<p>Lived for 30 years in Buffalo and just spoke to friends and family there. The town is in mourning for its favorite son. I think Tim and maybe the Goo Goo Dolls were the only spokesmen left for a dying city (they had a hit called Broadway and most think it was about New York City but it was the Broadway in Buffalo that runs thru the Polish neighborhood on the east side). All I could think of when I saw Tom Brokaw speaking so wonderfully about his friend is that not only are those that saved the world in WW II (The Greatest Generation as Brokaw wrote about so insightfully) almost gone but ever so quickly even those that knew them. Had a spectacular brother that died in Buffalo a couple of years ago at 53 and can never forget the effect on my parents. To Big Russ (who I have met) I am so sorry for your loss. Read the book Big Russ and Me if you get the chance. Parents should never have to bury their children.</p>
<p>You’re so right, icantfindaname, parents should never have to bury their children. I can’t imagine his father’s grief at this moment.
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<p>What is it about the death of people we see on television everyday that makes their loss so devastating to us average Americans? Most of us have never met Tim Russert, but we felt like we knew him somehow. So many of us developed a respect and fondness for him, the full extent to which we never realized until his passing. </p>
<p>There were times in which Peter Jennings drove me crazy, but when he died, it really wrenched my heart. God Speed, Tim. Give Peter our warm regards.</p>
<p>I’m sad, shocked and in denial. I can’t believe he is gone…</p>
<p>(Thank you, moderators, for keeping this forum civil).</p>
<p>Have just gotten access to the internet after a day of traveling, and am in total shock. I can’t even believe what the election coverage will be like. And I can’t imagine how traumatic this must have been for his co-workers who were present when this happened.</p>
<p>May his family somehow find the strength to get through this.</p>
<p>poetsheart, although we may not personally have met newscasters, we see them almost daily, speaking to us in our homes (via the TV) about things that matter to us. So we feel as if we know them, and in a very real way they are a part of our lives. Our memories of major events inevitably include the journalist who related the story. I think it’s only natural to feel the loss.</p>
<p>When we see people everyday, on the news & hear them on the radio and read about them from their own articles and in the newspaper, we also may have more exposure to them, their thoughts and responses, than we do some members of our own friends and family.</p>
<p>We are only seeing some bits of them its true- but unless someone is particularly gifted at developing a public persona, what we see is genuine and is a way that we become connected to people we may never meet.</p>
<p>Tim Russert was a man who brought the kind of energy and preparation to his work and his life that we admire. To see someone who was larger than life fall at a relatively young age to a silent disease, reminds us of how all too mortal we all are.</p>
<p>Jay Leno had a sweet tribute to Tim Russert last night. Tomorrow’s show will be painful. It was supposed to be an interesting debate between members of McCain’s and Obama’s camp, but the tributes to him instead will be poignant. It is particularly difficult, I think, when someone of our general age/generation dies all to soon. Sleep well, Tim.</p>
<p>I’ll miss seeing Tim on my Sunday mornings, which, for years, have consisted of watching Charles Osgood and Tim Russert. He always seemed to be a good-natured guy with a hint of a smile. Being in Toronto, we get all of the Buffalo news stations and last night, their newscast was devotedly, like NBC’s, almost exclusively to this story. It was sad and poignant watching interviews with so many of his colleagues and friends. I did manage one smile, though, when Sally Quinn was being interviewed and she said that Tim’s son had been named after St. Luke. Actually, he was named after Luke Easter, a great player with the Buffalo Bisons, a team that Tim and his family loved.</p>
<p>“Our memories of major events inevitably include the journalist who related the story.”</p>
<p>So true! We’ve all seen the iconic black and white film of Walter Cronkite, shaken and choked up, announcing the death of President Kennedy. Or the late, wonderful Jim McKay, telling the world “They’re all gone,” after the murder of the Israeli Olympic team in Munich. … Tim Russert personified the best of political journalism. I can’t even imagine going through the rest of this campaign without him.</p>
<p>Tim Russert was not only a great journalist but he was also a great father. He was named Father of the Year by the National Father’s Day Committee in 1995 and National Fatherhood Initiative in 2001. It’s extremely hard for his son and his family to face this tragedy. His early passing makes me think of myself and my family. I am listening to the lyrics “Cats in the Cradle” by Harry Chapin to remember Tim.</p>
<p>This is such a huge loss. I loved to watch him. Always had a beautiful sparkle in his eye and he glowed. Made me feel like he was such a sincere man. Bless his family.</p>
<p>Huge loss. I loved the guy. His politics were so very different from mine, but I was a big fan. What a complement to him that people on both sides held him in the highest regard. There is no one else out there there like him. Such a gentleman.</p>
<p>So sad… :(</p>
<p>I hadn’t realized that his father is still alive - how awful this must be for him. I was aware of the “Big Russ” book, but haven’t read it. </p>
<p>I don’t watch television, per se, but I am a political junkie and watch the political clips on msnbc.com. I love to watch Tim, Chuck Todd, Andrea Mitchell, Keith Olbermann, and Rachel Maddow. I saw a clip of Andrea Mitchell interviewing Tim’s doctor. It was clearly excruciating for her, she seemed to still be in shock.</p>
<p>spideygirl–Did you really see Tim Russert as liberal-ish? To me, he always seemed to put the hardest, most uncomfortable questions to his interviewees, regardless of their political stripe, and for that I loved him. It could be why we all loved Russert and will miss him so much … he was an oasis of sanity in a world of agenda-driven ranters. (Yes, Hannity and Olbermann, I’m talking about you! Of course, I like Olbermann, but then, I would, wouldn’t I?) … So who’s left to deliver serious political analysis. … Bob Schieffer is good, but probably on the verge of retirement. Wolf Blitzer doesn’t do it for me, at all. David Gregory has potential, but sometimes looks like he’s smiling when he shouldn’t be. I like him better on the radio. My favorites at this point are Andrea Mitchell and John King. … It’s going to be a long, sad political season.</p>
<p>Hindoo: "spideygirl–Did you really see Tim Russert as liberal-ish? "</p>
<p>Yes, but in the best sense. I don’t think “liberalish” - I think he was very liberal. He started out with Cuomo, was tight with Moynihan, etc. But whatever his views, he was intelligent, fair, and extremely effective in his work. He was a joy to watch.</p>
<p>I think it is worth noting that Russert graduated from John Carroll University in Cleveland, not quite a household name. Russert was very proud of the education he received there and was an active alumnus. So even in fields like politics and media, two that usually require that people make use of connections to climb the ladder, it’s possible to be hardworking and smart and make it to the top without the benefits of an Ivy League diploma.</p>
<p>In addition, he graduated from Cleveland State University’s John Marshall School of Law–again, not a high prestige institution</p>
<p>^ Great points!</p>
<p>Tim Russert was the commencement speaker at S’s college graduation from Wash U last spring–as you can imagine, he was entertaining, instructive and inspirational. He added immeasurably to what was already a joyous occasion for our family. We also were devoted Russert watchers on NBC and on Meet the Press. The fact that he is exactly of DH"s and my generation makes it all the more poignant–and scary–for us. I can’t imagine who will attempt to fill his shoes. No one can.</p>
<p>They said on Meet the Press that Bruce Springsteen, performing in Europe, dedicated Thunder Road to him last night. Wow!!! That would be about the coolest tribute I could imagine!</p>