Writes Samuel Medrano, MD

I wish to extend my condolence on the passing of Burt on March 30, 2009. From early on Burt spoke highly of you and the Mises Institute, which eventually led me to the realization that you and Burt were more than friends, you and he were more like twin brothers with passion for a common cause.

From the moment I met Burt I knew he was a genuine and honorable man with a passion for liberty and sound money. He was the type of friend and mentor I had been searching my entire youth and early adult life. He instantly surpassed most of my professors and those I had learned from in college and later medical school in brilliance, sincerity, and common sense.

Burt became my mentor at a crucial point in my life and helped me solidify my convictions on liberty, sound money, and the free market. He put a human face on the Mises Institute for me, and provided the personal assurance I sought in knowing that this institution was unlike others and would not compromise principle for expediency or popularity. He went on to introduce me to you personally at a conference in San Francisco and later to Ron Paul as well.Burt’s impression on me has been so profound that I often think to myself when faced with a particularly challenging social or economic situation, what would Burt do? How would Burt approach this matter? If a situation would arise that what parallel to one Burt had shared with me, I can hear his words echo in my mind, which in turn bring me to a smile and instill in me a sense of confidence. By the way Burt treated his customers, new and old, he taught me important tools of human interaction that are helpful not only in commerce, but also in medical practice.

Burt always had a way to lift one’s spirit and bring humor to a situation, for this and for every other area in my life he has been a blessing. I will always be grateful to having the pleasure of knowing him and sharing a small portion of his life.

May his soul rest in peace in the loving arms of the Author of Peace and Liberty!

The Best of Llewellyn H. Rockwell, Jr.

In every age, the idea of liberty needs benefactors, far-seeing people willing to make personal sacrifices so that each new generation is taught not to take freedom for granted, but rather to fight for it in every field of life. That is necessary because the idea of liberty isn’t really a product that can be provided either by private enterprise or, of course, its enemy the state. It must be provided as a gift to civilization.

These are points taught to me by the life and work of Burton Samuel Blumert, one of liberty’s great benefactors. He died at age 80 on the morning of March 30, 2009, after a long battle with cancer. He would deny it, but his name deserves to go down in history as a person who served as a champion of freedom during his long life.

He was founder and manager of Camino Coins and president of the Center for Libertarian Studies; He served faithfully as chairman of the Mises Institute, succeeding Margit von Mises in that post. He was a dear friend of Murray Rothbard’s, and stuck steadfastly by him when others bailed out on grounds that Murray was too radical or too independent as an intellectual. Blumert saw that this genius needed support, and he provided it in every way. Indeed, in the darkest days, he made the difference. 326120

The Best of Llewellyn H. Rockwell, Jr.