I was so shocked when I heard this, and so disappointed. Every Sunday morning my husband and I would have our hot cup of sumpin’ and sit down to see what Tim was going to serve up. He brought Sunday morning politics alive and he will be sorely missed. He made mad sometimes, but that was always good. He made me think, and taught us all so much about Washington and politics. His family that he loved so much must be heart broken. Blessings on them. It is really an unfortunate day for network news.

This is heartbreaking news. Very sad to read this. I’ve read his books on fatherhood, his son just graduated from Boston College and they’d been in Italy. He was one of the greats, truly fair and thrilled about this election. One of the all time great guys, a super, super man. This is just awful to hear. “The enormity of this loss cannot be overstated.” So very true and devastating for his wife and son. RIP Mr. Russert, you will be sorely missed.

BIo on Tim Russert: (From Daily Kos) “His two books-Big Russ and Me in 2004 and Wisdom of Our Fathers in 2006-were both New York Times #1 bestsellers. He has received forty-eight honorary doctorate degrees from American colleges and universities and has lectured at the Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon and Reagan Presidential Libraries. Russert took over the helm of “Meet the Press” in December 1991. Since then, MTP has become the most watched Sunday morning interview program in America and the most quoted news program in the world. Now in its 60th year, “Meet the Press” is the longest-running program in the history of television. Russert has interviewed every major figure on the American political scene. Russert joined NBC News in 1984. In April 1985, he supervised the live broadcasts of the Today program 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. Washingtonian Magazine dubbed Tim Russert the best and most influential journalist in Washington, D. C. describing “Meet the Press” as “the most interesting and important hour on television.” In 2008, Time Magazine named him one of the 100 most influential people in the world. TV Guide selected his use of the white dry eraser board (Florida, Florida, Florida) on Election Night 2000 as one of the “100 Most Memorable TV Moments” in history. The Washington Post credits him with coining the phrase “red state” and “blue state” to explain the nation’s political divide. In 2005, he was awarded an Emmy for his role in the coverage of the funeral of President Reagan. He is the recipient of the Golden Plate Award of the Academy of Achievement. His Election 2000 Meet the Press interviews with George W. Bush and Al Gore 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 Senator John McCain shared the 2001 Edward R. Murrow Award for Overall Excellence in Television Journalism. He is 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, the Catholic Academy for Communication’s Gabriel Award, and inducted into the Broadcasting & Cable Hall of Fame. He is 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 has 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. Russert was born in Buffalo, New York on May 7, 1950. He is a graduate of Canisius High School, John Carroll University and with honors from the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law. Before joining NBC News, Russert observed firsthand the inner workings of the executive and legislative branches of government as counselor in the New York Governor’s office in Albany in 1983 and 1984 and a special counsel in the United States Senate from 1977 to 1982. He is admitted to the bar in New York and the District of Columbia. Russert is married to Maureen Orth, a writer for Vanity Fair magazine. They live in Washington, D.C. They have a son, Luke.”

This is terribly sad. Our Sunday mornings will not be the same and he will be missed. My heart goes out to his family.

I’m in shock. How could Tim Russert be gone? My heart goes out to his wife and to his son, and to Big Russ.

A shock, and total complete shock. I am so sorry for the loss to his family and all those that knew him. Some people just leave a void, this is going to be a huge void. I have enjoyed watching and laughing with him. This year he was so exicted about the elections. I don’t ever remember seeing him cross. He may have been stern and direct and so focused on getting his answers, but never was he ever cross. He had a way of dissecting things so everyone would and could understand if the questions were going to be answered or, if as watchers we were being taken for the long boat ride. To everyone that knew Mr. Russert — my prayers. I am so saddened, so sad.

He and his lovely wife, Maureen Orth, writer for Vanity Fair: http://cache.viewimages.com/xc/50797397.jpg?v=1&c=ViewImages&k=2&d=17A4A… Tim Russert on his terrific book “Wisdom of Our Fathers” http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19174679/ With his son, Luke. http://www.bigrussandme.com/LukeFirstBD.JPG (Our family was also three with one son, who also went to a Catholic college and to Italy the day after graduation. And Tim Russert loved his father so much. I always just thought they were super.) Excellent 1.23 minute wrap-up of Obama as the nominee. Clear, direct, precise: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lklfIPBK4Zg

Tom Brokaw two minute announcement of his friend’s passing, and excitement and hard work on this election, and Tim’s Dad, in his late 80s: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/06/13/tim-russert-dead-at-58-nb_n_107…

Media comments, and Andrew Sullivan saying, ‘say a prayer for Tim’s Dad if prayer is your thing.” http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/06/13/tim-russert-dies-the-medi_n_107…

Heartlfelt condolences to his family, friends, collegues and us, for whom Sunday mornings will never be the same. I feel a similar loss to when we lost Charles Kuralt, another person who made Sunday Morning such a pleasure. Good-bye, Tim, and may you be in heaven before the devil knows you’re gone.