There are many ways to measure a person. A human being can be distilled to the physical measure - height, weight, girth - or they can be expressed intangibly as a series of superlatives - nicest, best, most generous. In life, these measures are often used to gain favor or do harm. It’s only after a person passes when people give the most accurate measure of them through their actions as much as their words.
The sudden passing of Tim Russert shocked everyone, viewer and colleague alike. Russert was one of the rare individuals who elevated journalism above the mean. Today, when headlines are driven by whether they’ll generate ad revenue rather then their newsworthiness, Russert managed to hold the line against the bottom line. This earned him an inconspicuous spot on Sunday morning talk shows and rare prime time appearances as debate moderator or special commentator, but it also allowed Russert to keep his integrity. And while he wasn’t everyone’s favorite host - who really is? - he was definately the cream of the crop in modern journalism. It may be decades before we see his ilk again.
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