Tim Russert with son Luke and wife Maureen Orth pose for a family photo on vacation in Rome in early June.
Posted on 06/24/2008 7:53:54 PM PDT by Dr. Scarpetta
Leaving their hotel room in Italy ahead of his wife and son to go back to Washington, D.C., so he could tape that Sunday's Meet the Press, Tim Russert was grabbed by his wife.
"I said to him, 'I want to give you a hug; maybe I'll never see you again,' " says journalist Maureen Orth, speaking publicly about her husband for the first time since his June 13 passing – the day after he left Italy. "I don't know why I said that to him. I just had a feeling."
Russert was under extra stress at the time of his death: covering this year's presidential election, flying to Buffalo to visit his widowed father, Tim Sr., 84, in an assisted living facility – which Orth calls "a huge psychological strain for him."
Then there were his three days in Europe, part of the graduation present for the Russerts' son, Luke. "It was very hot and humid in Rome," says Orth. "I was so tired. I told him, 'I don’t know how you do it.' "
Russert was especially energetic when it came to his son, 22. "When it came to Luke, there was no detail too small," says Betsy Fischer, executive producer of Meet the Press.
On the morning of the day he died, she recalled, Russert took a chunk of time off from work to go to his son's new apartment in D.C. and wait for the cable man. "He could have hired someone to do it, but that wasn't Tim."
"Family and faith," Russert's colleague and friend Tom Brokaw writes in his own words for PEOPLE, "were the foundations of his life."
Tim Russert with son Luke and wife Maureen Orth pose for a family photo on vacation in Rome in early June.
Lib or not, Mr. Russert was an icon and I liked the guy. And it sounds like he had a decent wife and family. Nice photo. Thanks for sharing.
How can I get her tell me I'm about to meet the woman of my dreams?
Tim Russert will always be remembered a a class act. A true and honest journalist and foremost a gentleman. Head and shoulders above his peers.
Blessings and God’s peace, which passes all understanding, to Maureen and Luke, and to Big Russ. For me, politics stops at eternity’s edge.
Rest in Peace Tim, you did Buffalo proud.
You’re welcome. I actually saw him speak once at a Catholic college, and he spoke about the necessity of finishing school and getting married before having children...
Wouldn’t that be nice...
That's exactly how he acted when I saw him speak at DeSales University...
As it should be...
Yes he did...
But his interview of President Bush in 2004 was a disgusting, partisan spectacle.
I think that Daniel Patrick Moynihan, for whom Russert worked, had a big influence on him. DPM was a sane Democrat.
Still feel very sorry for his son.
Good reminder never to part on a bad note. At least she got a goodbye of sorts and may that bring a little comfort to her.
a very good point...
He’s dead, Jim.
He read the news.
Let us rest in peace.
The damned TV newsies drove this into the ground for over a week, to the exclussion of all things not Obama; let’s let it, him, and us rest, now that he is buried.
It isn’t like he was anyone important to the nation.
Steve Malzberg spoke of this on his radio show WOR710 out of NYC last week. He felt that it sounded strange and I agree. After death we all want to put the best light on the situation.
Dittos and amen.
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