Beyond being this country's premier journalist and Sunday morning moderator of NBC's Meet the Press, Tim Russert was a son and a dad. His book, "Big Russ and Me" told of the life lessons he learned from his dad, a WWII veteran and sanitation worker from Buffalo, NY. Tim considered his greatest role to be father to his son Luke, and cherished his opportunity to teach his own father's values to his son.

Tim was a "genuine" guy, a blue-collar, Irish Catholic son of Buffalo, a Bills fan whose favorite band was Bruce Springsteen's. He was a brilliant yet fair journalist who was always tough and always asked the hard questions. He held accountable, the movers and shakers of this nation - every Sunday morning.

Tim died at 58 of a heart attack yesterday, Friday June 13th, while taping Sunday's show. My guess is, the show would have included an homage to fathers and sons everywhere, the job he considered his own 'reason for being'.

The media has lost the keystone of any sense of integrity it may have had. I, and every Meet the Press fan as well as all seekers of the truth, will miss him - I can't imagine politics, journalism, and the upcoming months of the presidential campaign without him.

Rest in Peace, Tim. You have redefined the standard of political journalism in America. Most of all, you have reminded us to cherish the roles and the pride, of fathers and sons.