I first met Burt in 1977 at the Land of the Senecas Muzzle Loading Club, We became friends quickly and our lives were intertwined ever since. It was a privilege to camp with him at many Eastern Rendezvous, Senecas rendezvous and winter camps. We shared many a campfire with other skinners, playing guitar, banjo, dulcimer as only Burt could. Those were shinin' times. He taught my wife and I how to play bagpipes and at one point sold us his tipi. We walked with him through the tough times and were there at that special ceremony when he and Karen were married. We were privileged also to help raise the beams on their dream house and enjoyed many Christmas parties with them and all their family and friends. He was an engineer at heart, always building, tinkering, restoring, creating - everything from model ships to fully beaded brain-tanned deer skin war shirts, to learning how to make all his own mortice and tenons for the house. He purchased all those old-time tools, ordered the beams special just so the could complete that dream. He could tell you to the inch how tall each and every Christmas tree was, how many lights were in place and how many bulbs were hung, often times giving you more facts than you really needed to know. But best of all, was just being able to sit and talk. His memory was packed full of everything he ever did or read about. His life was full of adventure. He was a competitor but never over-the-top, and always willing to help. He was the kind of leader that did not need to demand allegiance. If you knew Burt, you knew he'd do things right and you always wanted to be around whatever he was doing next. Yet he was as humble as you could ask for. Most of all he was the best friend you could ever have. His passing leaves a gaping hole in our hearts. I salute you, Burt, my friend, and one of the finest men I ever met. May God bless you with peace and rest.
