Memories of Tim Russert

His sudden, untimely death was a huge blow to the country and to our own sense of mortality. The fact that a brilliant, vibrant human being such as he was could be taken away in seconds, filled us with shock and collective fear. He was a giant in the industry, dominating the media arena like no other, it seemed he would go on forever, retiring of old age the way it should have been but sadly it wasn't meant to be. Perhaps he sensed his life would be short so he lived it to the fullest, never wasting a minute, inflicting others with his natural joy and generosity, his ghost will forever haunt "Meet the Press" no matter who replaces him because he was simply irreplaceable.

I read "Big Russ and Me" because my father was alchoholic and I wanted to know how a father's life could become the bedrock of a son's life. I cried throughout the reading and wished I had a dad like Big Russ. I wondered too how Tim remained such a devoted Catholic throughout his life despite the sordidness he must have witnessed in Washington. Tim Russert believed in God and served him always by loving him and following in his footsteps. I miss him terribly, I miss the love of the man whose faith shone on the TV screen every Sunday morning. His life now guides me to love God and to believe in his goodness.

my condolences to Mr Russert. He was unique.

You were loaned to earth for awhile and we often saw your angelic nature expressed in kindness toward many less fortunate. Even though you were blessed to work with some of the so-called greatest talents on earth in your field your focus was outward and down. You choose and honored most deeply those who could repay you very little except a kind word or deed or hug. But heaven will never forget the seeds of hope you sowed. The return on that investment is priceless and will keep on giving.

The phrase above is truly overused (one newscast used it when Anna Nicole Smith died...actually true!), but in an age with folks like O'Reilly, Olbermann and Matthews dominating news commentary, Tim Russert was extraordinary. He interviewed well, was fair always and tough when he needed to be, and was always human. All through the early responses to his death, this was the most stunning observation. Folks recognized him on the street, and just asked him about his family, or Buffalo, New York, or even where the best place was to eat in a particular city. In short, an un-celebrity. Russert wouldn't have it any other way.

His friend Tom Brokaw will inherit the center seat for a while. It's a good choice, as Brokaw has the chops for it, but for once he'll only be second-place. I'll miss Tim Russert for his personality and love of life outside the news, but I'll miss him more for his gregarious nature and ability to cut through the garbage.

Go BC, Tim!

Mr. Russert was pushed over the edge by a year and a half of primarys, debates, delegate nonsense, that if this election was not spread out all over the place his health would not have been jeapordized so gravely. His contribution to this process however, will be appreciated for years to come, he kept it real, he kept it invigorating, and he kept our attention and our respect. The only other journalist alive now, who will deserve and receive the accolades similarly bestowed on Mr. Russert, will be Walter Cronkite.

My wife and I have been views of NBC every day for years and have gotten to know Tim as a friend, neighbour but most of all an all around wonderful guy. We are so grateful to NBC for the wonderful tributes. We feel we have lost a best friend! We were watching Meet the Press this morning and still felt close to him through Brian Williams' words. Our sincere condolences to Maureen and Luke. Luke looks so like his Dad. The memorial service was truly the most beautiful service. We felt were there. God bless!

I WANT TO COMMEND MSNBC FOR TELEVISING THE CELEBRATION OF THE LIFE OF TIMOTHY RUSSERT. ALTHOUGH I AM IRISH, I HAVE NEVER WITNESSED AN IRISH WAKE UNTIL NOW. I AM AT A TOTAL LOSS TO EXPLAIN MY SADNESS AT THE LOSS OF TIM, EXCEPT TO SAY I FEEL LIKE I LOST A CLOSE FRIEND. BUT THE MEMORIAL AT KENNEDY CENTER WAS EXCEPTIONAL. MSNBC CAN BE EXTREMELY PROUD, THE EULOGIES GIVEN BY EVERYONE ON STAGE WERE EXCEPTIONAL. PROBABLY THE MOST HILARIOUS, ALTHOUGH TRUE, MOMENT OCCURRED WHEN AL HUNT EXPRESSED THE SENTIMENT THAT THE BABY BORN TO TIM AND MAUREEN WAS THE MOST IMPORTANT BIRTH IN 2,000 YEARS. ALL OF THE SPEAKERS, AS I SAID BEFORE, WERE SUPERB. IT WAS SO TOUCHING TO HEAR “THUNDER ROAD” (MY FAVORITE SONG) BY TIM’S GUITAR PLAYING BROTHER-IN-LAW AND IT WAS ABSOLUTELY AND UNBELIEVABLY COOL TO HEAR SPRINGSTEEN SING. IT WAS A SIMPLE AND MAJESTIC CEREMONY. I AM AWARE THAT IS A CONTRADICTION BUT SOMEHOW I BELIEVE THAT SUMS UP TIM. WHAT A VOID THERE IS GOING TO BE IN THE POLITICAL WORLD AS WELL AS THE WORLD ITSELF. BY THE WAY, WHEN IS MSNBC GOING TO HIRE TIM’S SON? I DON’T CARE IN WHAT CAPACITY IT IS IN BUT THAT IS ONE MAGNIFICENT 22 YEAR-OLD. THAT YOUNG MAN SHOWED A POISE THAT IS TRULY UNREAL. ALL I KNOW IS THAT I WANT TO SEE MORE OF HIM. I AM 60 AND I HOPE I SEE HIM BEFORE I DIE. MARY ELLEN MICHIGAN I WANT TO COMMEND MSNBC FOR TELEVISING THE CELEBRATION OF THE LIFE OF TIMOTHY RUSSERT. ALTHOUGH I AM IRISH, I HAVE NEVER WITNESSED AN IRISH WAKE UNTIL NOW. I AM AT A TOTAL LOSS TO EXPLAIN MY SADNESS AT THE LOSS OF TIM, EXCEPT TO SAY I FEEL LIKE I LOST A CLOSE FRIEND. BUT THE MEMORIAL AT KENNEDY CENTER WAS EXCEPTIONAL. MSNBC CAN BE EXTREMELY PROUD, THE EULOGIES GIVEN BY EVERYONE ON STAGE WERE EXCEPTIONAL. PROBABLY THE MOST HILARIOUS, ALTHOUGH TRUE, MOMENT OCCURRED WHEN AL HUNT EXPRESSED THE SENTIMENT THAT THE BABY THAT WAS BORN TO TIM AND MAUREEN WAS THE MOST IMPORTANT BIRTH IN 2,000 YEARS. ALL OF THE SPEAKERS, AS I SAID BEFORE, WERE SUPERB. IT WAS SO TOUCHING TO HEAR “THUNDER ROAD” (MY FAVORITE SONG) BY TIM’S GUITAR PLAYING BROTHER-IN-LAW AND IT WAS ABSOLUTELY AND UNBELIEVABLY COOL TO HEAR SPRINGSTEEN SING. IT WAS A SIMPLE AND MAJESTIC CEREMONY. I AM AWARE THAT IS A CONTRADICTION BUT SOMEHOW I BELIEVE THAT SUMS UP TIM. WHAT A VOID THERE IS GOING TO BE IN THE POLITICAL WORLD AS WELL AS THE WORLD ITSELF. BY THE WAY, WHEN IS MSNBC GOING TO HIRE TIM’S SON? THAT IS ONE MAGNIFICENT 22 YEAR-OLD. THAT YOUNG MAN SHOWED A POISE THAT IS TRULY REMARKABLE. ALL I KNOW IS THAT I WANT TO SEE MORE OF HIM. I AM 60 AND I HOPE I SEE HIM BEFORE I DIE. MSNBC BETTER GRAB HIM BEFORE SOMEONE ELSE DOES/

MARY ELLEN MICHIGAN

I chose this title so as to always remind me of him saying these words which I could identify with since I am born of immigrant parents who toiled like Tim's dad with no complaints and regrets. My most vivid memory of Mr. Russert was during the 2004 elections when all his contemporaries on TV were showing glowing statistics about the election results; he had this wash board to write very simple yet logical explanation of his opinion like Florida, Florida,Florida ! and sure enough he was right. He left a huge void in his chosen field. He was a devout catholic who practiced what his church believed and preached. A decent man whose family came first a rarity in these modern high pressured demanding times. He never trapped whom he interviewed especially politicians but relentless and fearless in his questioning; questions that the American People want answered without the spin. You are loved and be missed Mr. Russert. God Bless you in Heaven!

What a great American... I sat in my living room and just cried ...I did not know him only from T.V. He left this great Country doing what he loved .. Not all can say that ... My thoughts and prayers to his family..I hope Big Russ is doing okay..Vicki Arizona

I have to say I did not grow up in a very political family. I started watching Meet the Press many years ago because of Tim. I found him enlightened, light-hearted and very dilligent about the job he had.

I watched the show today, the first real show without him and it wasn't close to being the same. It couldn't be.. Tim is gone. The political powers that be seemed to talk all over each other...something Tim would never let happen.. He never made it obvious that he was running the show; but they knew it. Today, Brian did his best but it wasn't enough. It couldn't be..Tim is gone. I don't know if I will be watching Face The Nation anymore..not that it isn't good....its just...Tim is gone. I will be making sure I wrap up any broken jars in newspaper before I put it in the trash,....something I learned from Tim. Tim will remain in my heart...he's there now.

In these uncertain times of unrest and change, with all the tragedies happening here and abroad it was refreshing to have someone asking those questions which we all wanted answers to from our leaders. In today's news reporting so much is sensationalism and fluff but not with Tim and a few others who are brave enough to ask the hard questions of our elected leaders who allegedly have our best interests at stake. As I watched the memorials and clips of Tim interviewing national leaders and those whose aspirations would lead to the highest office I was struck by how naturally he would ask the questions and how quickly he would zone in to the important issues to be asked. He was not afraid to question and to seek clarification of all the spin that we have been accustomed to hearing from those seeking to gain the public trust. I was just as impressed by his son whose eloquent and moving tribute to his father would conjure up that old expression, "he's a chip off the old block." I rarely like to watch the news as most of the stories are about tragedy and more tragedy and dark events which have happened to regular people in their daily lives. But when you turned on Tim Russert on Sunday or a Chris Matthews on CNBC nightly or a lively debate with Tim as the moderator between the candidates, you knew you were in for some fireworks and truth, which is rarely told by our elected officials. Thankfully we have jounalists of the highest caliber of a Tim Russert or a Chris Matthews. for thats the only way our democracy will survive and grow. Unfortunately it cannot solely be left to our elected officials to honestly act in our best interests without supervision. The individual citizen can no longer challenge the big power brokers and lobbyists. But with the superb and brilliant constant supervision a Tim Russert we could sleep a little better at night. A final thought about Tim Russert. He did what he did which such skill and ease and made it look so natural, that now that he is gone and we reflect on what he has done for journalism and for us more importantly, the individual citizen without a real voice in the process, he will be truly missed. I hope the journalists and politicans who now go on representing us and standing up for us will have the same integrity and dignity that Tim had in his chosen profession. That will make the United States even better than it is now as we can certainly do better for all our citizens and those who come under our protection. To his family in closing thanks for letting us borrow Tim for all those years, to stand up for us and to ask the hard questions of those who represent us. He is a national treasure.and a true Patriot. Sincerely Lyle Milstein