Tim Russert died! (Atlanta, Rome, Washington: law school, university, live)

[plessthanpointohfive]

This is shocking!

Tim Russert dead at 58 | ajc.com (broken link)


Newsman Tim Russert dies at 58 - CNN.com

NBC's Tim Russert dead at 58 - U.S. news - MSNBC.com

WASHINGTON - Tim Russert, NBC News’ Washington bureau chief and the moderator of “Meet the Press,” died Friday after a sudden heart attack at the bureau, NBC News said Friday. He was 58.
Russert was recording voiceovers for Sunday’s “Meet the Press” program when he collapsed, the network said. He and his family had recently returned from Italy, where they celebrated the graduation of Russert’s son, Luke, from Boston College.
No further details were immediately available.
Russert was best known as host of “Meet the Press,” which he took over in December 1991. Now in its 60th year, “Meet the Press” is the longest-running program in the history of television.
But he was also a vice president of NBC News and head of its overall Washington operations, a nearly round-the-clock presence on NBC and MSNBC on election nights.
He was “one of the premier political journalists and analysts of his time,” Tom Brokaw, the former longtime anchor of “NBC Nightly News,” said in announcing Russert’s death. “This news division will not be the same without his strong, clear voice.”
In 2008, Time Magazine named Russert him one of the 100 most influential people in the world.
Timothy John Russert Jr. was born in Buffalo, N.Y., on May 7, 1950. He was a graduate of Canisius High School, John Carroll University and the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law. He was a member of the bar in New York and the District of Columbia.
Senate staffer before entering journalism
After graduating from law school, Russert went into politics as a staff operative. In 1976, he worked on the Senate campaign of Daniel Patrick Moynihan, D-N.Y., and in 1982, he worked on Mario Cuomo’s campaign for governor of New York.
Russert joined NBC News in 1984. In April 1985, he supervised the live broadcasts of NBC’s TODAY show from Rome, negotiating and arranging an appearance by Pope John Paul II, a first for American television. In 1986 and 1987, Russert led NBC News’ weeklong broadcasts from South America, Australia and China.
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NBC’s Tim Russert
The life of the political journalist
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Of his background as a Democratic political operative, Russert said, “My views are not important.”
“Lawrence Spivak, who founded ‘Meet the Press,’ told me before he died that the job of the host is to learn as much as you can about your guest’s positions and take the other side,” he said in a 2007 interview with Time magazine. “And to do that in a persistent and civil way. And that’s what I try to do every Sunday.”
Cuomo, Russert’s onetime boss, wrote of Russert: “Most candidates are not eager to present themselves for Tim’s incisive scrutiny, which is fed by his prodigious study and preparation. But they have little choice: appearing on ‘Meet the Press’ is today as vital to a serious candidate as being properly registered to vote.”
Russert wrote two books — “Big Russ and Me” in 2004 and “Wisdom of Our Fathers” in 2006 — both of which were New York Times best-sellers.
Emmy for Reagan funeral coverage
In 2005, Russert was awarded an Emmy for his role in the coverage of the funeral of President Ronald Reagan. His “Meet the Press” interviews with George W. Bush and Al Gore in 2000 won the Radio and Television Correspondents’ highest honor, the Joan S. Barone Award, and the Annenberg Center’s Walter Cronkite Award.
Russert’s March 2000 interview of Sen. John McCain shared the 2001 Edward R. Murrow Award for Overall Excellence in Television Journalism. He was also the recipient of the John Peter Zenger Award, the American Legion Journalism Award, the Veterans of Foreign Wars News Media Award, the Congressional Medal of Honor Society Journalism Award, the Allen H. Neuharth Award for Excellence in Journalism, the David Brinkley Award for Excellence in Communication and the Catholic Academy for Communication’s Gabriel Award. He was a member of the Broadcasting & Cable Hall of Fame.
Russert was a trustee of the Freedom Forum’s Newseum and a member of the board of directors of the Greater Washington Boys and Girls Club, and America’s Promise — Alliance for Youth.
In 1995, the National Father’s Day Committee named him “Father of the Year,” Parents magazine honored him as “Dream Dad” in 1998, and in 2001 the National Fatherhood Initiative also recognized him as Father of the Year.
Irish America magazine named him one of the top 100 Irish Americans in the country, and he was selected as a Fellow of the Commission of European Communities.
Survivors include Russert’s wife, Maureen Orth, a writer for Vanity Fair magazine, whom he met at the 1976 Democratic National Convention; and their son, Luke.

[madbbqer]

How does this impact Atlanta?

[ready2move]

Originally Posted by madbbqer

How does this impact Atlanta?

It impacts me....

[Chris_Davis]

Tim was one of the good guys in journalism and my Sunday mornings won't be the same without him moderating "Meet the Press."

My thoughts go out to his family who he loved dearly.

[darkone]

When someone passes, we do not vocally exclaim the fact. Only immature children/adults do this. Likewise, when writing about the fact that someone has passed away, please don't use an exclamation mark. Be respectful please.

Thank you,
-dk

[plessthanpointohfive]

It's pretty bizarre that you're instructing a perfect stranger on some off-the-wall idea of etiquette, don't you think? Perhaps even rude and insensitive to tell other people how they should express their grief or, in this case, dismay?

To say "Only immature children/adult do this." tells me that you feel a great deal of disdain and also feel that you are some sort of authority over communication.

All I have to say it get over yourself.

[Iconographer]

I was having dinner at the bar of a restaurant with the TV on when this story hit...some of the patrons were in tears. So terrible.
I loved his book Big Russ and Me.

[nerak31]

I watched the tribute they did yesterday with Tom Brokaw on Meet the Press's usual time slot. I teared up -- and Tom got choked up himself. So sad.

[Bette]

Because of his background and his approachability, Tim appealed to so many Americans. He was able to put words to a topic some only think about. I was stunned to hear about this happening and I truly feel for his family, his co-workers and for America because we have lost a great communicator.

He seemed to feel the pulse of America and we are privileged to have him on tape now. So many good interviews.

He gave us hope. I loved his optimism. I loved that he wrote about his dad, a simple, hard working type who helped in his own way, make America great. We need more with values like that.

He will be missed by so many. He also wrote the book on Fathers - how true. We have lost a wonderful man, I feel, one who felt that you can make a difference.

[plessthanpointohfive]

I feel so sad about his death even though I never met him. But I understood that he was one of the good guys and had a real love for his family that he liked sharing with everyone.

And since he was only 58 it makes it very shocking. My parents are 61 and 66...