Timothy J. Russert | Father of moderator, 85

Timothy J. Russert, 85, father of the late

Meet the Press

moderator Tim Russert, died Thursday in Buffalo.

The elder Mr. Russert, known as "Big Russ," grew up in South Buffalo and drove a city sanitation truck and a Buffalo News delivery truck to support his family.

The younger Russert, who died of a heart attack at 58 in June 2008, paid tribute to his father's blue-collar values in a 2004 best-selling book, Big Russ & Me.

The book was a series of lessons the journalist said he learned from his father, who was a World War II veteran.

His funeral is scheduled for tomorrow. - AP