Hot Stove has lost one of its most loyal patrons. Stanley J. Bushman died on March 7, 2025. He was 96. Obituary here.
I met Stan about 40 years ago. He and his business partner Charley Helzberg were savvy real estate entrepreneurs, and I often crossed paths with them in my commercial real estate practice at the Polsinelli firm. In 2006, Irv Blond joined Polsinelli and brought along long-time clients Stan and Charley.
In May of 2015, for a reason I don’t recall, Irv and I had a conversation about Stan’s age. We knew he had turned 86, which sounded old to me at the time – I’m now 83. We thought we should take Stan to lunch to celebrate even though we were six months late. This started a ten-year string of lunches that Irv and I will always treasure.
Coincidentally, 2015 was also the year that Hot Stove was launched in the afterglow of the Royals winning the World Series. As you will see below, Stan has been an integral part of that endeavor. But before I tell that story, a little background on Stan.
Stan the Mensch: The Yiddish word mensch can signify many different qualities. Someone to admire and emulate. Honesty. Integrity. Noble character. Dignity. Charitable. A sense of what is right. Compassionate. Respectful. Caring. Loving.
Stan was all of them.
He was a mentor and friend to a wide community. The speakers at his memorial service spoke of how Stan was a “listener” who gave the time and attention needed for whatever project was at hand, and how he inspired others to join him in helping those in need.
Ann Canfield, the love of Stan’s life for 59 years, aptly said, “Stanley helps make us better people.”
Stan the Businessman: Stan was widely respected in the real estate and finance world. His intellect and vision, combined with a reputation for honesty and integrity, led to an extraordinary career, most of it in partnership with Charley Helzberg. The dynamic duo first connected 67 years ago, when Stan was 29 and Charley 21.
They met playing tennis and became good friends. Standing in a pool one day, they had a three-hour conversation that concluded with sunburns and the formation of an enduring partnership. In his eulogy for Stan, Charley described that conversation:
“The subject? Integrity, from every perspective, large and small…and I believe our thorough explanation of that subject and our recognition that we were philosophically and ethically aligned, was part of the core of our friendship. Through the years, there were, as there should be, differences of opinion and approaches, but never arguments, raised voices, or a foul word, and when decisions were made, it was not through negotiation, but good-humored collaboration.”
The partners had great success and, just as importantly, enjoyed the journey. More from Charley:
“While we had good fortune in business, the joy was not the money made, but the fun of the game, doing it together…strategizing, sizing up the people involved, kidding around with our team of professionals with whom we built long relationships and friendships. To achieve a goal together was the fun, to achieve the same goal, alone, did not have the appeal…and how enjoyable it was to collaborate on philanthropic pursuits, trying to help, innovate and motivate…matters about which Stanley had great ideas and insights.”
One of the members of the team of professionals representing Bushman/Helzberg was attorney Irv Blond who has this to say about Stan’s business acumen:
“I thought Stan was the best negotiator I had met. He was always calm and soft-spoken, never raising his voice, but immoveable unless the situation warranted. Everyone had such respect for him, they were reluctant to get into a lengthy negotiation and usually came around to Stan’s point of view. He accepted their capitulation with great humility and always complimented them on their wise decision. Everyone walked away feeling positive. He was a master.”
Stan the Philanthropist: Stan cast a wide net in the world of philanthropy. I’ll give two examples.
In 2007, Stan joined with Merilyn Berenbom and the Jewish Community Foundation of Kansas City (JCF) to establish the Bushman Community Endowment Program to train congregations and agencies on the tools and techniques of planned giving. As of 2024, over $200 million has been committed ($89 million in realized gifts and $125 million in future commitments). Stan: “I think this is the best investment I ever made in my life. Every dollar I put in has been returned fifty times.”
On Stan’s endowment page in the “Book of Life” at the JCF, Stan penned a simple entry: “Help others while you are living – when you are gone, you won’t know what you did – and you will have missed the fun.”
He put that slogan into high gear in 2022 when he donated $2 million dollars each to Jewish Family Services, Jewish Vocational Service and Village Shalom. He said he was grateful to each of the groups for their contributions to the Kansas City area, adding, “With antisemitism what it is today, it is really important we show we care about the general community as well as the Jewish community.”
Stan’s gifts insure years of continued service by all three recipients. Jewish Family Services supports and strengthens lives throughout Greater Kansas City, providing essential human services for people of all faiths, ages, cultures and identities who are facing challenges in everyday life or time of crisis. Jewish Vocational Service, founded after WWII to welcome Jewish displaced persons, today continues by welcoming all refugees and immigrants.
Village Shalom is a senior living community that Stan has long supported, both financially and in leadership. They wanted to honor Stanley in some way and gave him some options. He was hesitant to accept but finally agreed to a monument in the circle drive at the entrance of the facility. As was typical for Stan, a detail-oriented developer, he wanted approval rights so he could make sure that the stone’s thickness, color, words, etc. were to his liking. After some back and forth, the specs were finalized, including Stan’s choice of a darker color.
The monument was unveiled on Stan’s 96th birthday this past November. The wording is one of Stan’s mantras: “Are you helping others today?”
Lunch with Stan: I was pleased to find in my “Bushman Folder” the email exchange that started our lunch tradition. From May of 2015:
Irv Blond email to Stan with copy to Lonnie: Lonnie and I were talking about you (all good), and we would like to take you to lunch to celebrate the six-month anniversary of your last birthday which occurred on November 13. Are you available on May 13? If so, let us know where you would like to go? Pick somewhere good because it will be on us.
Stan’s response: Irv…how could you know or remember my birthday…it would be a pleasure to have lunch with you two guys…I’ll give you three suggestions…pick what appeals to you guys…Q39…Café Sebastian…Capital Grill…thought of two more…Andre’s and Houston’s…this is a wide range of different types…but all pretty good if you have a unique place you think is better…let’s do it…Don’t know what prompted this idea for lunch, but I certainly will look forward to it!!!
Stan’s thank you after the lunch: Again, thanks for lunch Lonnie…it was a real treat to be with you and Irv (Lonnie…you know I have the highest regard for Irv as he is a dealmaker, not a dealbreaker…as I like to tell people). This lunch will not be forgotten!!!
As you can tell by Stan’s first response, he knew his midtown Kansas City restaurants. We had such a good time that we decided to not just celebrate Stan’s birthday, but also its quarterly anniversaries. I marked my calendar to send out reminders. For example – 90.25 in February, 90.50 in May, 90.75 in August and 91 in November.
2015 – Royals in the Postseason: When the Royals played in the postseason in 2015, I sent a series of emails on the playoffs, adding in some baseball history and anecdotes. Stan was on my mailing list, and I have some of his responses.
ALDS v. Houston: After beating the Astros, my post started with this:
Snoopy is so happy that the Royals beat Houston to advance to the ALCS!
Stan’s response: OK Lonnie…keep your magic and power going for the Royals as you did last night!!! Snoopy said he agrees…you have the power.
[I’m not sure I had any power, and Stan soon transferred that attribute to Rita and her hat.]
ALCS v. Toronto: Rita and I attended Game 2 with my son Jason and grandson Ian, and this photo was in my next playoff email. Rita had worn the same hat several years ago when we went to a Mets game at Shea Stadium (before Citi Field opened). The hat caught the attention of the Kiss-Cam cameraman and there we were, kissing on the big scoreboard screen in the Borough of Queens.
As you will see, Stan also liked the hat.
World Series v. Mets: As the Royals finished off the New York Mets and became World Champions, Stan sent these two emails:
10/27/15: Lonnie…I’ve come to love the game of baseball again because of your thoughts, observations and history with a great sense of humor and your own love of the game…I read every word of what you sent and I’m saving it to read again before the game starts and this is one email that I will not delete…it’s a keeper for me and I hope Rita will wear that famous hat and yes she looks good in it! When do you find time to practice law?…you’re amazing…thanks again, Lonnie.
10/29/15: Well, Lonnnie (give you three ‘nnn’s in your name today because of your great commentary)…Sam Mellinger is good and Vahe Gregorian is good…but I think you’re better than both of them because your thoughts not only to the game but history too enriches the game and continues to peak my interest…One thing for sure…Rita’s got to continue wearing that now famous hat!
[No, this did not go to my head. I know I am not in the same league as Sam and Vahe. But it made me feel good.]
Birth of Hot Stove: After the Series, I decided to keep writing for the offseason (a/k/a the Hot Stove season). And have never stopped. I knew there might be a drop in interest after the Series, so I asked the folks on the mailing list to let me know if they wanted to continue. Stan’s response: Lonnie, please keep me on the list…I love what you write…I feel very privileged that I’m on your list! My best to you and Rita.
Book Exchange: My emails during the 2015 playoffs included some quotes by the legendary baseball essayist Roger Angell. An example: The 95-year-old legend from the New Yorker wished he had no stake in the Series for his hometown Mets because he “fell in love with these Royals in their near-thing debut in the World Series last fall…there’s a collective elan to them, a bearded joy in their work that you want to be part of.”
In November of 2015, Angell published a new book of his New Yorker essays.
A copy showed up on my desk at work. It was from Stan, as confirmed by his follow-up email: I had read about it in the New York Times and knowing of your love and Rita’s love for the game of baseball, I thought you might enjoy it…By the way, I will never forget that Rita’s HAT won the series for the Royals…that pulled us through!”
This the third email in which Stan noted Rita’s hat. We think we know why he is a hat fan. Ann also looks good in hats.
Stan got a shout-out in the next Hot Stove:
Hot Stove #6 (2/18/16): “This Old Man” lends its name to Angell’s new book collection of New Yorker essays. In a nice surprise, a copy of the book showed up on my desk. Knowing my admiration for Angell, Hot Stove reader Stanley Bushman (an ageless 87 himself) made this old man’s day with his gift.
Stan’s response to his first (of many) cameos in Hot Stove: Lonnie, you were kind to mention in Hot Stove my sending Roger Angell’s book…Complete surprise to me for you to mention that and I appreciate your appreciation.
It took me seven years to find the right book to reciprocate. In May of 2023, my friend David Von Drehle published The Book of Charlie, featuring the wisdom of a Kansas City man who lived to 109. I thought this made a nice companion book to This Old Man (Angell had died a year earlier at age 101).
I asked David for a specific inscription for the book, but don’t have a copy of what I wrote. But I think it started out with, “Stan, Lonnie tells me you are 94.5…”.
Stan of course sent a nice email response: Rita and Lonnie thank you for the book and the great inscription that you had David Von Drehle do for me…much love to you, Rita and Lonnie.
Lunch Venue Change – “Stan’s Table”: The Restaurant at 1900 opened in April of 2018. It is owned by friends of Stan from the Karbank family, and it became our regular lunch venue.
In the main dining room, there is a 4-top at the only window in the room. Stan liked the table and usually was able to reserve it for our lunches. He was also there a lot without us and made the request so often that general manager Keith Goldman and the staff came to know it as “Stan’s Table.”
Stan in Hot Stove: Stan made several appearances in Hot Stove, most related to his birthday. Here are some excerpts from the Hot Stove archives.
Hot Stove #87 (11/9/18): Hot Stove is proud of its nonagenarian readers, and one long-time subscriber will be added to the list next Tuesday. Happy 90th birthday to my good friend Stan Bushman!
Hot Stove #153 (1/22/21): And now a shout-out to Stan Bushman who turned 92 in November. Irv Blond and I have quarterly lunches with Stan based on the date of his birthday. We unfortunately missed a few this past year. Can’t wait until we have our Covid shots and get back to our lunches. If you will pardon my humble-brag, Stan sent Rita and me this note after the Martin Luther King/Buck O’Neil message in last week’s Hot Stove:
“Rita and Lonnie…Hot Stove #152 really needs to be read by everyone…send my message to your entire list to read this Hot Stove several times because there’s so much history…so much good music…and so much love for everyone…with much love and appreciation, thank you. Stan.”
Stan Bushman is a mensch of the first order.
Hot Stove #181 (12/28/21): Once I got into my commercial real estate practice at Polsinelli, I often heard the name Stan Bushman. He and his investment partner Charley Helzberg have been at the crossroads of real estate development in the KC area for decades. My partner Irv Blond has represented them on many of their deals.
When Irv and I have lunch with Stan, it’s always a treat. We love his stories on the history of real estate development in the city. He knows all the players going back to the days of J.C. Nichols Company, Kroh Brothers, Frank Morgan, Jimmy and Allen Block, etc. Stan can also give a master class on the history of the civic, political and philanthropic connections in our community.
Below, Irv and I with Stan at lunch to celebrate Stan’s 93rd birthday. In addition to his usual Ted Talk on Kansas City, Stan updated us on his latest real estate deal. Yes, the 93-year-old is still doing deals.
[Note: This photo was taken at Stan’s Table.]
Stan and Charley at Lunch: In recent years, Charley Helzberg has been a regular participant in our lunches. What was cool for Irv and me is that we joined a conversation that had been ongoing for 60+ years. Again, from Charley’s eulogy, on his relationship with Stan: “Immodestly, I believe we learned much from each other, spending hours talking about philanthropy, art, philosophy, architecture, world affairs, design, barbecue, business, etc., challenging and stretching each other’s thinking, always with good humor and laughs.”
Irv and I got all of that and more. One of the key words in Charley’s quote is “hours.” It was a rare lunch that lasted less than two hours. There were a couple of occasions when I had to leave and found out later, they had gone on to 4:00, finally leaving so the restaurant could set up for dinner.
[This is where I would have copied in a photo of the four of us at lunch. If only we had taken one. Reminder to everyone (including myself): Don’t put things off!]
The range of business subjects could go from KC real estate to Bitcoin to Warren Buffett. Their business philosophy was often part of our discussion. One of my favorite lines was how they viewed a questionable investment. “Why risk what you have for what you don’t need.”
They didn’t feel compelled to chase every deal. Greed was not in their DNA – not always a trait with some high-profile billionaires these days. At one of our lunches, Charley shared a lesson on this from a Kurt Vonnegut poem published in the New Yorker in 2005:
True story, Word of Honor
Joseph Heller, an important and funny writer
now dead,
and I were at a party given by a billionaire
on Shelter Island
I said, “Joe, how does it make you feel
to know that our host only yesterday
may have made more money
than your novel ‘Catch-22’
has earned in its entire history?”
And Joe said, “I’ve got something he can never have.”
And I said, “What on earth could that be, Joe?”
And Joe said, “The knowledge that I’ve got enough.”
Kurt Vonnegut and Joseph Heller would appreciate Stan Bushman and Charley Helzberg.
Stan’s Last Birthday: When Stan turned 96 in November of 2024, his health was failing, and we were unable to have lunch. But the occasion was noted with a blurb and photo in Hot Stove.
Hot Stove #269 (12/19/24): A special birthday to note is that of Kansas City’s preeminent mensch, Stan Bushman. Stan turned 96 last month.
Charley, Irv and I will continue with lunch. Still telling Stan stories. His memory will always be a blessing.
RIP dear friend.
Walk-Off Photo: Stanley Bushman, Golden Gloves boxer.
Coming Up in Hot Stove: Opening Day, March 27, Royals v. Guardians at the K.