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Tears For Tim
Like millions of people, I am so stunned and saddened by the death of Tim Russert –truly blown away on so many levels. For years, I have admired Tim for who he was as a human being above and beyond all his professional accomplishments. Today, I find myself consumed with tears for the loss of this exceptional man.
Tim was a guy who wore his blue collar background like a badge of honor, front and center for all to see. In the world of media where so many people work hard to project the perfect image, Tim was Tim regardless of whether he was moderating Meet The Press, joking around with The Today Show hosts, having an audience with the Pope, laughing with the boys in a bar in his hometown Buffalo, or receiving a pitch from an enthusiastic PR person. In spite of his success, Tim never wavered from the respect that was core to the fabric of his existence.
Anyone who knew Tim — even if only as a viewer connected via a television screen — knew he loved his family and wasn’t embarrassed to express his feelings. As spring approached this year, we all watched as Tim began gushing about the upcoming graduation of his son Luke from Boston College. While he often beamed when immersed in political coverage, the energy and glow he radiated when telling a story about his family outshone all other moments in his life. Footage of Tim with his Dad (aka Big Russ) would immediately ignite a smile on anyone.
Personally, as a political and news junkie, Tim was often the guy giving me my fix. Tim’s standout characteristic on a professional level was that he was tough, but fair. Relative to his peers, Tim could have tripped over the bar when it came to uncompromising fairness. Yet day after day and night after night, Tim sailed over the bar and set an example for all else to follow.
Tim was a devout Catholic yet carried his faith in a way that was personal and respectful. As someone who is agnostic, I truly appreciated the way Tim’s faith was forever present yet without being intrusive on others. I can’t help but think about how much peace would exist in the world today if others adopted a similar approach to their religious beliefs.
What things do you remember about Tim Russert?
June 14th, 2008 at 8:50 am
Faithfully, every Sunday morning we would watch Tim Russert host Meet The Press. It was the most engaging, informative political, media show on the networks. This was a man with a big Irish smile, strong and proud family roots & deep religious beliefs.
When interviewing ,regardless of party affiliation, he demanded that you be straight with him and with the American people who were watching.
I remember the day we watched him on the Today show in the 2000 presidential election with his eraseable board . Stating Florida, Florida, Florida would be the deciding factor in that election. He was right!!
This man did his job, he did it best, and he did it right, fairminded and with conviction.
He will be greatly missed,as the top NBC political analyst and terribly hard to replace. If at all.
June 14th, 2008 at 8:52 am
Kel,
You hit it the nail on the head in every point you made. I am also a great admirer of Tim and although there isn’t a Tim Russert poster on my wall I would be comfortable enough to say that he is a heroic figure.. or at very least a role model and the gold standard that people should aspire to in their own individual lives.
In a reply to another of your blogs I made reference to my father who has been gone now for 4 years and also went well before his time. Well (maybe time to call my therapist) I can’t help but make some very obvious comparisons that just make this even much more personal to me.
As a person Tim was a driven man who worked his way to the top, yet always put his family first. This was my father; as a Captain and tank commander in the Army, PhD and VP “over” 600 employees in a very technical and competitive industry, his family always came first. As a high level engineer/executive who grew up in a blue collar family, my father always related to and respected (with his big familiar smile) anyone whether a CEO or Janitor. I’ve had people make that comment and compliment to me about him many times. That’s another thing that I have also seen, heard and admired about Tim Russert.
I can’t help but think if there were more people at the top of their fields like Tim Russert, “Doc” Allendorf and if I may be so bold, Kel Kelly, employee morale, self esteem, mutual respect and consequently productivity would not be so rare in so many work places these days.
As a fellow agnostic, I am not so much anti religion… if it isn’t thrown down my throat, that is… I deeply respect those who do balance their religion the way that Tim did it (and my Dad), with passion but in a very personal way. He treated his politics the same way, respecting both sides of the isle as well as being equally tough on both sides… that truly is unique and something to respect.
We are all on individual journey’s, “together”. Being a good person and good to other people is a great legacy that Tim Russert left. His example also is that of someone who worked hard, tried to be the best he could be. These are great things to shoot for in life. My Dad did it, I sure as heck see that you are doing it Kel, and sadly Tim Russert is no longer here to do it but we’ll always have that example to think about as we go about our own journeys through life.
Tim Russert will be greatly missed. Sunday mornings will never be the same.
The other sad part of the timing of this is it being Father’s Day weekend. Last Father’s day I got Tim’s book “Wisdom of Our Fathers”. What an emotional experience reading this was. I had to put it down, it’s really an incredible and powerful book. It’s been on my office shelf ever since. It’s time to finishing reading this book and continue to be the best father I can be and the best me I can be.
Thanks for this blog Kel, this loss really hit me and this was a great forum to hear your thoughts and express my own.
June 14th, 2008 at 9:31 am
I think for me, Tim Russert was the everyman’s news analyst. I would turn to him when I wanted to catch up or hear a fair observation of current events. I was shocked & saddened by his death.
But, as I grew up I would turn to Tim.
I also remember Sundays at home watching Meet the Press as a kid with my parents begging them to turn on something else.
RIP Mr. Russert.
June 14th, 2008 at 11:32 am
I agree, not only was Tim Russert the kind of reporter you trusted to give the straight story, with insightful interpretation…he was also someone with empathy that came through. There was no question what a good person he was, and I think this is what drew people to him. Clearly he will be missed by so many! This is a lovely tribute, Kel!
June 14th, 2008 at 6:24 pm
mick & karen, i agree. the whiteboard is such a iconic association to tim. who woll ever forget him stating, “florida, florida, florida” with that boyish grin on his face. classic tim.
June 14th, 2008 at 6:31 pm
geo, thanks so much for your insightful, heartfelt comments. your dad certainly was a mirror image of tim — he just happened to end up in a different profession. if people reflected on my life and said “she was tough but fair and always put her family first” i would be thrilled. i’m sure tim is in heaven orchestrating something and making sure everyone is accountable for their actions. he’s probably already recruited your dad and my mom. thanks again geo. i truly enjoyed your insight.
kel
June 14th, 2008 at 6:36 pm
lisa, your post made me smile. my mom was a complete political junkie. worked in dukakis’ press room, held signs at the polls and was a state delgate at the dnc. i just didn’t get it and thought she was nuts. now i get it. i am a political junkie now too. your comments about how you never wanted to watch meet the press as a kid, but do now was a catalyst for my own epiphany. thanks for taking the time to comment and share your perspective.
kel
June 14th, 2008 at 6:42 pm
sarah, what amazes me is that your perspective is shared by everyone i have spoken to or read about. can you imagine being the kind of person that was loved and respected so universally? it really is incredible. my hope is everyone’s words will provide comfort to tim’s wife, son and father. their pain must be overwhelming. i feel overwhelmed and i only knew him as a viewer.
June 15th, 2008 at 10:49 am
Kel, I knew Timmy Russert…worked with him as a young director at NBC News on new business initiatives. He used to call be Byrne-ski and Byrne-stein. I think you’ll get his teasing humor as we shared an Irish Catholic upbringing and schooling. The impression he had on me penetrates even more now. I am greatly saddened but so happy to have known a journalism legend and model for all time.
~Therese
June 15th, 2008 at 5:36 pm
therese, how fortunate that you got to work with him! that’s fantastic. he was a good friend of one of my employees. he too used to call him “timmy.” i know that irish catholic humor well. too funny!