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In America, very few men and women are considered to be "trusted" by an entire populace. But the fact that the moniker "the most trusted man in America" fell upon a TV newsman is no accident. That man was Walter Cronkite, and we're fortunate to still benefit from his wisdom today. Sadly, we cannot say the same for one of the true heirs to his legacy.

Tim Russert passed away today from a heart attack. He was 58. (Angels don't stay long, do they?) And two days before Father's Day.

I've only known Russert as two things: the longest-tenured moderator of the longest-running TV news program in American history, Meet the Press, a show I watched religiously; and as the most famous Buffalo Bills fan anyone knew. (He also was an alumnus of the university I grew up down the street from, John Carroll.) As both, he inspired me to value the art of interviewing - both in his good and less-than-artful moments - and to remain true to my roots. But regardless what person sat across from him at that iconic table, the nation listened with rapt attention.

I'm not in the business of lionizing men after they've died, filling their legacies with flowery words of praise. But what can you be expected to do when you held a man in such high regard while he was here?

An excerpt from his final interview, conducted today:

I remember being in Indianapolis covering the Indiana primary and a man came up to me and said he wasn’t going to vote for Senator Obama because he was very concerned about the comments made by Jeremiah Wright, Obama’s pastor. I said, “That’s interesting. As a reporter, I’m curious what comments particularly bothered you?”

He said, “Well, I can’t think of any that come to mind, but I also read on the Internet that he’s a Muslim.” And I said, “Now wait a minute. You can’t have both. You can’t be offended by his Christian minister and then say he’s a Muslim. You’ve got to pick one.”

That's what American journalism will miss. A desire to understand paired with an unwillingness to let blatant ignorance pass unquestioned. And his influence went well beyond Sundays:

But whatever slim hopes Clinton had for an improbable comeback died with the disappointing results in the last two big primaries of the campaign -- a narrower-than-hoped-for victory in Indiana and a double-digit loss in North Carolina -- and the commentary that accompanied them. When NBC's Tim Russert flatly declared the Democratic race over around midnight, one adviser recalled, "the air came out of the room."

Tonight, the air is out of Washington, a town that tempts everyone who works in its principal industry to succumb to their demons. A town that couldn't break Tim Russert, a deeply faithful man who came to embody what was best about our politics and the journalists that brought it to the American people.

Mr. Russert, good night, and good luck. May your celestial influence bring your Bills a title soon.

(P.S. God works in His way. While watching MSNBC's live coverage online, my dad called me to let me know that how touched he was by the Father's Day card he received from me today.

Readers, I implore you: if you still can, call your father. Tell him you love him.)