Tim Russert...

My tribute, to the man loved by all, who died at age 58 on Friday June 13th from sudden cardiac arrest.

Tim Russert was the pre eminent journalist of the time. He always cuts through the partisan hackery, spin and lies that American politicians, policymakers, congressmen, and presidential candidates say to get elected. He holds elected officials accountable for the things they say and do. "He was the toughest," is the consensus of all his interveiwees. But even with those tough questions, he never had a biting or nasty "gotchya!" moment, but rather a fair and balanced interview.

He had a knack and a flair of providing clarity in every political election cycle. He is the one who predicted that Florida would be the state that mattered most in the 2000 Presidential Election, Gore v. Bush. Who can forget, "Florida, Florida, Florida." As a moderator of many election debates and the longest serving host of the longest television show in history, Meet the Press, Mr. Russert asked serious and tough questions and did his duty to inform the nation and make them responsible voters and better citizens.

Above all, he was a person who lived the American dream. He grew up in middle class America and made a name for himself by holding onto a set of moral principles and respect and strive for the truth. Not only was a journalist that all other of his colleagues and rivals looked up to, he was a family man. He loved his father, Big Russ, and even wrote a book about him. His son Luke, just graduated from Boston College, and the pride that emanates from him is one that is amazingly heartwarming. He never forgot his roots and always spoke highly of his hometown of Buffalo.

Professionally and personally he was a man of integrity, passion, serious business, kindness and playfulness. Everyone who knows him or saw him on TV or on the links will greatly miss him and Not a single bad word or memory can be heard about him. All people who encountered him one way or another is a richer, smarter and better person. He was an upstanding individual and inspired me to do work I love and always strive for the truth.

Tim Russert, the gentle giant, I will miss you.

Tim Russert's life and career: In Photos.