– Bill Brand, mayor of Redondo Beach
– Bill Brand, environmental steward.
Redondo Beach Mayor Bill Brand Dies at 65 After Battling Stage 4 Lung Cancer
Redondo Beach Mayor Bill Brand, a dedicated public servant who fought against overdevelopment and advocated for the environment in his beloved beachside city, has passed away at the age of 65. Brand, who had been an elected official for 15 years, lost his battle with Stage 4 lung cancer on Friday, February 9.
Brand’s diagnosis with Stage 4 lung cancer was announced in June 2019. Despite the devastating news, he remained determined to defeat the disease. Surrounded by his wife, Dierdre, friends, and family, Brand passed away peacefully at his home.
Background and Contributions
Brand was first elected as mayor in 2017 after serving eight years on the City Council. He was reelected in 2021, demonstrating the trust and support of the community. Throughout his two-decade-long career in Redondo Beach politics, Brand was a passionate advocate for open space, working tirelessly to preserve the city’s natural beauty for its 67,000 residents.
His contributions to the community were widely recognized. Councilmember Nehrenheim expressed the profound loss felt by the community, describing Brand’s absence as devastating. He acknowledged Brand’s remarkable dedication and the positive impact he made on the city and its residents.
A Courageous Battle
Brand’s battle with cancer spanned nearly five years, during which he never allowed the disease to define him. In June 2022, he made the decision to step back from his mayoral duties to participate in a clinical trial. Resolute in his fight, Brand chose to keep the details of his struggle private, stating that he was simply fighting cancer like many others.
Despite the challenges, Brand’s resilience was evident. He surpassed all expectations by surviving longer than anyone else in the U.S. with the same diagnosis. The city acknowledged this remarkable feat as a testament to his determination to live, move forward, and lead the community he cherished.
A Life of Service and Passion
Bill Brand was born on September 19, 1958, in Dallas, Texas. His family moved to the South Bay when he was 8 years old, and he quickly fell in love with Redondo Beach. The city’s Seaside Lagoon, a beachside water park, captured his heart and became a symbol of his deep attachment to the area.
Brand pursued higher education, earning a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from Cal State Long Beach and a master’s degree in business administration from USC. Throughout his four-decade-long career with American Airlines, he also worked as an engineer for the Fluor Corporation, a prominent engineering and construction company.
In 2004, Brand founded the South Bay Parkland Conservancy, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving open space and creating more parks. He co-authored a ballot measure in 2008 that amended the City Charter to require a public vote on zoning changes. Brand was a staunch advocate for the closure of the AES power plant, even participating in the symbolic act of shutting it down.
A Lasting Legacy
Brand’s vision of transforming the AES power plant site into open space will eventually become a reality, thanks to his tireless efforts. Supervisor Janice Hahn acknowledged his hard work and expressed her sadness at saying goodbye to a dear friend. She believes that the mission Brand dedicated his life to will be fulfilled.
Details about private and public services for Brand will be announced in the near future. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations to either the South Bay Parkland Conservancy or the Cancer Support Community South Bay in Brand’s memory.
The city will honor the late mayor’s passionate service by flying flags at City Hall at half-mast.
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