Peter Kremer’s lifetime impact on Willamette began in the classroom, where he studied economics and graduated with honors in 1962. On campus, Peter was a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity and an honorary member of Alpha Kappa Nu; once he left, he headed into business, stopping on the way to obtain an MBA from Stanford.
Peter navigated a successful career in real estate investment and development, which largely took place throughout California and saw him rise to positions of vice president and CEO of several companies. He and his wife Bonnie, also a member of Willamette’s class of 1962, have kept up a consistent focus on philanthropy through the years, giving both time and resources to organizations like Idaho Rivers United, a conservation group; the South Coast Repertory Theatre of Orange County, Calif.; and both of their alma maters.
Peter has remained intimately connected to Willamette by serving on the Board of Trustees (1979-present) and numerous special committees. He has also helped educate the next generation of business leaders by giving time as a guest speaker for Atkinson Graduate School of Management. Alongside Bonnie, Peter started and is still involved with the Peter & Bonnie Kremer Scholarship Fund (est.1983) and, more recently, the Peter C. and Bonnie S. Kremer Chair of Economics, an endowed faculty position currently held by Professor Jerry Gray. In 2009, the Kremers’ capstone gift to the Campaign for Willamette was the one that pushed the university past its campaign goal of $125 million several months ahead of schedule. Peter continues to demonstrate mindful commitment to the university as embodied by one of our most revered alumni, Lestle J. Sparks ’19.
