguished
Alumni Award. Jim Willer is the
school’s 50th recipient of the
Distinguished Alumni Award.
While a student at Dowling,
Jim was a member of the track
and cross country teams. He held records in both the mile
and 440 relay for many years. He attended Iowa State
University, graduating in three years.
Jim is a past president of the Dowling Catholic Foundation
Board and has served a total of eight dedicated years on the
board’s development committee. As a principal benefactor,

Esperanza Pintor Martínez `03
Dowling Catholic High School is pleased to honor
Esperanza Pintor Martinez `03 with the inaugural
Distinguished Young Alumni Award. Esperanza
Pintor Martínez was born in Michoacán, Mexico.
She came to the U.S. at the age of seven not knowing how
to speak English. As the eldest child of immigrant
parents she took on various roles and faced many barriers
in pursuing her American dream. She graduated from the
University of Northern Iowa with her B.A. and then went
on to obtain a Master’s of Public Health degree from the
University of Iowa. She is currently working on obtaining a
certificate in interpreting and translating from Des Moines
Area Community College.
Currently, Esperanza is the Clinic Administrator at La
Clínica de la Esperanza, UnityPoint Health. She also has
held positions with the following: Iowa Department of

Jim has not only given generously of his talent and
treasure, but also has donated his time soliciting
contributions from others to support the students and
school. Following this year, he will become a member of
the select Honorary Foundation Board. Jim is also a
member of the Dowling/St. Joseph Legacy Society.
His commitment to service, while strong at his alma mater,
extends beyond the halls of Dowling Catholic into the
wider Des Moines community. A partial list of his service
on numerous boards, quite often as president, include Des
Moines Performing Arts, Variety Club of Iowa, Salisbury
House and Gardens, Hoyt Sherman Place, Junior
Achievement of Central Iowa, St. Augustin Parish, Bishop
Drumm Retirement Center, Mercy Clinic, and ChildServe
Foundation.

Public Health’s first Five Healthy Mental Development
Initiative, University of Iowa’s Center for Health
Communication and Social Marketing, College of Public
Health, University of Northern Iowa’s Iowa Center for
Immigrant Leadership and Integration and Center for
Social and Behavioral Research, Holy Family School,
Central College’s Office of Multicultural Affairs and
Spanish Department.
Her educational journey took her to Honduras, Romania,
Greece, Hungary, and The Gambia, Africa where she did
volunteer work and public health research. She was a
featured speaker at TEDxDesMoines Women themed “The
Rising” in December 2012 and a keynote speaker for the
Career Professionals of Iowa Annual Conference at
Simpson College. She has spoken on topics of cultural,
social, and health importance for the Des Moines
Chapter of Medical Assistants Continuing Education
Event, the Eyes Open Iowa 9th Annual Conference, the

Jim has been employed with Morgan Stanley Wealth
Management for 40 years and currently serves as Complex
Manager/Executive Director.
He and his wife Ann will celebrate their 40th wedding
anniversary next month. They have two children, both
Dowling graduates. Son Patrick `96 and his wife Ashley
live in Peekskill, NY, and daughter Kate `00 lives in New
York City.
Every month, Jim and his fellow Class of 1966 Dowling
and St. Joseph classmates gather at a local restaurant, most

often at Noah’s on Ingersoll.
On behalf of Dowling Catholic High School,
congratulations on your Distinguished Alumni honor!

Latinos Unidos 13th
Annual Conference, the
Iowa Interpreters and
Translators Association
9th Annual Conference.
Her list of civic
engagement and
leadership experiences
includes: Latinas Leadership Initiative of Greater Des
Moines, student mentoring, Latinas/Latinos Al Éxiton,
Latino Center Leadership Team and Steering Committee,
Latino Forum Group, DREAMERS Steering Committee,
University of Iowa Diversity Committee, interpreter, and
Johnson County Public Health.
On behalf of Dowling Catholic High School,
congratulations on your Distinguished Alumni honor!