Tim Russert Passed away today, he is one of my heroes.

My heart is heavy for your family.
Let the Q and A begin in heaven
God Speed Mr. Russert.

What irony. On the weekend in America when we honor our nation’s fathers we lost a great example of one. As a history teacher and follower of politics, Meet the Press is one of my favorite TV shows. Tim Russert’s preparation and execution of the Question and Answer for the weekly news show was unparalleled. During a time when politics have become more partisan than any time in recent history, Mr. Russert was the epitome of even handed and fair minded.

In both of his books and more importantly in his daily life the love of being a father to his son Luke, and loving his father, Big Russ was perfectly clear. I have been blessed to be able to have seen first hand in the Washington, DC bureau the filming of two episodes of Meet the Press with Tim Russert with students from St. Albans School of Public Service. On both occasions Mr. Russert took time to answer EVERY question these bright young people had for him. It was clear from each and every response he gave that he took his job very seriously and loved every minute of it.

As much as he enjoyed talking about politics there was a gleam in Mr. Russert’s eyes when he would talk about his family, specifically his father and son. Both times I heard him speak he talked about how during his preparation for the show he would ask questions his dad would want to know. He learned his values from his Dad, a WWII veteran with a 10th grade education who worked two jobs, trash man and truck driver.

Mr. Russert was everyman, which is why so many people tuned into his show. The stories he told in his fantastic book, Big Russ and Me, helped me more deeply appreciate my father and grandfathers. I feel honored to have met him. Mr. Russert would always make time for the kids of the program I worked with, a program where young people were spending a month in Washington, DC to study and learn about public service for our great country. One of the students once asked Mr. Russert what advice he gave his son as he went off to college at Boston College. The response he gave was simple as it was sage. Here is what Mr. Tim Russert, late moderator of Meet the Press, Buffalo Bills fan, husband, son, and father told his son, “Study hard, laugh often, and never lose your honor.” Advice we can all live by.

Mr. Russert, Happy Fathers Day. Let the questions and answer sessions begin in Heaven.

John Stephany Jr.

Here are some links to some posts I have done related to Russert.