Bert Berkley was LINC’s founder and our champion. He was the people’s champion. Berkley created LINC 32 years ago in a firm belief in the wisdom and power of communities. He believed in the right of families and neighborhood leaders to shape their own destinies from their homes, schools and meeting halls.

To this work, Berkley gathered the original members of the LINC Commission. Those leaders and a dedicated staff advanced the vision that it is the people who know the needs and strengths of their communities who should inform the policy makers and legislators and lead the action of change.

Bert Berkley died this week at the age of 101. He lived fully to the end. A little over a year ago, in advance of his 100th birthday, Berkley reflected on the origin of LINC and his life of service, and his belief that he was the most fortunate man who ever lived.

Looking back at those early days of LINC, he said, he never imagined that it would grow to where it is now, serving thousands of families directly and so many more through a wide network of community services and advocacy.

But he shouldn’t have been so surprised. He started a movement.

We honor Berkley’s legacy in carrying on the work with gratitude to so many families, school and community partners, civic leaders and neighborhood champions who guide us.

Here we share again, a look back through Bert’s eyes.

Originally published April 28, 2023

To find Bert Berkley, you push a doorbell set in a ceramic rainbow trout, and the man himself, on the verge of 100, stands at the threshold, beckoning visitors into the ambiance of the life he’s lived.

Those are Colorado River bluffs on the giant painting in his living room. Native American sculptures stand on the fireplace mantle, gathered among other mementos from travels in British Columbia, the American Southwest and elsewhere. Touchstones from Bert’s fishing trips and work that took him around the world.

And in corners of special warmth stand portraits of his beloved Joan — pronounced Jo-Ann — recalling their 64-year marriage in adventurous love.

He is a humble marvel.

Consider that Bert was approaching his 70s when he founded LINC – Kansas City's Local Investment Commission – which has nothing to do with stocks and bonds but everything to do with investing in children and families. It was right here in his living room, as if in an epiphany, that he drew up the plans for his revolutionary non-profit.

That was more than 30 years ago.

The civic giant — named Mr. Kansas City in 1971 — and former longtime CEO and president of the still family-owned-and-run Tension Envelope has powered on, seemingly non-stop, while LINC’s Caring Communities mission grew and evolved beyond his early imaginings.

“The secret is exercise,” muses the man born during the Harding Administration. He still works out on a stationary recumbent bike after he had, into his late 80s, practiced a frequent regimen of climbing 600 stairs — 40 times up and down the 15 steps of his staircase.

Not to mention all of his and Joan’s backpacking and high-adventuring . . .

But he also carries a debt.

So much of it weighs from the consequences of what he calls his biggest mistake. He accepted an offer from the U.S. Army that allowed him to come home one day early from his service in World War II — if he signed up for the Army Reserves.

Four years later, unexpectedly, the Army summoned him back for 17 months of additional service, 11 of which were spent in Korea in combat where, Bert said, he was a First Lieutenant, Infantry, “expendable.”

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