A clearly emotional Tom Brokaw spoke those words Friday afternoon. Our world, and the world of journalism, is poorer without Tim Russert in it.

Brokaw said, in part: “Tim loved his family, his faith, his country, politics, the Buffalo Bills, the New York Yankees, and the Washington Nationals.”

There is a cruel irony in Tim Russert passing over Father’s Day weekend. He wrote two bestselling books about fathers and sons. And now his own father, in his 80’s, has to bury his son at the very young age of 58.

My prayers are with all the Russerts during this terrible time.

For the curious, there’s also an excellent glimpse at Russert the Catholic at the Catholic News Service. And the Anchoress has a lovely appreciation of him, as well.