David Villa

David Charles Villa, aged 66, died on February 13, 2021, after a long fight with cancer of the bile duct.

He was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico on April 13, 1954, to Federico Juan and Maria(née Yrene) Villa.  He graduated from Princeton University with a BA in Economics; for his thesis he wrote a case study of Peru’s financial system and its role in promoting economic development.  This led him to an MA in Latin American Studies at Stanford after which he got an MBA from the Kellogg Business School at Northwestern University while interning for the Dean of students. He also obtained a CFA (the credential for investment professionals) and a CPA.  It was at Kellogg that he met Jane (née Harney) whom he married in 1979 at the Howe Chapel at Northwestern University.  They traveled extensively and lived in London, Strasbourg, Chicago, Tallahassee, and Madison.  Their daughter, Elena, has been the light of their lives.

His passions were his family, music and widening educational opportunities.  He left high school after his junior year to travel and perform with "Up With People" throughout the United States and Belgium.  During a lecture at the United Nations for his “Up With People” group, a Princeton professor heard a question David asked.  David was blessed by good fortune and kindness at that important point in his career (and many others): recognizing David's remarkable mind, that professor secured funding for David to attend Princeton in the fall.  There he joined the a capella group the Nassoons where he sang second tenor.  The Nassoons provided him with enduring friendships, wonderful memories, and a chance to sing together throughout his life.

MBA in hand, David became an auditor with Arthur Anderson.  He served subsequently in a series of increasingly demanding roles in finance at First National Bank of Chicago, Brinson Partners, and the Florida State Board of Administration (Florida’s pension fund) before coming to SWIB.

He enjoyed the challenge and complexity of SWIB and its mission that Wisconsin public employees and their families retire with dignity.  Under his leadership, SWIB became a true asset management firm.  It more than doubled in size in terms of personnel and funds under management. This has dramatically reduced the cost to the pensioners of managing funds  (as the cost of external management is much, much higher than internal management. He recruited talented employees and encouraged them to develop their skills by learning throughout their lives and to serve their community.  These people have contributed their time and money in the Madison area, something that outside fund managers didn’t do.  As of David’s death, Wisconsin’s pension fund is overfunded. (The fund  has more than enough assets to meet their future obligations.)  David received numerous awards for innovation and leadership in the finance industry including those from Institutional Investor and CIO magazines.  He was highly respected by his many colleagues and friends.

David sought to share his love of learning.  He had clear goals and sought to form coalitions to accomplish them.  There have been numerous articles and letters to the family from the many people he mentored and the many lives he touched in his activities.  David enjoyed his work as Treasurer and Director of the Marguerite Casey Foundation whose mission is to empower low income families to organize to improve their communities.  (As opposed to the grant model wherein the donor monitors and to various degrees directs the recipients activities.)  He co-directed the Proyecto Amistad in Arequipa, Peru while in college.  As President of the Chicago Chapter of the National Society of Hispanic MBAs (now Prospanica) he worked to fund a summer program for talented Hispanic middle school students.  In Madison, he built a partnership with the UW Business School that has permanently changed their relationship.  The latest example of this is that he encouraged SWIB funding for a scholarship for women to intern at SWIB and study in the Applied Securities Analysis Program at UW.  (Women are under represented in the financial industry.)  With his wife Jane, he funded numerous endowments and scholarships to encourage others to reach their potential and widen the talent pool in many industries.

At the time of his death, David served as a Director of the Financial Accounting Foundation, a part of the SEC and as a CEO/CIO of the State of Wisconsin Investment Board and as Treasurer and a Director of the Marguerite Casey Foundation.  He was a member of the 300 Club, a group headquartered in London, formed in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis and dedicated to increasing transparency in accounting and investing to the world of international investments.

David is survived by his wife Jane and daughter Elena; his parents Fred and Maria Villa (97 & 94); and his siblings Debora Villa, M.D.(Ralph), Doreen Simmons (Steve), Dan Villa and their children. He was a treasured brother-in-law to Caroline Harney (Jim Charlton), Ed Harney (Kathryn Mikells); Tom Harney (Laura) and uncle to their children.

His survivors are inspired by the courage and passion with which he lived his life and faced his death.   They will miss his jokes, loving support and endless wisdom.  We are honored and blessed to have known him.

His memorial service was on Saturday, March 20, 2021 via livestream. To view the livestreamed service after the service, use the following link: https://event.forgetmenotceremonies.com/ceremony/?c=42c59df7-fb90-4d1f-99d2-1e563b64539d .

Please share your memories at www.cressfuneralservice.com

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