Originally Posted by UGLY  With fathers day around the corner this is a tragedy. I havent read it but a few years ago he wrote a book called "Big Russ" I believe and it is about his father. It is supposed to be a great book to read so you might think about picking it up this fathers day. |
In all the tributes I've seen, there's been considerable time spent on Tim Russert's relationship with his father, "Big Russ", the subject of Tim's 2004 book. One video segment showed the "Meet the Press" moderator with his dad in the Buffalo home where Tim grew up, and his dad lived up until a few weeks ago, when he moved to an assisted living facility.
For those who don't know, "Big Russ" worked two full-time jobs -- as a sanitation worker, and as a truck driver -- for thirty years to help put Tim and his sister through school. He served in World War II, having dropped out of high school as a sophomore to enlist. I believe he is now in his mid-80s.
On a side note... some of you may know Tim Russert's wife... Maureen Orth, who is a respected journalist in her own right, as a contributor to "Vanity Fair" magazine.
A true loss for the family... for US politics... and for American journalism.
Mark