Burton "Burt" Steinberg has embraced a more merciful life after a long battle with kidney disease. Burt was born on the Lower East Side of New York City to Sophie (Paley) and Samuel Steinberg, moved to Brooklyn soon after, where he resided for a time in an orphan's asylum, attended Erasmus Hall, then as a teenager, moved with his grandfather to a farm in Connecticut. He graduated from Norwich Free Academy as Valedictorian, editor of the school yearbook and was an outstanding athlete. Burt started boxing his last year of high school to pay taxes on the farm, moved to semi-pro and then professional. As a pro boxer, he won 12 fights and one draw - no losses. He attended the University of Connecticut until enlisting in the Army in 1948, joining the 45th Infantry Division "Thunderbirds" as a Field Artillery Instructor in Camp Polk, Louisiana (where he was on the Army Boxing Team until being eliminated because of his previous pro status). Burt held all enlisted ranks through 1st Sergeant with 279th Heavy Mortar Company and received Battlefield Commissions in Korea, rising to 1st Lieutenant, where he was decorated with Silver Star, Bronze Star, two Purple Hearts, Combat Infantry Badge and many campaign ribbons during patrol actions, recorded in "A Documentary on the 279th Infantry Over 50 Years" by William B. Newberry , 1997, then served another 6 years as Division Training Officer at Fort Dix, N.J. Upon leaving the military, Burt was recruited by the Philco Corporation, Philadelphia, Pa. in the Operations Department, where he developed methods and procedures programs - the early window of data processing. Burt was then drawn to Colt Firearms and met his wife Ann, in Hartford, Ct. and his long, dedicated career in the sporting goods industry began. Burt was President of several distributorships, including B.E. Gitlin Co. in Hartford, regionally covering 12 northeastern and mid-Atlantic states, S & S Wholesale in Baton Rouge, regionally covering 13 southeastern states, First Genesis Corporation of Minneapolis for 3 distributorships based in New Orleans, La., Faribault, Mn. and Camdenton, Mo. (Dickerson Supply), a short time with Maurice Sporting Goods, interim President of RedHead Division of Bass Pro and President of American Rod & Gun Company, the wholesale affiliate of Bass Pro in Springfield, Mo. , where he spent over twenty years building a thriving company. After "retirement", Burt formed a consulting company to help individuals introduce new products into the industry and assist those planning to open a retail outlet catering to fishing, hunting, marine or other sporting goods areas. After having served on a number of committees and on the Board of Directors, and being awarded a lifelong membership, Burt was elected as National Chairman of the Board of the American Sportfishing Association where he acted as a liaison with the Department of the Interior. He was a board member of Fish America Foundation, Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation and National Shooting Sports Foundation, served on the board of National Association of Sporting Goods Wholesalers, National Sporting Goods Association, Canadian Sporting Goods Association, National Shooting Sports Foundation, Greater Ozarks International Trade Association and was active in Conservation and Fish/Wildlife Associations. He was a 32nd/33rd Degree Mason Eastgate 452 Lodge and Scottish Rite member Valley of Baton Rouge, La., Shriner Jerusalem Temple of New Orleans, , Louisiana Vietnam Veterans Leadership Program, Korean War Veteran's Association "Graybeards", 45th Infantry Thunderbird Division, American Legion, VFW, National Order of Battlefield Commissioned Officers and Military Order of Purple Heart. Burt was extremely proud of Army service to his Country and was honored to be the keynote speaker for the Officer's Holiday Formal at Fort Leonard Wood in 1998. Burt was Chairman of the Better Business Bureau of Hartford, Ct., Economic Development Committee of Baton Rouge, La., State Chairman, Product Liability Committee and N. Y. State Chairman, Product Liability Committee, Director on the Board of Converse Shoe Company after being named Converse Distributor of the Year for 3 of 6 years and named by Sporting Goods Dealer Magazine as the U.S. Distributor of the Year, as well as many other civic, professional, religious and charitable organizations. While living in Baton Rouge, Burt spent many hours with his Lodge, volunteering at the Masonic orphanage. He also contributed many hours as a Paul Harris Fellow in the Baton Rouge Rotary. Although Burt's quiet confidence and competence gained respect from all those who knew him, many were also treated to his puns and poetry, knew of his love of eagles and the New York Yankees, awed by his depth of knowledge of history, especially World War II and Korea, and knew his long-standing joke of "work" being his only hobby. He graced us with his wit and intelligence. All who met Burt, experienced a small perspective; from the early days of Ames, Caldors, Bradlee's and Zayre's to TALO, NSGA and ICAST to his Chairmanship of ASA . It is a wish of Burt's wife Ann, daughter Jessica, son-in-law Matthew and grandsons Felix and John Burton Taylor, that you envision a larger chapter of the book of Burt's life. Special thanks for the excellent care given by Mark Harrell and Dr. Emmerton's Team 8 at Mt. Vernon VA Facility, Dr. Adams and Judy at Parkcrest Dental, Fresenius Kidney Disease Unit especially Dr. Woody, Ruth, Celeste, and LaVonne, Dr. Saylor, Dr. Leonardo and staff of St. John's Hospice and Palliative Care in-hospital Unit, as well as to good friends Bob Benintendi, Craig Hart and Del Shorb. Private services for the family will be conducted by Gorman Scharpf Funeral Home in Springfield. Please mourn the loss but celebrate the life in lieu of flowers, by considering a donation to C.A.R.E. Animal Rescue & Sanctuary, 1328 W. Sunshine St, Springfield, Mo. 65807 (or any no-kill shelter), Ozarks Honor Flight, c/o Ms. Deb Fine, Pipkin Middle School, 1215 N. Boonville, Springfield, Mo. 65802 or any other charity of your choice.