Scotus honors Dowd family with renaming of activity center

COLUMBUS -- A Columbus couple was recognized for their years of support and contributions to Scotus Central Catholic.

Officially announced Wednesday was the renaming of the Shamrock Activities Center in the name of Leo and Eileen Dowd. A dedication was held at the school with Eileen Dowd, 93, and several of her family members present.

Wayne Morfeld, president of Scotus, said they wanted to name the activity center after the Dowds “because of everything the Dowd family has contributed. They have chosen to remain anonymous over the years, but we wanted them to be recognized in no small way.”

Anyone who walks into the center will not be able to miss the bold green letters painted on the west wall that reads “Dowd Activity Center Home of the Shamrocks.”

Leo Dowd was a founding trustee for the Scotus Endowment Board, and he and his wife also were instrumental in starting the annual gala fundraiser for the school in 1982.

Dave Duren, a member of the original endowment board, said because of the Dowds efforts to get the endowment started, the fund has now grown to nearly $7 million. The fund is used to help balance the budget.

“You can see why this dedication is long overdue for the Dowd family,” Duren said.

The Dowds started the gala with couples Dave and Norma Duren and Dan and Sandra Riley. Over the years the gala has raised more than $2.8 million for the school.

Leo Dowd also was the chairman of several Scotus Education Fund Drives, and in 1980, he spearheaded the fundraising and construction of the activity center.

Noreen Dowd Shaughnessy, one of the Dowds seven children, spoke on the family’s behalf. She said nothing was more important to her parents than a Catholic education. That is why they moved their family from Schuyler to Columbus in the 1960s.

Five of the Dowd children graduated from Scotus.

“I know I speak for my whole family and my mother when I say thank you for honoring our parents in rededicating this activity center in their name,” she said.

Shaughnessy said her parent’s support of Scotus was never based on wanting to gain attention or recognition, but was founded on their belief in the Catholic faith. After her father died four years ago, they found among his papers a quote that would be the best way to describe her parent’s commitment to their faith.

The quote read: “The reason I support Catholic education is that I feel we should do all that we can to help our children in their spiritual growth and to perpetuate our faith down through generations. There is nothing on this earth more important than the salvation of our souls, and a Christian education is one of the best tools for achieving this goal.”