Family, friends, NBC fete Tim Russert at private memorial

viggofan · June 18th, 2008, 08:00 PM

this is very touching and a moving tribute to him

Family, Friends, NBC Fete Russert at Private Memorial

Today 3:24 PM PDT by Natalie Finn

They couldn't help it from being a sad day, but the hundreds of mourners who attended a private mass and memorial service for Tim Russert did their best to point out the most shining moments of a life well lived.
"As Tim would look out on this gathering, he would say, 'It's wild, it's wild. My family, my closest friends from near and far, the powerful, the ordinary and the largest contingence of all in this room—those who think they should be his successor on Meet the Press," longtime friend and colleague Tom Brokaw began his tribute, drawing hearty laughter from the crowd packed into the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., for this afternoon's memorial.
Among those who shared in the reminiscences of Russert's achievements, reputation and love for his family were fellow journalists Brokaw, Matt Lauer, Bryant Gumbel, Brian Williams, Maria Shriver and New York Times editor Al Hunt; politicos Sen. Barack Obama, Sen. John McCain, former President Bill and Sen. Hillary Clinton, Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice, former New York Gov. Mario Cuomo, NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and former Sen. Bob Dole.
Williams smilingly recalled how Russert would go to the finest salons to get his hair cut and how "on the day he got it done he looked outstanding for 60 to 90 minutes."
"He regarded a day greeted without real enthusiasm as a sadly lost opportunity," Cuomo, who employed Russert as an aide in the early 1980s, said.
A funeral mass at Holy Trinity Church in Washington's Georgetown neighborhood preceeded the memorial. A loudspeaker broadcast the service to about 100 onlookers outside.
Russert's son, Luke, who recently took a trip to Italy with his dad and mom Maureen Orth to celebrate his graduation from Boston College, gave the eulogy.
"My dad was my best friend," the young man said. "To explain my bond with my father is utterly impossible to put into words."
He entreated the crowd to picture his father moderating a debate in heaven, perhaps between John F. Kennedy and Barry Goldwater or Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton.
"Tim Russert led with his heart, his compassion and most of all his honor," Luke said. "I love you, dad, and in his words, let us all go get 'em!"
Russert died Friday of a heart attack while at NBC's Washington bureau recording voiceovers for that Sunday's episode of Meet the Press. He was 58.

Family, Friends, NBC Fete Russert at Private Memorial - E! Online

*DIVA! · June 18th, 2008, 08:20 PM

It was a fitting memorial for a great man. His son is an extraordinarily amazing young man, he did his dad proud. As everyone left the Kennedy Center 'Over The Rainbow' was playing once they were outside a rainbow greeted them.

sluce · June 18th, 2008, 08:23 PM

Diva - there was actually a rainbow? That is so cool. I watched some clips from the service. Very fitting tributes and very touching.

Laurent · June 18th, 2008, 08:46 PM

Luke Russert is something else. I'm continually impressed by what an articulate and mature young man he is. They showed part of the wake on The Today Show this morning, and Luke stood at the head of the receiving line and shook everyone's hand for hours and hours and hours.

Tim would no doubt be incredibly proud of the way Luke has handled himself.

LynnieD · June 18th, 2008, 08:52 PM

^^I agree Laurent. I saw his interview on Today and he was incredibly articulate and 'together' and during such a TOUGH TIME. I found myself marveling at how much he resembled his father and how 'down to earth' he seemed to be, again like Dad. I see why Tim would be so damn proud of him, and why he would talk about him so much!! I would too!

I'm still very upset over this...and not sure why. It's just so 'early' you know? Is that it?

Anyway, I'm glad he had a service that suited him--with the ordinary to the Presidental. He'd like that.

viggofan · June 18th, 2008, 08:54 PM

he sounds like he touched many people's hearts.

Moongirl · June 18th, 2008, 08:54 PM

^^I still find it hard to believe that he's gone

LynnieD · June 18th, 2008, 08:56 PM

He really DID touch a lot of people. In ways that I think no one KNEW until he was gone. My husband, who watched MTP every damn Sunday was destroyed....though, wouldn't actually say it, he was. And hell, if you were a regular watcher of any politics in the US, you knew him, you loved him, you hated him......but you appreciated him.

Laurent · June 18th, 2008, 08:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LynnieD

I see why Tim would be so damn proud of him, and why he would talk about him so much!! I would too!

Every time they show a clip of Tim on Meet the Press from Father's Day last year saying to Luke, "Luke, I'm so proud to be your dad" it makes me want to cry. And again today during the funeral when Tom Brokaw turned to Luke and told him how much his father loved him and that he talked about him constantly . . .

That's such a treasure for Luke to have for there to never be any doubt in his mind about how his father felt about him and how much he loved him.

viggofan · June 18th, 2008, 08:59 PM

isn't his dad still alive?

I can't think of anything more tragic than a parent having to bury their child

Laurent · June 18th, 2008, 09:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by viggofan

isn't his dad still alive?

I can't think of anything more tragic than a parent having to bury their child

Yeah, Big Russ is still alive. Tim had just helped move him into assisted living a few weeks ago. I haven't heard much about how he's holding up, but he must be devastated.

*DIVA! · June 18th, 2008, 09:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sluce

Diva - there was actually a rainbow? That is so cool. I watched some clips from the service. Very fitting tributes and very touching.

Yes, there was a rainbow, and f you watch the last 5 minutes of MSNBC's replay of Countdown with Keith Olberman at 10pm, you can see it.

mrs.v · June 18th, 2008, 09:23 PM

So sad.

McJag · June 18th, 2008, 11:04 PM

I wept through most of it-Maria Shriver was so good.

Brookie · June 18th, 2008, 11:08 PM

Sorry I missed this today. Yeah, one of the only reasons I watched MTP was BECAUSE of Tim. He'll be hard to replace; they'll do it, but it'll be interesting to see who the new person is. Big big shoes to fill. Guys like Tim don't come along every day. It is hard to believe he's gone. Let's keep the Russerts in our prayers.