In memoriam of Tim Russert (1950-2008)

When I saw the picture of Tim Russert on the news today with “(1950-2008)” written under it, I had a moment of disbelief.  You know how your mind starts trying to make logic of its own during those few moments of denial?  Then, I stopped to listen and heard the news I was dreading.  Tim Russert passed away today of an apparent heart attack (information is not consistent as to the specific circumstances surrounding his death).

from USA Today…

WASHINGTON — Tim Russert, the award-winning NBC political pundit who communicated his love of campaigns and elections to audiences of millions, died today of a heart attack at 58, after collapsing in the network’s Washington bureau. He had been recording voiceovers for Meet the Press.

A shaken Tom Brokaw, the former NBC anchor and Russert’s longtime colleague, announced the death. He called Russert “one of the premier journalists of our time … This news division will not be the same without his strong, clear voice. He’ll be missed, as he was loved, greatly.”

Brokaw said Russert had just returned from a trip to Italy with his wife, writer Maureen Orth, and their son, Luke, to celebrate Luke’s graduation from Boston College. “This was one of the most important years in Tim’s life for so many reasons,” Brokaw said. “He loved this political campaign. He worked to the point of exhaustion so many weeks.”

Russert was “a true child of Buffalo,” Brokaw said, adding he had been back there just last week to help move his father — Big Russ, the subject of one of his books. “Tim loved his family, his faith, his country, politics. He loved the Buffalo Bills, the New York Yankees and the Washington Nationals.”

As host of Meet the Press since 1991, Russert interviewed the major figures in American politics. He was a fixture on election nights. In a high-tech age, what many remember from Election Night 2000 is Russert writing on a whiteboard, “Florida Florida Florida.” He turned out to be so right that TV Guide eventually picked that as one of the “100 Most Memorable TV Moments” in TV history. He also originated the “red-state, blue-state” description of the nation’s partisan divide, according to The Washington Post.

Let this be a reminder to all of us not to take life for granted because you never know when the Good Lord will call us home…  My condolences to Russert’s family which includes his own father.

NBC’s “Meet the Press” on Sunday mornings will simply never be the same again…  I wonder how they’ll handle this weekend’s show.