Born in 1940 in North Newton, Kansas, Burt was a graduate of Amherst College and the University of Pennsylvania School of Law. After law school he served as an Assistant District Attorney in Philadelphia.  In 1968, he embarked upon a career as a legal services lawyer and remained one for more than thirty years, with a brief stint at the Department of Justice, Civil Appellate Staff.  He was Directing Attorney of the California Rural Legal Assistance office in Santa Maria, California from 1968 to 1973 and again from 1975 to 1977 and Legislative Director of the Migrant Legal Action Program in Washington.  

Burt joined NSCLC as Executive Director in 1981. During his tenure, NSCLC played an active role in the passage, amendment and implementation of the ADEA, the Nursing Home Reform Act, and the Older Americans Act, as well as significant changes to Social Security, SSI, Medicaid, and Medicare.  Burt was a skilled litigator. His last major case was the first age discrimination suit against the federal government in which a class was certified.  The suit resulted in a multi-million dollar award to plaintiffs as the result of a post-trial settlement.  The National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA) presented him posthumously with its President’s Award at their conference in Vancouver, B.C. in 2002.

The strongest testimonial to Burt’s leadership, and the one that would give him the greatest satisfaction, is that NSCLC prospers as a strong voice for America’s seniors.  Please join in insuring that NSCLC can continue to litigate and advocate wherever the need is greatest.