Tim Russert dead at 58
National News:According to NBC, "Meet the Press" host Tim Russert collapsed and died today while recording MTP voiceovers for Sunday's program. He was 58. Joining NBC in 1984, Russert would become Washington DC bureau chief and hosted "Meet the Press" since 1991. He was also vice-president of NBC News and head of the DC operations. Earlier this year he was named one of the "100 Most Influential People in the World" by Time Magazine.
Russert was born in Buffalo NY in 1950 and was a graduate of John Carroll University and Cleveland-Marshall College of Law. He was a member of the New York and DC bars. He is survived by his wife Maureen Orth, a writer for Vanity Fair, and a son, Luke. The family had recently returned from a trip to Italy where they celebrated Luke's graduation from Boston College.
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Russert lived the sort of life a political wonk should aspire to, with a law degree, the opportunity to work for two brilliant politicians (Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan and Gov. Mario Cuomo), then a chance to take on the politicians of the world on Meet The Press. His Catholic faith and his devotion to family certainly also were well known facets of his life, as his two books illustrate. Sean Hannity related on his show how Russert gave $10,000 but sought no publicity for it to help the scholarship cause of Hannity’s annual Freedom Concerts (it helps families of those in the military). Sadly, though it is reported that he was dealing with the problem (one I know well with blood pressure and an enlarged heart), Russert was called home far too soon, at 58. Ah, but what a legacy for only 58! Requiescat in pacem.
Pat Cloonan (URL) - June 14, 2008 at 10:26 am