Sunday mornings will never be the same for me and too many others who warmly invited Tim Russert into their homes to be entertained, educated and enlightened to the world and its unfolding future..

Russert, was a fixture in American homes Sunday mornings and election nights since becoming moderator of "Meet the Press" nearly 17 years ago, before he died Friday after collapsing at the Washington bureau of NBC News. Tim was 58.

Fighting back the tears, his death was announced by Tom Brokaw, former anchor of "NBC Nightly News," who broke into the network's programming just after 3:30 p.m.

I know now what I have suspected all along, that Mr. Russert was much loved and respected in the world well beyond those in his profession. The tributes that almost immediately followed his passing could be overwhelming if I too didn’t share in  admiration and respect for the man.

Here is a cartoon that says it all drawn by the talented Rob Tornoe: 

Much will be written and televised in the coming days and weeks in an attempt to do justice to the man and what he has meant and given to those in and out of the business of news however I am confident that they will not quite reach the intended mark, fulfilling all that they wished or needed to convey.

I could ramble on with all the sincerity that I could muster but I do know that the words would only cheapen the gidt he has given to me and others.

To the Russert family, my condolences.

Michael Lang
Publisher

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