"Big Russ" Has Passed Away

by: robert.harding

Thu Sep 24, 2009 at 23:14:49 PM EDT

"Big Russ" was best known for being the father of the late Tim Russert, who passed away last year after a heart attack.

In a statement, the Russert family summed up the leading man of their family best:

"While he was known to the world as "Big Russ", he carried no more important or meaningful titles than those of father, grandfather, great-grandfather, patriot and friend. He passed peacefully with his family by his side from natural causes at the age of 85. We warmly thank all those who were inspired by his life and his lessons."

"Big Russ" became a celebrity when Tim Russert wrote Big Russ And Me. It was a book about the father-son relationship that the younger Russert had with his father. The book was a huge hit, especially in Western New York. The book led to many people being inspired to send Tim Russert their own stories about their fathers. Russert ended up writing a second book, Wisdom Of Our Fathers.

This is sad news for those of us in the area and who know what impact the Russerts have had here.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the Russert family.  

More Reaction To The Death Of Tim Russert

by: robert.harding

Fri Jun 13, 2008 at 18:39:19 PM EDT

Statement from President and Mrs. Bush:

Laura and I are deeply saddened by the sudden passing of Tim Russert. Those of us who knew and worked with Tim, his many friends, and the millions of Americans who loyally followed his career on the air will all miss him.

As the longest-serving host of the longest-running program in the history of television, he was an institution in both news and politics for more than two decades. Tim was a tough and hardworking newsman. He was always well-informed and thorough in his interviews. And he was as gregarious off the set as he was prepared on it.

Most important, Tim was a proud son and father, and Laura and I offer our deepest sympathies to his wife Maureen, his son Luke, and the entire Russert family. We will keep them in our prayers.

Statement from Sen. Hillary Clinton and former President Bill Clinton:

"We were stunned and deeply saddened to hear of the passing today of Tim Russert.  Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife Maureen, his son Luke, his father who we all have come to know as Big Russ, his extended family and all of his many friends and colleagues at NBC who have suffered a tremendous loss.  Always true to his proud Buffalo roots, Tim had a love of public service and a dedication to journalism that rightfully earned him the respect and admiration of not only his colleagues but also those of us who had the privilege to go toe to toe with him.  In seeking answers to tough questions, he helped inform the American people and make our democracy stronger.  We join his friends, fans and loved ones in mourning his loss and celebrating his remarkable contribution to our nation."

Sen. Ted Kennedy:

"Tim Russert was a gentleman and giant, not just in politics and journalism, but in life. And through that life, he gave us all a model worth emulating.   With a reasoned voice, a sharp mind and a fair hand, Tim took the measure of every Washington official and all those that sought to be one.   He was a great journalist and an even better friend.  His passing is a tragic loss for us all, but especially for the family he loved so much.  Our thoughts and prayers are with Tim's wife Maureen and his son Luke."

More over the fold.

Paterson On Russert's Passing

by: robert.harding

Fri Jun 13, 2008 at 17:31:15 PM EDT

Today I was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Tim Russert, a beloved native son of Buffalo, New York. A distinguished and dedicated public servant, he worked for New York Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan and in the administration of Governor Mario Cuomo. He then transitioned from government to become a fair, tough and outstanding journalist, quickly ascending to one of the most respected in his field.

Tim never forgot his roots in Western New York, and his hometown has always celebrated his great accomplishments. A graduate of Canisius High School, he is still known as legendary Buffalo Bills fan. My heart and prayers go out to his family and colleagues, as New York mourns the death of this great American.

Tim Russert: 1950-2008

by: robert.harding

Fri Jun 13, 2008 at 16:08:49 PM EDT

I had the great privilege of meeting Russert at a book signing in Buffalo. He signed a copy of the book, Wisdom of Our Fathers: Lessons and Letters from Daughters and Sons, for me. In order to get my book signed, I waited at least an hour just to get to the table, where Russert greeted with me a smile and asked me who I wanted the book signed to. As I was waiting in line, former New York Governor Mario Cuomo walked by. He had stopped in to greet Russert at the signing. That summed up the importance of Tim Russert.

The sick irony here is that Russert died two days before Father's Day and both of his books were about fathers - Wisdom of Our Fathers is a collection of letters and stories from people who read Russert's own story about his father Big Russ in Big Russ and Me: Father and Son: Lessons of Life. If you have both books, you know how much Russert loved his father. On the back of Wisdom of Our Fathers, there is a picture of Russert and his son Luke throwing out the first pitch at a Buffalo Bisons game.

As a western New Yorker, Russert was a Bills fan and made all of us in Western New York proud. As a Buffalo native, Russert showed us that regardless of the economic state in our region, you could make it big.

Russert was one of my idols, partly because he grew up in Buffalo and partly because I loved politics and journalism. Meeting him was one of the highlights of my life as someone who grew up not recognizing many faces of pundits or hosts, but I knew who Tim Russert was.

This is terrible news and sad news for Russert's family, friends and to fans of Russert. Russert's contributions to journalism, politics and to Buffalo will be appreciated forever.

His loss is devastating. I will miss Sunday mornings with Russert on "Meet The Press." Many people will say the same.  

BREAKING: Tim Russert Has Died

by: phillip anderson

Fri Jun 13, 2008 at 15:37:33 PM EDT

TIM RUSSERT DIES FROM APPARENT HEART ATTACK

Tim Russert, NBC journalist and political heavyweight host of "Meet the Press," has died after collapsing at NBC's Washington news bureau, a source said. He was 58 years old.

Russert, who rose from the inside world of politics where he was former New York Gov. Mario Cuomo's press secretary and one-time chief of staff to the late Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan, was able to successfully cross over to political journalism and rise to become one of its leading lights.

In his role as host of the seminal Sunday morning political program "Meet the Press" - which he took over in 1991 - he became renowned for his hard-nosed interviews where he frequently cornered some of Washington's cagiest political figures with tough questions.