Al Burt Obituary

A legendary reporter whose work included several books, an Ernie Pyle Award and being shot by the U.S. Marines while on assignment in the Dominican Republic, Al Burt died Saturday in Jacksonville after a battle with chronic illness and heart trouble. He was 81.

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Published by the Miami Herald from Nov. 30, 2008 to Feb. 25, 2009.

Memories and Condolences
for Al Burt

13 Entries

rolesha morris

February 26, 2009

my uncle al died 3 years ago

Don & Margaret Gerloff

February 11, 2009

We always enjoyed reading Al Burt's articles.

Major General Larry Taylor USMCR(ret)

January 28, 2009

I am the Marine helicopter pilot who evacuated Mr Burt after he was shot in the Dominican Republic in '65. I only saw him that day, and he, of course, was in no condition to talk.
I always regret that we never had the chance to talk about that day.
Rest in peace.

Mary Adkins

December 27, 2008

As a Miami resident I loved Al Burt's columns but didn't realize until I moved to Melrose that Florida's best journalist was my neighbor. Melrose, and Florida, were rich because of Al and Gloria, and Melrose and Florida are much the poorer now. Al, we miss you.

M. Jones

December 8, 2008

May the comforting thought from the Bible book of Revelation, the 21st chapter, verse 4 be of comfort to you. It reads: "And he will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away.” I offer my sincere condolences to you all.

Robin Caple

December 7, 2008

I lived in Dade County for 50 years and LOVED reading Al's columns about all his travels around Fla. I loved his tales of local history and adventure....he was a wonderful writer and touched many people.

Jim Nichol

December 3, 2008

Al was "THE BEST !!!!! Always read his stories traveling Around Florida and loved them......R I P

Sandy Kokernoot

December 2, 2008

Al Burt's stories from around Florida were my favorite stories to read in the Miami Herald, but my fondest memory of him was when he read his Psalm to a crooked river at Putnam County Environmental Council's Rally for the Rivers in Palatka. He called damming of the Ocklawaha River "The Dam Shame." He had the ability to make people truly care about Florida and her people. He was a great man.

Dana Gold

December 1, 2008

I learned more about the essence of Florida and Floridians by reading Al Burt's work than any means other than by getting on the state and county roads and experiencing things for myself. That he also motivated me to do. If not for him, I would have never have gone to La Belle to check out Flora and Ella's for myself, would never have sampled their pies, would never have explored the area and enjoyed the Caloosahatchee River. Thank you, Al. Godspeed.

Ed Barber

December 1, 2008

To me Al Burt was the very best at writing great human history one person and one day at a time. He had a wonderful skill of looking at people I fear most of us overlooked and wrote about extraordinary people who may have looked more ordinary to others. I felt his stories about interesting Floridians were so poetic they actually were folk songs. I had the honor to meet with him fewer times than I would like, and though I felt a great connection from our conversations, I felt even more connected with him from his columns and books. His voice helped me see Floridians in a way no other reflection could. When a student at the University of Florida, Al wrote for the Florida Alligator, the student newspaper. He has long been honored by that paper as a member of its hall of fame. My deepest sympathy goes to his dear wife and the rest of his family.

Phil Meyer

December 1, 2008

I knew Al mostly from his time on the Miami Herald city desk, starting about 1960. He had a gently assertive manner that hit just the right note for dealing with the rowdy reporters of that day. In 1962, he compassionately leaked to me some intelligence from the executive suite that indicated I was going to succeed in my campaign to get posted to the Washington bureau. Ben Maidenburg showed up a short time later and hired me as the Akron Beacon Journal's man in the bureau. My memory has always associated Al with that turning point in my career. He will be missed.

Edward Storin

December 1, 2008

Some of my most profound and happy memories of my childhood were being able to travel with Al (and Gloria) around Florida while he researched and reported for the Herald and his books. He was and will always be my "Uncle Al" and the person who taught me more than any other about the great places and history of the State where I grew up. The best part of those trips was always being able to "come home" to the Burt Plantation in Melrose and listening to Uncle Al tell me stories in a way that only he could. I love my Uncle Al dearly and my heartfelt sympathy goes out to Aunt Gloria in this difficult time. From "Big Sam" to alligators and all the colorful characters and places along our travels, I wish I had told him how often I re-tell his stories today and the stories of our journeys to my own children... I just can't tell it quite as well as Uncle Al, but I'm quite sure that nobody can.

David Lawrence Jr.

December 1, 2008

I'll always remember Al Burt as a reporter who loved the detail of a good story and loved to get his stories in the paper every day he could, someone who never lost his eagerness or energy, a journalist with the highest values of integrity and fairness. Add to that the courage of a man who did it all through great physical pain every single day. I will always admire him.

Dave Lawrence

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