Burt Berkson was born on March 9, 1939, in Chicago, Illinois. He had, in current lingo, a free-range childhood spent listening to patrons’ stories in his father’s tavern on Rush Street, saving all sorts of little animals, learning to fix cars, and having fun with friends. At 20-years-old, and against her family’s initial wishes, he married Ann Stern after seeing her at a social and soon thinking that she’s the person with whom to share a family and a lifetime together. They remained married for 64+ years.
Burt’s father dreamt that his son would be a policeman, but Burt lasted one day at the Chicago Police Academy and, after a series of short-lived jobs (maybe twenty in his first year of marriage), he instead pursued a career that started in academics. He received a bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, and then a PhD in cellular biology with an emphasis on mycology from the University of Illinois. By the time he was 33-years old, Burt was the department head for biology at Rutger’s University.
After solving a medical mystery in Ann that led to the birth of his daughter, Arin, Burt decided to pursue a career in medicine and became a physician in his late 30’s. It was in his medical residency that he cared for critically ill patients dying of liver failure from eating poisonous mushrooms. He enrolled them into a study at the National Institutes of Health and, using the natural substance alpha-lipoic acid (ALA), reversed the liver damage and saved their lives. He ultimately became a principal investigator for the study, a CDC contact for patients around the country with mushroom poisoning and found his career passion.
In 1996, he opened Integrative Medical Center of New Mexico, where he used both natural and conventional medicine to help patients achieve optimal health. For the last 28 years, as a world-renowned expert in ALA, innumerable patients came to Las Cruces from all over the world to seek his care. One of his proudest moments was when his son, Arthur, became his partner in his practice and ultimately took it over in 2015. Burt saw patients through January of this year.
Burt passed peacefully on March 4, 2024, listening to his favorite music and surrounded by some of the people he loved the most. He was a lifelong learner and gifted teacher. He knew that people learned best through stories. He was a charismatic, engaging storyteller and loved belly laughing to a good joke. He loved dogs and walking through the woods identifying plants, mushrooms, and little animals.
He was proudest of his family and leaves behind his daughters and sons-in-law Arin Berkson and Jason Neal, Danielle and Jason Leyland, and Adrian Szkallas and Kamran Kurani; his son and daughter-in-law, Arthur and Rebecca Berkson; his grandsons, Henry, Casswyn, and Ian; his granddaughters, Mia and Lilah; and countless other beloved relatives, friends, and patients. Above all, he leaves his wife of 64 years, Ann. His passing will leave an enormous hole in the lives of so many.
If you feel inclined, please honor Burt with a donation to Land of Enchantment Wildlife Foundation (https://lewf.org). May his memory be a blessing.
Published March 23, 2024