Veteran News Journalist Tim Russert Passes Away

NEW YORK, June 16: Tim
Russert, the moderator of NBC’s flagship Sunday morning public-affairs show Meet
the Press and the network’s
Washington news bureau chief, passed away suddenly on Friday of a heart attack
at the age of 58.

Russert suffered the fatal
heart attack on Friday afternoon while at work at the NBC news bureau in
Washington. Tom Brokaw, announcing Russert’s passing on Friday, said: “He has
been a very familiar face on this network and throughout the world of political
journalism as one of the premier political analysts and journalists of his
time…. This news division will not be the same without his strong, clear voice.
He will be missed as he was loved, greatly.”

Russert joined the NBC
Washington bureau as its chief in 1988. He became the host of Meet the Press 17 years ago, making him the longest-serving
anchor of the Sunday morning show.

Jeff Zucker, the CEO of NBC Universal, said of Russert’s passing: “We have lost a
beloved member of our NBC Universal family and the news world has lost one of
its finest. The enormity of this loss cannot be overstated.”

Steve Capus, the president
of NBC News, said: “This is a loss for the entire nation. Everyone at NBC News
is in shock and absolutely devastated. He was our respected colleague, mentor
and dear friend. Words can not express our heartbreak.”

Jeff Immelt, the chairman
and CEO of General Electric, the parent company of NBC Universal, said:
“Everyone at GE and at NBC Universal is devastated by the loss of our colleague
and friend Tim Russert. Tim was a giant in journalism and a face and a voice
that America trusted. He earned that trust through hard work, love of his
profession and, above all, through his enduring honesty and integrity. And most
importantly, Tim was a wonderful human being who valued family and friends over
all. We will miss him greatly. My sincerest sympathies go out to Tim's family
and to the many people whose lives he touched.”

Brian Williams stated:
“Tim Russert is gone. He was a giant in our company, in our lives and in the
combined fields of journalism and politics. He was my friend for many years,
and my on-air partner during the most exciting political year in generations.
The members of Tim's NBC News family are thinking only of the members of Tim's
own family in the wake of this staggering, overpowering and sudden loss.”

Russert is survived by his
wife, the writer Maureen Orth, and son Luke.