NBC Senior Vice President and Washington Bureau Chief Tim Russert died on June 13, 2008. Russert was the managing editor and host of Meet the Press and served as a political analyst for several NBC programs including NBC Nightly News and The Today Show. He apparently suffered from a sudden heart attack.CNN.com: Newsman Tim Russert Dies at 58 (June 13, 2008)

A private funeral for Russert was set for Wednesday, June 18, 2008, followed by an invitation-only memorial service at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.. EST.The Associated Press: Hundreds Join President in Mourning Russert (June 17, 2008)

A public wake for Russert was held on Tuesday, June 17, 2008, at St. Albans School in Washington, D.C.. President Bush was among the hundreds who turned out to pay their respects.The Associated Press: Hundreds Join President in Mourning Russert (June 17, 2008)

"It is my sad duty to report this afternoon that my friend and colleague Tim Russert ... collapsed and died while at work in at the NBC news bureau in Washington, D.C. ... This news division will not be the same without his strong, clear voice." Tom Brokaw, NBCMSNBC.com: NBC's Tim Russert Dies (June 13, 2008)

"He was an institution in both news and politics for more than two decades. Tim was a tough and hardworking newsman. He was always well-informed and thorough in his interviews. And he was as gregarious off the set as he was prepared on it."—President George BushTVNewser: Death of Tim Russert: President Bush Statement (June 13, 2008)

Russert's death has been attributed to a heart attack. His doctors say Russert was being treated for coronary artery disease, though he was not symptomatic and had no chest pain. Russert's cardiologist, Dr. George Bren, said an autopsy found "significant blockages" in several of Russert's coronary arteries.The New York Times: A Search for Answers in Russert's Death (June 17, 2008)

In July of 2008, President George W. Bush signed a bill to rename a section of Highway 20A in Orchard Park, New York Timothy J. Russert Highway. Area residents have also created a petition to rename the Buffalo-Niagara International Airport after Russert.The Buffalo News: It's official: Road near stadium becomes Tim Russert Highway (July 23, 2008)