RHOC star Braunwyn Windham-Burke's stepfather dead at age 63 after brain cancer battle

Dr. Brian K. Herman, the stepfather of RHOC alum Braunwyn Windham-Burke, has died at age 63 after a battle with brain cancer.

Herman's wife, Dr. Deborah Windham, announced the loss as she paid tribute to a 'good human' who was 'taken too early.' 

'Rest in peace king. See you soon my beautiful man,' she posted. 'Taken too early. We really lived! None of this seems real … 44 years . I’m so grateful for what you’ve gifted me, our children, the world. 

'You’re at peace my beloved, these last months have been so hard for you, as you peeled back layer after layer of identity and ego, you were never afraid for yourself, only concerned about us. You didn’t want us to be sad, never complained, still saying yes til the last breath. the world has lost a powerful healer, a good human, a funny soul.' 

Braunwyn also announced his passing in an emotional post, calling him an 'amazing dad' and 'human.' 

'I’m writing this with my hands shaking , barely being able for my brain to catch up with this new reality,' she wrote. 'he was an amazing dad , grandad , husband and human. I’ll post more when I’ve had time to process, we’re all here together , trying to figure out how to do life without him. I love you dad, for now and always.'

Tributes came in from her fellow Housewives, with Tamra Judge writing: 'Sending you love and prayers my friend.'

''Heartbroken for you all,' Margaret Josephs wrote. 'I loved watching all your family video and pics together . Sending you so much love and hugs.' 

After receiving his MD from UCLA, Herman went on to become the Medical Director at Eisenhower Imaging Center.

It was not the only position he held at the center, with Herman also becoming the the center's Chief of Radiology as well as the Chair of Interventional Neuroradiology at the center's Department of Radiology.

Herman was diagnosed with cancer several years ago, according to The Sun, and he eventually required assistance of a wheelchair.

Deborah stepped up to be his caregiver and has been transparent with followers about the ordeal.

'Our beloved has had two brain surgeries in last 5 weeks, the second one was because of a post op infection that could have been fatal had we not caught it early,' she posted back in November. 

'He’s home, out of the amazing rehab hospital and into his, even more amazing, sanctuary home..

'He’s improving bit by bit, emotionally ,this has been rough, and still he wakes up to the “ best day of his life”.'

Last month she posted a photo of her husband at the peak of health - a magazine cover which had declared him 'Doctor McDreamy', and a heartbreaking reminder of cancer's devastating impact. 

'Cancer doesn’t discriminate, it can strike the most powerful, beautiful, sexiest, happiest, funniest, smartest, young and old, kind and loving. We can do hard things- one of those is accepting change. Nothing stays the same,' she wrote.

Braunwyn's own father died after a suffering a heart attack brought on by his drinking. 

'My dad died from drinking,' she once said on Real Housewives of Orange County.  

'My dad had a heart attack because he drank. Every day,' she added. 

Braunwyn starred on the Bravo series on seasons 14 and 15, and her own mother also made appearances.  

'My relationship with my mom is more complicated than she realizes. I do know though that parents and children often have very different recollections of things and that I’m only seeing things from my point of view,' she told The Daily Dish in 2019.

'I love my mom so much and really respect the fact that, as a single mom, she supported us and worked hard to become a doctor.' 

It's unclear when exactly Deborah married Herman, however it is clear Braunwyn adored her stepfather.  

'This is my dad,' she wrote in a 2023 post. 'he's our rock, our safe place, the one that has the answers and makes you feel safe. I love him, I love how he makes me laugh, I love that he loves his family, he's my role model and what every dad should be...just wanted to share how awesome he is.'