Tim Russert Dies

[EEKappa]

Wow! I just saw this on Twitter. So sad for the family.

His wife is a Kappa, and received an Alumnae Achievement Award at Convention two years ago. I met her briefly at the reception honoring the award winners and she was lovely.

[pinkies up]

I loved "Meet the Press" because of him! I'm really shocked. Condolences to his family.

[ThetaDancer]

Oh my goodness. How absolutely horrible


RIP, Tim. Sunday morning just won't be the same without you.

[sunnyhibiscus]

I too thought that it was a joke, but sadly, it wasn't. This is all too sudden. 58 is too young to die.

We'll miss you, Tim.

[ADqtPiMel]

He was a classy dude and a top-notch journalist. One of my coworkers was in the studio when it happened apparently - he sent out a group email telling us what happened and there was a collective gasp across the newsroom.

[AGDee]

NBC news is a complete and total tribute to Tim. Beautiful and poignant tributes from George Bush, Ethel Kennedy, Brian Williams, Andrea Mitchell.. on and on and on... I don't know how they are all holding it together, because I am barely keeping it together watching this. 10 pm EDT, a special hour long tribute...

[mystikchick]

I never watched MtP, but he always struck me as a genuine and honest reporter in a time where too many are content to sell out and be hacks. Keith Olbermann looks like he's barely holding back tears, and I don't blame him. American journalism is probably the worse off now for having lost someone of his integrity and high standards. Rest in peace, and my heart goes out to his family.

[shinerbock]

I loved MTP, and I don't see anyone in that organization that can fill the giant void of professionalism that exists from his absence.

Awful loss for his family, his son just graduated and on Father's Day weekend...just a harsh reminder for us all.

[pbear19]

I am so very sad about this. I cannot think of a single newsperson who I had a greater respect for, or of whom I more enjoyed the opinion and professional capacity. He was a giant among his fellows, and truly there is no such thing as a replacement for him.

I don't generally get emotionally invested in 'celebrity' deaths, but I felt like Tim was something beyond a usual TV personality. I am truly going to miss him in the upcoming months particularly, and find it hugely tragic that he will miss out on the rest of the election cycle that he would have enjoyed so very much. He was the first person I turned to for accurate political news. So sad.

[AKA_Monet]

Wow, just wow!!! He had a journalistic integrity unlike any other from his "generation". When I last saw him in a brief MSNBC spot ~month ago, I knew something was not right with him, that he looked rather ill.

Russert's internist, Michael A. Newman, said cholesterol plaque had ruptured in an artery, causing sudden coronary thrombosis.

Newman said an autopsy showed that Russert had an enlarged heart, NBC reported. Russert had been diagnosed with asymptomatic coronary artery disease, which he was controlling with medication and exercise, the doctor said.

Well, this is sad... Not much you can do when there's heart failure and plaque rupture... I wonder why they did not just stent him, given his age and enlargement? Meds & exercise don't do this alone when this is the case... He probably didn't want to take the time off. IDK--just guessing.

[nittanyalum]

This just breaks my heart, Tim was a class act, and as someone mentioned above, for his son to lose his Dad the Friday before Father's Day, oh, that's too much. I was hoping he'd be the moderator for the presidential debates this year because I love his presence in those situations. So I'll think of him during those and every Sunday morning. Best thoughts and wishes for his family, coworkers and friends. (I can't imagine the trauma for his coworkers who were right there with him when he collapsed)

[AKA_Monet]

^^^I bet he wanted to wait and do all that "political stuff" before he went in for surgery... That is why, fellas, you really need to HEAR your physicians when they tell you these things.

[Benzgirl]

I just watched Larry King, who dedicated his show this evening to Tim. It was a Whos Who in journalism and the stories were unbelievable -- Ted Koppel, Campbell Brown, Barbara Walters.....

I love watching Tim and fondly remember his white board (Florida, Florida, Florida). They played a clip tonight where Tim told of his son asking for the whiteboard, only to follow with, "it's worth a fortune on eBay".

Meet the Press this Sunday will be devoted to Tim, but the show will never be the same. Tim, may you rest in peace

[DeltAlum]

This is going to seem a little silly, but it meant a lot to me given the circumstances.

I once applied for a job directing at the NBC Washington Bureau which would have included Meet The Press. A mutual friend (former NBC Washington Bureau producer) suggested I get directly in touch with Tim Russert. I never did because of his schedule and travels, and as it turned out, they had an internal candidate from the NBC local owned station who was going to get the job.

In normal circumstances, I probably wouldn't have heard from anyone, or at best received a form letter, but Russert had his assistant call personally to thank me and let me know I would have been a strong candidate had not this other person been available locally.

Big deal, huh? Well, as those of you know who have applied for high level jobs, you often have no response at all. Even though it wasn't Tim himself, it was impressive that he went out of the way to be sure I was contacted.

He was an outstanding journalist and, obviously, an outstanding person as well.

[Sadfly]

I never watch the political news shows/listen to talk radio but he seemed like a "stand-up" guy. I'm glad that he was able to spend a nice vacation with his family.

When I heard the news late this afternoon, it was the first time that I realized today is "Friday the 13th".