EDITOR’S NOTEBOOK
By Ruth Luse, Managing Editor
I don’t’ know, of course, how many members of the Hopewell Valley Central High School Class of 2008, which graduates this evening, took time out Sunday mornings over the past few years to watch NBC’s “Meet the Press” or had the opportunity to see NBC’s coverage of the 2004 presidential election, and, more recently, the seemingly never-ending story of the 2008 Democratic primary elections.
Those who did saw and learned from one of the very finest, inspired and dynamic journalists of our time. Timothy John Russert, who was only 58 years old when he died Friday, definitely was the kind of individual who could serve as a positive role model for young people about to take their first big steps into the future.
Born in Buffalo, N.Y., to Elizabeth (a homemaker) and Timothy Joseph Russert (a sanitation worker and newspaper truck driver), he went on to graduate from college and from law school. Between then and 1984, when he joined the NBC Washington Bureau, he was involved in New York politics. In 1988, he became Washington Bureau chief and later, senior vice president of NBC News.
In 1991, he took over “Meet the Press.”
Over and over again, during the days since Mr. Russert’s untimely death, I heard his colleagues — including one of my favorites, former NBC anchor Tom Brokaw, who took Mr. Russert’s place Sunday morning — talk about his work ethic, his devotion to research, his deep religious faith, his wonderful wit, his love of people, his fairness and integrity, and his unmatched understanding of politics. He was, in their view, and humbly mine, one of the best, if not the very best, at what he did — a pinnacle few of us will reach, but would do well to try.
I cannot imagine watching the coverage of the 2008 November election without Tim Russert. I, and many others throughout the nation, I am sure, will miss his Election Day marker board predictions — like “Florida, Florida, Florida” in 2000 and “Ohio, Ohio, Ohio” in 2004. These were the states he said would be the battlegrounds in these elections. He was correct.
If there is one big lesson both young people and old should learn from Mr. Russert’s death is how very short life can be and how very important it is to live each day as it were the last. By most standards, Mr. Russert should have been around to educate and enlighten us all for many more years. But that was not to be. One of his colleagues said that at least he had the chance to do what he loved best in life and he proudly saw his son, Luke, graduate from Boston College. How fortunate for his family that they had a man like him at the center. How much his exuberance and example must have energized and inspired them.
To the members of HoVal’s Class of 2008, I have just this to say: Be the best you can be. This, I think, should ensure your best chance at happiness and true success in life.
Try being a little like Tim Russert.