Remembering Tim Russert

The Gesu School community grieves the loss of political analyst and journalist Tim Russert, who died suddenly on June 13, 2008. Mr. Russert served the school as a Trustee for many years, later continuing his involvement as an Advisory Trustee. As the moderator of the school’s first Annual Symposium on Inner-City Education in 1997, he set the tone for the symposium’s serious examination of tough issues in inner-city education, a tradition which has continued for 11 years. Gesu School awarded Mr. Russert an honorary degree in 2005 to complement his extensive collection of honorary degrees from Jesuit universities.

In October 2007, Mr. Russert received the Magis Spirit Award from the Jesuits of the Philadelphia-Camden Area, in honor of his exemplary contributions to the Jesuits’ ministries, including Gesu School. Prior to the award’s presentation, Mr. Russert addressed Gesu’s 8th grade students, displaying his typically warm and humble demeanor. Mr. Russert shared the importance of his Catholic education with the 8th graders, saying, “What did they teach me at St. Bonaventure School? What do they teach you at Gesu? You learn how to read. You learn how to write. And you learn right from wrong. That’s the secret of life. That’s the secret of life.”  

“How can I possibly deal with this sudden departure of a loved one? Celebrate the time, the moments you have. And acknowledge those and accept those for what they are.” –Tim Russert, October 22, 2007

Click here to view the entire transcript of Mr. Russert’s conversation with Gesu’s 8th grade.