Tim Russert dead at 58

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.