The Best Man I Never Met..by Dr.T

Once in a great while a truly special human being walks among us. So it was with Tim Russert, who left us way too soon when he passed away suddenly this past Friday. Did I know him personally? No...but I sure wish I had, for he was that rarest of individuals whose personality drew you to him. I knew enough about Tim to know that what you saw each Sunday on "Meet the Press" was genuine. He loved politics and he loved his work and treated every guest, no matter what side of the aisle or issue, strongly but fairly. He was a middle class guy from Buffalo, New York who made it big but never forgot his roots. He loved his family, admired the hard work of his dad and passed the same value system he was taught on to his son Luke. Actually, Tim and I are quite similar. I was born and raised in the Bronx, lived in a modest home in a working class neighborhood, attended Catholic schools, just like him. Love of God, family and country along with a strong work ethic are the lessons we learned. Tim's dad served in World War II, so did mine. Tim wrote a book about the sacrifices his dad made on his behalf. I've written speeches about the sacrifices my dad made for me. Maybe these similarities made me feel a connection or kinship with this man I never met, I don't know. All I know is that I have acknowledged the passing of many famous people, but Tim Russert lingers in my mind. I watched colleagues pay tribute to him with personal stories about his generosity and kindness and I actually mourned this man I never met. He still had much work to do, his chair will be tough to fill. My heart goes out to his family and friends, for surely, life without Tim will never be the same.