I liked Tim Russert.
Always have.
He was a lovable guy, a man from modest means and a good Catholic upbringing, a sports fan who never forsook his beloved Buffalo Bills however dismal their performance.
He also loved baseball and was a season ticket holder of the Washington Nationals.
He was a genuine human being, a trait difficult to find in the circles he traveled in Washington, D.
C.
His plump smiling Irish face was ever present during political commentary shows on NBC or its affiliates.
He was a pious man of faith, a dedicated family man, and a man of principle.
Tim loved politics - that was his life.
He was an enthusiast of the American political scene bringing a small town flair to his work.
While it was his occupation, you got the idea he would be doing it for nothing but the sheer excitement of it.
His coverage of the recent primary season, especially the Democratic primaries and the Obama - Clinton horse race, was the only real source I trusted due to his direct and forthright opinions on the issues and the candidates.
He never over did his analysis nor did he cringe from the unpopular truths.
When I watched him on TV's 'Meet The Press', I always paid rapt attention to not what he said, but to how he asked the question and then listened to the answer from his guest.
Tim was always polite and at the same time relentless, but always fair, in his pursuit of the truth - unlike the preponderance of other self - important talking heads on network or cable news today.
Tim was a throwback to the days of civility.
He set the bar high in broadcast standards and imbued and encouraged his cohorts and underlings to meet those standards.
He was simply the best of his kind in his time.
Tim Russert was the gold standard in political reporting and commentating.
Everyone wanted to be on his Sunday morning show although they were aware of the straight forward questioning they were in for when they agreed to appear.
He worked hard, did his homework, and asked the most appropriate questions on the current issues of the day.
You could never spin or filibuster Tim.
He wouldn't allow it.
In his own inimitable manner he would gently but firmly insist on a direct answer to his question while smiling the whole time.
However, he never was argumentative or hostile to his guests.
That was not his nature.
Ever.
Tim was the product of a middle class family home in South Buffalo, son of a sanitation worker who revered his father.
He penned a best selling book about his dad, 'Big Russ and Me', wherein he paid tribute to his dad for having imbued him with the values of faith, family, hard work, and patriotism.
He lived those values on a daily basis; he lived his life simply, passionately, and religiously no matter how high he had climbed on the latter of success.
He never forgot his roots.
His own family was his pride and joy, especially his close relationship with his son, Luke, who he proudly saw graduate from Boston College just recently.
He valued family and encouraged all who worked with him to never neglect theirs.
Tim Russert has left us at the far too young age of 58.
He will be missed by most all of us as a great man, a patriotic American, and one you could believe in.
He was no phony, stuffed shirt newsman.
Not Tim.
So much did he mean to his home town of Buffalo, New York that the mayor has ordered all flags to be flown at half staff - a gesture almost never accorded anyone not government affiliated.
I can't help but think that Tim would chuckle at that such was his humble sense of humor and love of life.
Rest in peace, Tim.
We'll miss you.