Longtime Kellogg Eye Center donor William (Bill) Brehm passed away on July 30, 2025, at the age of 96. Bill, and his beloved wife Delores (Dee) Brehm, are remembered as passionate philanthropists who generously supported the University of Michigan, Michigan Medicine, the Kellogg Eye Center, and many other important causes. Their unwavering commitment to philanthropy is reflected in their lifetime giving to U-M, totaling more than $70 million. Born in Dearborn, Michigan, Bill attended the University of Michigan, earning his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in mathematics and physics. During his time at U-M, Bill met Dee, who was a student at Eastern Michigan University. They were married for 70 years and had two children and six grandchildren. Bill’s career included roles in the U.S. Department of Defense as assistant secretary of the Army for manpower and reserve affairs and assistant secretary of defense for manpower and legislative affairs. He was also vice president of corporate development at Dart Industries and later co-founded SRA International, where he served as chairman for more than two decades. Bill devoted the same intensity he had for his career to philanthropy — a passion Dee shared. Their generosity touched many areas, including music, education, faith, and medicine, touching countless lives. Of greatest importance to Bill, however, was finding a cure for diabetes and its complications, inspired by Dee’s decades-long battle with the disease. The Brehms’ 2004 gift of $44 million to Michigan Medicine was a major step in tackling diabetes. Their generosity helped build the Brehm Tower—an eight-story, 230,000-square-foot addition to the Kellogg Eye Center. Not only did the tower’s seven eye care clinics expand capacity for patient care, but also vision and diabetes research. On the tower’s fifth and sixth floors, Bill and Dee founded the Brehm Center for Diabetes Research. As Bill recalled, “We started with the goal of accelerating diabetes research, but our approach was to go beyond creating bricks and mortar and to foster a new paradigm in how medical research is conducted.” The Brehms also established the William K. and Delores S. Brehm Professorship in Type I Diabetes Research and the Larry D. Soderquist Professorship, honoring Dee’s brother. Their visionary giving provided a foundation and inspired U-M’s worldwide diabetes collaborations. Today, their gift continues to fuel our hope for not only better treatments for diabetes and its complications, but also a cure. The Brehms made transformational gifts to many other organizations, such as Dee’s alma mater, Eastern Michigan University, and the Brehm Center at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California. No matter where they chose to direct their financial support, the Brehms’ generosity has and will continue to positively impact the lives of people in Michigan and beyond.