CelebratING the liFe of

Brett MareS

Brett Mares was a beloved husband, father, son, brother, and cherished friend to so many. Brett spent many years living with HLRCC, and he navigated every day with bravery and grace. Brett lost his 8.5 year battle with cancer on March 2, 2025. Brett was passionate about Driven To Cure and Brett’s family has created this page to honor him by raising funds to continue the search for a cure.  

To know Brett was to love him. He had a rare gift for connection, making everyone he engaged with feel seen, valued, and understood. He collected friends the way others collect fine wine—each relationship aged with warmth, humor, and steadfast loyalty. Brett was kind, thoughtful, funny, intelligent, courageous, and optimistic. From the time he was a toddler, his sharp wit and keen sense of humor drew people in, but it was his boundless capacity to love and be loved that kept them close. Brett embraced life with effortless charm and a steady sense of purpose. He understood the power of community and was driven to be part of something greater than himself.

Brett interned for then-Senator Barack Obama, founded the nonprofit Disaster Relief Volunteer Services, and served as an Upper Midwest Human Rights Fellow at Northwestern University School of Law’s Center for Wrongful Convictions. Whether in his friendships, career, or—most of all—his family, Brett’s life was defined by his commitment to justice, service, and building meaningful connections.  

These donations--the most important to our mission--will be used to support Driven To Cure's national efforts, including funding research focused on finding a cure for HLRCC and other rare and under-diagnosed kidney cancers.

Family was the cornerstone of Brett’s life. From the time he met his future wife Kari (née Schmidt), he was utterly devoted to her. He was a proud dad to his sons, Samuel and Charles, cherishing every moment they spent together. Brett found joy in the simple moments—whether it was movie and pizza nights, board games, or spontaneous dance parties at home. He loved cheering on Sam and Charlie at their lacrosse, T-ball, and soccer games and creating lifelong memories on family trips to Hawaii, France, Florida, Lake Michigan, and many visits to the Schmidt family’s farm.   

Brett was the cherished son of Philip James (Jim) and Sheryl Mares and treasured brother to his sisters, Melissa Mares Stambor (Zachary Stambor) and Courtney Mares. His family also extended to his in-laws, Ronald and Mary Jo Schmidt; his brothers-in-law, Craig Schmidt (Jennifer) and Eric Schmidt (Heather); his sister-in-law, Kristi Hyten (Steve); as well as many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins, all of whom he held dear.

Brett also poured his heart into his career, where he found both purpose and camaraderie. A gifted attorney, he joined Heyl Royster in 2011, first in Edwardsville before helping to expand the firm’s presence in Chicago. He was more than just a skilled legal mind—he was a mentor, a leader, and a trusted friend. As in-house ethics counsel, he held the firm to the highest standards, practicing law with precision, integrity, and an unwavering sense of justice.   

Brett’s kindness, compassion, laughter, and love will live on in the hearts of all who were fortunate enough to know him. Though his absence leaves a void that can never be filled, his legacy will endure in Sam and Charlie, and the countless lives he touched. We will miss Brett terribly, but we know his memory will forever be a blessing.

All contributed funds will be used by Driven To Cure to help find a cure for HLRCC and other rare and under-diagnosed kidney cancers, including our support of the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health and UCLA’s Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center. To date Driven To Cure has donated more than $1,500,000 to support cutting-edge kidney cancer research.