Rick Brehm Dies at 56, Longtime Germanna Community College VP

FREDERICKSBURG -- Rick Brehm, who spent the past 18 years as Germanna Community College Vice President for Administrative Services, died last week after a four-year battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 56.

In a tribute on the school's website, Brehm was described as always instilling confidence in others while also maintaining a keen business acumen that helped the college through difficult times.

John Davis, Executive Director of Organizational Planning and Assessment at GCC and a close friend, called Brehm “a man of incredible character and integrity. . .Rick didn’t start out his career working in higher education, but chose to take that path given his altruistic nature. Although, he wouldn’t let on publicly, he confided to me that participation in commencement was important to him—largely because it enabled him to see the fruits of his labor.”

Davis added that Brehm helped Germanna avoid layoffs during rapid growth made more difficult by state budget cuts.

“To a large extent, Rick toiled in the background–doing things which are largely thankless or taken for granted—making sure bills were paid, budgets were balanced, facilities were cared for, students and staff were secure and technology needs were met," Davis said. " He would be the first to say that he did none of this himself. Yet at the end of the day it was his dedication, professional acumen and managerial skills that helped GCC to flourish.”

Said Cathy Washington, chair of the Germanna College Board:

“When I joined the Board, I quickly came to admire and respect Rick’s dedication and quiet courage in the critical and excellent work taking he did guiding GCC in facing daunting financial challenges. His responsibilities were great, and so was his performance, but he remained humble. I am so grateful to have had him as a part of my life.”

Among his accomplishments, according to the tribute:

• Led the internal services group providing support for one of the fastest-growing colleges in America.
• Led facilities development through the college’s 100 percent growth spurt over an eight-year period.
• Provided guidance for strategic and operational planning and data based assessment.
• Oversaw early adoption of IT infrastructure in classrooms and human simulators in nursing labs. Led effort to keep campuses safe, including establishment of a Campus Police Department.
• Managed finances so deftly that Germanna was able to fund operations and provide funds for equipment, program development, and new initiatives and avoid layoffs during years of coinciding budget cuts and record growth.

He is survived by his wife, Donna, and two children, Brooke, 30, and Samantha, 28.

Photo: Germanna Community College