William K. Brehm

William Keith “Bill” Brehm died on July 30, 2025, at age 96. He was an outstandingly accomplished composer, philanthropist, business leader, and public servant. Born in Dearborn, Michigan, in 1929, Brehm led a life shaped by creativity, service, generosity, and devotion to the love of his life, his late wife of 70 years, Delores.

Brehm earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in mathematics and physics from the University of Michigan. He held senior roles in the U.S. Department of Defense. In the private sector, he served as vice president of corporate development at Dart Industries before co-founding SRA International, where he served as chairman for over two decades.

Though most widely known for his leadership in government and business, Brehm considered himself first and foremost a musician. A master pianist and gifted composer, he had a lifelong passion for music that brought him continuing joy and connection. His compositions were deeply personal expressions of his spirit, and he could be found charming visitors and fellow residents of his retirement home with his playing, often from memory, well into his 90s.

His philanthropic legacy is as expansive as his professional one, guided by a deeply held belief in the importance of human connection. The Brehms made transformational gifts to many institutions close to their hearts.

In alignment with their love for music and the arts, they made major gifts to the U-M School of Music, Theatre, and Dance, as well as the Brehm Center for Worship, Theology, and the Arts at Fuller Theological Seminary, paving the way for the next generation of musicians and performers.

They were unyieldingly passionate and innovative in their pursuit of a cure for type 1 diabetes, which led them to founding the Brehm Center for Diabetes Research at Michigan Medicine. Their $44 million gift, along with their dedication and hard work, has already catalyzed a new and different framework for type 1 diabetes research that is based on laboratory and clinical discovery and collaboration. The Brehms’ gift has built an inter-institutional team of scientists, clinicians, and support staff to conquer type 1 diabetes.

Rooted in their shared belief in the power of education to change lives, the Brehms established a special education research center at Eastern Michigan University, Delores’ alma mater. They also established the Brehm Scholars Program, which enables students graduating from Fordson High School in Dearborn, William’s alma mater, to attend U-M. These enduring gifts have opened doors for generations of young scholars, honoring the Brehms’ deep connection to their hometowns and their commitment to expanding opportunity.

Brehm will be remembered for his extraordinary intellect, creative spirit, and generous heart. Whether composing a new piece of music, shaping national policy, or quietly inspiring others through his philanthropic vision, he lived with purpose and humility. His music, his values, and his enduring impact will continue to resonate through the lives he touched.

Based on an Ann Arbor News obituary.