by Andrew Zajac
Tim Russert was journalistic royalty in Washington, and in that sense he was very much a part of the capital's establishment.
But Russert also was an outsider or at least an outlier. In a town where the front ranks of journalism and politics are dominated by graduates of the Ivy League and other elite schools, Russert's academic pedigree was comparatively modest.
He was an undergrad at John Carroll University, a small Jesuit school in suburban Cleveland, and he earned a law degree at Cleveland State University.
(Before Russert, Carroll's best-known alum probably was Super Bowl winning football coach Don Shula. )
The Buffalo-bred Russert, who died Friday at 58, was proud of his working class roots and was notably loyal to his alma maters, both of which are remembering him warmly this weekend.
John Carroll president Fr. Robert Niehoff S.J. said while Russert was a dominant force in journalism, he also was a beloved alum who exemplified the Jesuit Catholic mission of living for others.
CSU president Michael Schwartz noted that Russert was quick to credit his education, including his law school training, for his success
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Comments
HE’S GONE TO MEET THE PRESS
Sadly, we have lost another one
Those folks who changed our lives
He was the one, who we all knew
From, Sunday morning, news archives.
He was one of those special men
Who, all Dads should strive to be
And a Son, who loved his Dad
The most important, his Family.
He never forgot his hometown
And the Bills, number one fan
He’d have a beer with the boys
Just, one of them, a common Man.
He gone up to that Press Corps
To join all those passed before
He left a mark here on this Earth
That, will surely last forevermore.
I heard, “He walked with the Kings
But kept, the common touch.”
And we all are going to miss that
Yes, he will be missed, very much.
Del “Abe” Jones
06.15.2006
abeabe@bellsouth.net
Posted by: Del "Abe" Jones | June 15, 2008 10:00 AM