Christine_Devine's Blog

No doubt... America has lost a news great.
Tim Russert... national journalist, host, accomplished author, seasoned political expert, lawyer, loving husband, father, devoted son... and the most moving to me... a Buffalo, New York native.   As a fellow Buffalo native, Tim Russert  had a special place in my heart.  

While I never knew him... Tim seemed among Buffalo's best.  Frankly... I don't hear many bragging about Buffalo... and when he would it brought a pang of nostalgia.   My mom moved us to Arizona when I was two years old but visiting grandma and grandpa in Buffalo was the highlight of my ENTIRE life.   Tim's love for the Buffalo Bills matched my grandmother's.  Both were DIE-HARD fans.  Grandma never missed a game and could talk football with the best.   And as a little girl in Arizona, I'd posted Buffalo Bills banners on my bedroom wall.  I loved my Buffalo Bills t-shirt... even though snowy Buffalo was a complete contrast to the scorching Arizona desert.  I felt special, unique.   When Russert would talk about Buffalo I would feel close to home.   My grandparents lived in a farming community outside of Buffalo.  To this day there is still a volunteer fire department.   A street is named after the family(Seufert).. it's just to the left of the long-time hot dog stand in the town of North Boston that only opened for the summer.   Russert's love and care for his dad represented the love I had for my grandparents.  His talk of family was my fantasy of Buffalo.

With Russert's sudden, stunning passing... my prayers go out to his wife, son and father.   Father's Day will take on new meaning for this family.   May time heal the heartbreak and loss and replace it with fond memories and a lasting legacy.   I lost my own father in a sudden, stunning way... an accident.   While Tim had authored books on his family and father... I had once written my father a letter thanking him for a good life.(he had married my mother, and adopted me when I was 2 or 3).    On this Father's Day, I encourage you all to take a moment to say thank you to a father or father-like figure who's shaped your life.  Tim Russert's sudden passing is a reminder that we won't always have that chance.

Sunday mornings without Tim Russert won't be the same.  I channel flip the news shows Sunday morning.  Always making sure I saw some of "Meet the Press."   Tim... thank you for being a great role model as a journalist, father, husband and son...  and of course, hometown hero.  GO BILLS!