In Memory of Tim Russert

Celebrity deaths tend to send us into an odd shock, especially when the dearly departed are in their prime; iconic in their fields; and moreover, when they play a prominent role in our lives.

That probably explains why I feel the deep sense of loss that I do, about the passing of NBC News political icon, Tim Russert.

As a long-time, self-professed news and political junkie, I’ve spent more than 15 years watching the political prognostication, interviews, wit and wisdom of Tim Russert, as Moderator and Host of NBC’s “Meet the Press,” as well as in his additional roles of political analyst extraordinaire for the NBC Network, MSNBS, CNBC, as well as online and in print mediums. Russert played a huge role in my life and he will be deeply missed by me and the many millions of others that have invited him into their homes each Sunday morning, as part of their extended families.

Tim Russert has been a larger than life inspiration to both my personal work ethic, as well as my life, period. For years, he has fueled my appetite for being as good as I can be, for being as thoroughly prepared as possible, for everything that I undertake, and for bringing the highest level of passion possible, to all of those things that are important to me.

I have never had the good fortune to meet Tim Russert in person, but he has nonetheless been like a best friend to me. He was someone that I could always count on to be fair and honest, from whom I always knew what to expect and got it. He was someone who never let me down.

It seems kind of ironic, that Tim Russert’s stock in trade was “walking his talk,” while often times interviewing politicians who only “talked” theirs. No matter which side of the aisle his guests came from, if one dared to sit for a Russert interview, less prepared then he was, Russert morphed into an equal opportunity hit man. He’d give any such guest a moment to remember for a lifetime. Like I said, I didn’t know him personally, but I nonetheless feel like I really knew this person. I guess that’s why his sudden death rocked me so hard. Russert was the real deal.

It will be Labor Day weekend before I have the opportunity to return to Buffalo, NY, (Russert’s home town) the one place that I know for certain, that like he, I share a great passion for. I will visit Russert Park in Seneca, NY, to pay homage to this great journalist, political analyst, and beloved family man, when I make my annual pilgrimage to the National Buffalo Wing Festival.

To NBC, the Washington News Bureau that he managed, to all of those in the political world, to journalists at other news organizations world-wide, to the millions of every day Joes, just like me, that loved this guy’s honesty, integrity, fairness and even handed delivery… Tim Russert WAS and will always be THE franchise of political television. For me, Sunday mornings will never be the same… at least not on this plane.