Remembering a Life Well-Lived

Perhaps the greatest measure of success is one’s commitment to leave the world a little better than he found it. When reflecting on the life of one of OU’s most loyal supporters, it is easy to see how much he impacted the world around him every day. Michael Kramer passed away on March 28, 2025, leaving a lasting legacy at Oakland University.

A lifelong Michigan resident, Michael, an attorney and equity member at Dickinson Wright, was known as a “people person.”

While he enjoyed the company of many people, the ones he loved dearly and spoke of proudly were his immediate family members. Michael, who is survived by his wife and children, was married for 56 years to Zina, and together they raised David and Lisa.

Though nothing surpassed the love of his family, Michael was also deeply committed to supporting many nonprofit organizations in the Detroit area, including Oakland Family Services, Gleaners Community Food Bank and the Jewish Federation of Detroit.

Oakland University and Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine (OUWB) were especially important to him and Zina.

The Kramers were strong supporters of OUWB, creating the Michael and Zina Kramer Scholarship in fall 2011, the year OUWB welcomed its first class of 50 medical students to campus. They subsequently established the Michael and Zina Kramer Academic Success Scholarships. Most recently, Michael served as a member of the OUWB advisory board.

Michael was a pillar of the broader Oakland University community, having served for eight years as a Board of Trustees member — including two years as chair. He further served OU as a member of the president’s Campaign Planning Committee.

In addition to his gift of service to OU, his generosity included supporting the annual OUWB Auschwitz Study Trip, OU Athletics, the College of Arts and Sciences, and the Michael Kramer Scholarship for Medical Students.

Michael is fondly remembered by the OU community as a kind and committed philanthropist whose service and generosity made a positive difference in the lives of many across campus.

If you would like to honor Michael’s memory with a gift to support OUWB students through the Michael Kramer Scholarship for Medical Students, please contact OUWB Director of Philanthropy Claus Weimann at (248) 370-3647 or [email protected].