A Personal Reflection
On Friday, June 13, 2008, Tim Russert (’76), one of our law school’s most distinguished graduates, died suddenly.
Tim was a good friend of his law alma mater. He served on the law school’s National Advisory Council and, for many years, he had served as co-chair of our annual fund campaign.
Tim also returned to our campus frequently. He last visited in February 2008, when he moderated the Democratic presidential debate at the Wolstein Center.
In May 2007, Tim served as our law school’s commencement speaker. He also received an honorary degree from the University during the ceremony.
I remember his commencement address very well. Tim told our graduates and their families about the importance of hard work and thorough preparation. He credited those attributes, as well as the analytical skills he obtained as a student at our law school, with contributing significantly to his success as a journalist.
During his commencement speech, Tim also emphasized the importance of other, transcendent values, such as the importance of humility and integrity. Moreover, he urged our graduating students to cherish family and friends, for they give real meaning to our lives.
I have another memory from that day – a memory that embodies Tim’s message. Prior to the ceremony, we had a luncheon for faculty and some special guests. One of those special guests was my son, Geoffrey, who was nine years old at the time. I remember clearly and very fondly that Tim spent several minutes speaking to my son about sports. My son is an avid sports fan, and Tim listened with genuine interest as my son spoke about his favorite players and his favorite teams. I am not sure that Geoffrey fully appreciated at that time the attention he was receiving from a very special person, but I did – and still do.
Tim was a role model for our students and his fellow graduates. He personified the goals that we have for all of our students – that they will become lawyers and leaders, and that they will fulfill their professional obligation and moral duty to serve their communities.
Tim has also inspired me to be a better son, husband, father and friend.
Tim Russert will be missed. May we all honor his memory by living life with honor, integrity, and compassion.
And may our thoughts and prayers be with his wife, Maureen, their son, Luke, and their family.
Geoffrey Mearns