 Tim Russert at Boston College's Church in the 21st Century initiative in 2003
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The Boston College community has seen its list of high profile guests make a stop on campus, but none possessed a presence as persistent and simultaneously down-to-earth as legendary newsman and NBC News Washington bureau chief Tim Russert.
His passing comes only a few weeks after his last visit to campus, when his son Luke, BC '08, graduated.
Vice President and Special Assistant to the President Rev. William Neenan, S.J., recalled a conversation he had with Russert during a reception at the Jesuit's Roberts House on campus that same day.
"He assured us that even though Luke was graduating, he would stay continuously involved in the life of BC," Neenan said.
The Rev. Donald MacMillian, S.J., had a similar conversation with Russert before the graduation ceremonies began.
"'I'll be back, I'll be here,' [Russert] assured me," MacMillian said.
A man's faith
Russert's relationship with the University began back in 2003, before Luke had even applied to BC, when he agreed to moderate a Church in the 21st Century (C21) panel discussion, "Toward Renewal: What have we learned? Where are we going?" Russert helped the C21 initiative, which was developed by the University in response to the sexual abuse crisis in the Catholic Church, yet again in 2007, moderating a debate on faith and politics between U.S. Senators Sam Brownback and Chris Dodd.
"I think he saw BC as a particular kind of forum for raising the kind of debate that would not have happened elsewhere - specifically the relationship between faith and politics," said Tim Muldoon, who acted as the director of C21 from its inauguration until last year.
Russert's devotion to his faith was apparent on campus through to his close relationship with the Jesuits at BC. According to Muldoon, Russert even brought Sr. Lucille Socciarelli - the now-famous nun who gave the praised political analyst his first break in the media business by making him editor of his school paper - to BC more than once to meet the priests and brothers of the University.
"He exemplified in a marvelous way Ignatius Loyola's mission to find God in all things and people," Neenan said.
"The spirit of questioning, of seeking truth, of holding each other accountable, of giving, of reaching out to anyone in need … all that comes from the gospel, and I think Tim really embraced that," MacMillian said. "The way he did his interviews - his relentlessness in pursuing the truth. And the way he dealt with people. He was able to do all that because of the deep sense of love he experienced from his parents and God."
"He will be remembered as a person who embodied all that we as a Jesuit Catholic university hold dear - faith, integrity, loyalty, intelligence and compassion," said University Spokesman Jack Dunn.
Like father, like son
And while faith was one of the main threads in the fabric of Russert's life, it was his role as a father that truly motivated his involvement within the BC community.
"To explain my bond with my father is utterly impossible to put into words," said Luke in his father's eulogy. "[If] close twins are said to have telepathy, then my father and I probably had telepathy-lite. He could sense when I was unsure or anxious about something just from hearing my voice. He could immediately tell if I was sick, and he knew when I was elated."
This close bond was most visibly seen at BC every time Russert would make a stop in Eagles territory to enjoy either a football or basketball game, both sports he had season tickets to, with his son Luke.
"Being the devoted father that he was, he'd fly up from Washington, D.C., to have dinner with his son and attend a basketball game knowing he had to be back at NBC at 7 the next morning," recalled Dunn.
"Boston College was a special place for my father. Whether it was a tailgate at Shea, a game at Conte or simply a walk around Gasson, he truly loved BC," said Luke in an e-mail.
Even when he wasn't seen on campus tailgating, Russert made his BC pride known, often making special shout-outs to the Eagles at the end of his broadcasts.
Reaching down to lift up another
The Russerts' love for BC sports was even canonized in what many within the BC community would call the best episode of "Meet the Press" ever filmed - although technically a spin-off of the national television show Russert was most known for hosting every Sunday and filmed by student filmmakers back in 2005.
"Meet the Full Court Press" as it was appropriately renamed, featured Russert and his son in their gallant quest for tickets to a sold-out BC Eagles basketball game. MacMillan guest starred in the comedic short with the Russerts, noting the chance to see Russert interact with the BC students in such an unassuming and friendly manner as one of his fondest memories of the broadcaster.
"In a very mature way, he was having his college experience all over again," MacMillan said.
Michael Keith, communications professor and one of Luke's favorites at BC, was given a similar impression of Russert when he dropped everything to act as a guest teacher for his Broadcast Century Issues class in the fall of 2006.
"He was so pleased to be talking with students and sharing his experiences in broadcasting. There he was in this classroom with 22 students having the time of his life - that's really a unique thing to find joy in what many people would see as more of an obligation," Keith said.
It was a unique opportunity for the students of the classroom as well, seeing a broadcast legend, the kind they had been reading about all semester, in the flesh.
"He ranks up there with the greats of the broadcast generation - the Edward R. Murrows and the Walter Cronkites, which is saying a lot, but like them, he also possessed the ability to communicate in a way that educated and engaged the audience," said Keith.
Nevertheless, Russert will always be remembered on campus not as an untouchable legend or icon, but as a friendly face, a caring father, and a humble man.
"I came across him one day on the steps of Gasson Hall," MacMillian said. "'Mr. Russert, it's not everyday a college campus has the moderator of 'Meet the Press' sitting on its steps,' I said to him. 'For the last time, it's Tim,' was what he answered back."
Spring Break
