Mighty Big Shoes to Fill
2008 June 13
Can you miss or grieve for someone you never knew or met? I don’t know, but today when I heard Tim Russert had died of a massive heart attack at the too-young age of 58, my heart sank. News people in general don’t inspire much trust, but I always liked when Tim Russert was on my TV- he seemed genuine, trust-able, and, well, normal. Catching Meet the Press on a Sunday morning was something I like to do once in a while. He seemed to care about journalism, care about being honest, impartial and unbiased- kind of a rarity these days, when every cable channel has some lip-glossed and hair-clubed pundit telling you what to think.
Godspeed, Mr Russert. May the four winds carry you safely home.
Amen. Even when I disagreed with his political position on something, I always knew he was sincere and articulate and would make a solid argument. I respected him.
I really loved him, too. And is it just me, or does 57 sound so young now? It used to seem like 57 was no different to me than 97, but the closer I get to 57, the younger and younger it sounds!
I liked his whiteboard scorecards on election nights.
Hey Dude – He was 58 and will be missed.
One of the two whiteboards he used is in the Smithsonian.
I cried off and on most of the night — especially for his son and his father. He was a consummate family man, and let us glimpse that love and devotion. We need more such examples of “lives well lived.” He loved his family, his vocation, his church — is there much more to aspire to?
I have had a really hard time accepting this news. He seemed like part of our family, probably because my husband and I watched Meet the Press every week (thank goodness for TiVo). He is definitely leaving HUGE shoes to fill – not only do we need someone who is brilliant and has a passion for finding and telling the truth, but the fact the his life was lived with honesty and integrity is going to be hard to beat.
I will miss his whiteboards, his jolly smile and his passion for everything he did in life.
My tribute here:
http://the-exponent.com/2008/06/15/virtual-oasis-remembering-tim-russert/
I feel the same way. I was near tears when I heard, which seemed kind of odd for not having ever met him. He just seemed like such a genuine, wonderful person, and he definitely leaves a big, gaping whole in the journalism community.