Gaylia Meitzen lived her life with joy and courage. Though she was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at age 16, she enthusiastically took up fishing, boating, golfing and traveling, and she even climbed Mount Rainier. She loved talking with young people with type 1 diabetes to encourage and mentor them.

And when she learned about BRI’s mission to fight autoimmune diseases including type 1 diabetes, it became her passion to support the Institute and research. She joined the BRI Board of Directors in 2007, served as chair of the BRI Development Committee and spoke at numerous events about living with type 1 diabetes and the research at BRI. She also provided generous and inspiring philanthropic support. On March 23, 2013, Gaylia passed away. In her honor, the BRI auditorium has been named The Gaylia R. Meitzen Auditorium, acknowledging her extraordinary commitment to nurture and foster BRI’s mission.

“Gaylia Meitzen was a tremendous advocate for BRI and for our diabetes research efforts, serving on our Board of Directors for many years,” says BRI Director Gerald Nepom, MD, PhD. “Her advice, energy and commitment to our mission will be sorely missed. We are honored to dedicate The Gaylia R. Meitzen Auditorium in her memory and to continue her legacy.”

“For Gaylia, it’s always been about the promise of research, as she’s demonstrated through her support for many years,” says her husband, Steve Quintrell. “She saw research as hope for the cure.”