Meet the Press host and NBC News Washington Bureau Chief Tim Russert died 
suddenly today of a heart attack. He had just returned from vacation in Italy, preparing to celebrate his son’s graduation from Boston College. Russert, an Irish Catholic educated in Catholic schools, tirelessly promoted Catholic education in the United States. Here he is announcing the 2008 Making a Difference Award, given to an outstanding educator in Catholic schools. Russert was one the most outstanding poltiical commentators of the cable news era, never hesitating to push for the tough answers from all sides of politics. Above all else, Russert loved his family. During the NBC News Special Report this afternoon, David Gregory and Andrea Mitchell related how his relationships with his son, Luke, his wife, Maureen, and, of course, his dad, “Big Russ,” were the center of his life. Everyone, Mitchell said, went to Russert if they had any problems, be they professional or familial. Russert will be sorely missed. “Balanced,” “fair,” “down the middle,” he was one of the good guys. In the words of Peggy Noonan this evening, “Tim was a Catholic.”
May his soul rest in peace.
John Friedman has already written a moving tribute to Russert.
Here is Russert moderating a discussion at Boston College between Senators Chris Dodd and Sam Brownback on how their Catholic faith impacts their political views and decisions:
June 13, 2008 at 2:58 pm
This is so sad :’( I can’t believe it yet… We never know when our time may come :”(
June 13, 2008 at 3:05 pm
Very sad indeed – he will definitely be missed. I understand he was something of an icon/mentor at NBC News, by many accounts.
June 13, 2008 at 3:16 pm
This is most unfortunate news.
I used to love most especially the way he spoke about his relationship with his father on the air.
And for as many softballs as he threw, the key players, he was the fairest and toughest (with many follow ups) questioner of anyone recently with his/her own show on any of the major 3 American commercial television news organizations.
June 13, 2008 at 3:27 pm
Tim Russet is an institution. I’d see him downtown DC sometimes, he was quite a presence, always with his son. For whatever reason, this saddens me quite a bit.
June 13, 2008 at 3:27 pm
:’( :”(
June 13, 2008 at 3:46 pm
Tim Russert was truly a great American, and, more importantly, a great human being. He will be dearly missed.
June 13, 2008 at 3:57 pm
Tim, there was no one better. America will miss you.
Ad maiorem Dei gloriam!
June 13, 2008 at 4:05 pm
Rest in Peace, Tim.
I feel so bad for Maureen, Luke and especially his dad Big Russ now in his late 80’s. This has to be a very hard blow for a person that age to deal with. God Bless them all.
June 13, 2008 at 4:09 pm
Eternal memory.
June 13, 2008 at 10:50 pm
We now know a little bit more about what God is like, the great Father He is, thanks to Tim Russert.
June 14, 2008 at 12:14 am
A great tragedy. I can’t believe it happened just around the corner from my house. I saw this flowers and tributes this evening.
June 14, 2008 at 11:29 pm
Apotheosis!
June 18, 2008 at 2:56 pm
[...] Tim Russert The National Catholic Education Association (NCEA) has a beautiful tribute to the late Tim Russert on account of his strong support and unyielding promotion of Catholic education in the United [...]