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RESOLUTION ADOPTED IN HONOR OF TIM RUSSERT

Senate Resolution No. 6613


        MOURNING  the  untimely  death  of  journalist Tim
        Russert, a Buffalo native and renowned host of "Meet
        the Press"

  WHEREAS, It is the sense of  this  Legislative  Body  to  honor  the
memory  of cherished citizens of the State of New York who distinguished
themselves in their profession and whose talent, wit,  charm,  intellect
and unique personality permeated all they did; and

  WHEREAS,  It  is  with  great  sorrow  and  deep  regret  that  this
Legislative Body records the passing of Timothy  John  Russert  Jr.  who
died on Friday, June 13, 2008, in Washington, DC, at the age of 58; and

  WHEREAS, Regarded as one of the best political reporters in America,
Tim  Russert had a reputation for hard-hitting coverage that cut through
the spin  and  uncovered  the  truth;  he  was  one  of  America's  most
influential journalists working in Washington; and

  WHEREAS, As NBC's Senior Vice President and Washington Bureau Chief,
Tim  Russert helped shape the way today's news is reported and analyzed;
he was a fixture in American homes on Sunday mornings and especially  on
election nights; and

  WHEREAS,  As Managing Editor and Moderator of "Meet the Press" since
1991, he headed one of the most  popular  and  most  often  quoted  news
programs  on  the air; a political analyst for "Today," anchor of CNBC's
"The Tim Russert Show," and MSNBC contributing anchor,  he  brought  his
insight and intelligence to a global audience; and

  WHEREAS,  Tim  Russert's quick wit, warm humor and gregarious nature
shed an irreverent light on the Washington scene, even as  he  unraveled
its most intricate complexities; and

  WHEREAS,  A true child of Buffalo, New York, Tim Russert was born on
May 7, 1950; he  graduated  from  Canisius  High  School,  John  Carroll
University  and,  with  honors,  from Cleveland-Marshall College of Law;
furthermore, he was admitted to the bar in both the State  of  New  York
and the District of Columbia; and

  WHEREAS,  Before  joining  NBC,  Tim  Russert observed firsthand the
inner workings of the executive and legislative branches  of  government
as special counsel to United States Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan, and
counselor to New York State Governor Mario Cuomo; and

  WHEREAS,  Tim  Russert  chose  to  honor his father and write a book
about growing up in blue-collar Buffalo in the 1950s and 1960s; Big Russ
& Me, released May 10, 2004, tells not of Washington  insiders,  but  of
his  roots  and  the  lessons taught by his father and reinforced by his
neighborhood and his Jesuit teachers, who taught him not what to  think,
but how, lessons he passed on to his own son, Luke; and

  WHEREAS,  Tim  Russert loved his family, his faith, his country, and
politics; in addition to his son, Luke, he is  survived  by  his  loving
wife, Maureen Orth, his father, Tim Russert, and his three sisters; and

  WHEREAS,  Every  citizen  in  New York State and the Nation has most
certainly benefited, in one way or another, from  the  intelligence  and
insight that Tim Russert brought to his audience; and

  WHEREAS,  Named  by  Time  magazine  as  one  of  the  Top  100 most
influential people in the world for 2008, Tim Russert was the  recipient
of  numerous  professional  awards and honorary college degrees; he also
won an Emmy for his role in the coverage of  President  Ronald  Reagan's
funeral in 2004; and

  WHEREAS, This Legislative Body representing the people of this great
Empire  State  remembers  and  honors  Tim Russert's purposeful life and
distinguished career, and extends its sincere condolences to his family,
friends and colleagues; now, therefore, be it

  RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its  deliberations  to
mourn the untimely death of journalist Tim Russert, a Buffalo native and
renowned host of "Meet the Press"; and be it further

  RESOLVED,  That  a  copy  of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to the family of Tim Russert.


*ADOPTED UNANIMOUSLY BY THE NEW YORK STATE SENATE--JUNE 17, 2008

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