John "Phil" Philip Burt

John "Phil" Philip Burt passed away on July 21, 2023, at the age of 87 at his home in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Phil was born on December 14, 1935, in Muncie, Indiana to Walter and Gertrude Burt. As a young athlete, he played in the historic Indiana State High School Basketball championship game between Milan and Muncie Central…unfortunately, for the losing team. He refused to watch the movie "Hoosiers" for many years after its release for fear that it would trigger PTSD flashbacks. Despite that disappointment, he went on to play college basketball at the University of Michigan, where he received his undergraduate and law degrees. As a law student, he also met his soulmate, Barbara Ann Burger, to whom he was happily married for six decades until her passing in 2019. After moving to Fort Wayne to start his family, he also started the law firm of Burt, Blee, Dixon, Sutton, and Bloom, at which he continued practicing law until his recent passing. As a lawyer, he devoted much of his passion to expanding the availability of pro bono legal services in his community. He served on the Indiana Pro Bono Commission from 1999 to 2005, chairing the Commission from 2002 to 2005. Also in 2005, he received the American Bar Association’s prestigious Pro Bono Publico Award honoring his commitment to delivering volunteer legal services to the poor and disadvantaged. Phil is survived by his children Brian (and wife Kelly) Burt, Steven Burt, and Julie Ruef; grandchildren Cormac, Shannon, Quinn, Ben, and Ryan; siblings Catherine (Cathy) Burt, Robert (Bob) Burt, and Janie Taylor; and many nieces and nephews. He leaves behind countless beloved friends and co-workers who have known him, and savored his pithy one-liners, for decades. A Celebration of Life for Phil and Barbara Burt will be held from 11:00am to 3:00pm, Saturday, August 26, 2023, at CASA! RISTORANTE, 7545 West Jefferson Blvd, Fort Wayne. Arrangements have been entrusted to D.O. McComb and Sons Lakeside Park Funeral Home, 1140 Lake Ave, Fort Wayne, Indiana 46805. The family asks that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Barbara Burt Innovative Leaders Fund (https://cfgfw.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/create/fund?funit_id=1147). Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared with the Burt family at www.mccombandsons.com.