Tim Russert Memorial

A memorial for the late TV journalist Tim Russert—featuring friends, family, fellow journalists, and some of the most eminent politicians of the past 20 years—was held at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. on June 18, 2008.

Earlier in the day, a funeral service was held at Holy Trinity Church in Washington D.C.'s Georgetown neighborhood. Opposing presidential candidates Barack Obama and John McCain sat next to each other, at the request of Russert's family.¹

Fast Facts

1. Funeral and memorial service held Wednesday, June 18, 2008
2. Russert died of heart attack, previous Friday
3. Memorial service held at the Kennedy Center
4. Entrance music from Russert's iPod¹
5. Memorial broadcast live on MSNBC
6. Included performance from Bruce Springsteen

Eulogies

The following are brief excerpts from speeches made at the memorial:

• "For the longest time I thought that Tim's full name was 'Washington-bureau-chief-and- moderator-of-Meet-the-Press-Tim-Russert.'"
• —Brian Williams²

• "He regarded a day spent without real enthusiasm as a sadly lost opportunity. ... We have lost the benefit of Tim's political wisdom at a time when we need it most."
• —Mario Cuomo²

• "You're in heaven now, Tim, where every day is Meet the Press. Welcome home."
• —Sister Lucille Socciarelli²

• "He was a boy of summer. He met his wife on a summer day. His son was born in summer. And so it is that we blow him a kiss goodbye on a soft summer evening, this sweetheart of a man who always left us smiling."
• —Mike Barnicle²

• "Well, my dad was a force of nature, and now his own cycle in nature is complete, but his spirit lives on in everybody who loves their country, loves their faith and loves those Buffalo Bills. I love you, Dad."
• —Luke Russert³

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