Tony Snow

1955-2008

I heard today that Tony Snow, former Fox News commentator and former Press Secretary to President Bush, passed away today from colon cancer. He was 53.

I was so sorry to hear of his death. Of course, I never met him, although I would have loved to have made his acquaintance. Listening to him on his radio show, and on Fox, I couldn't help but think he was exactly what you saw. No pretences. A gentleman. He seemed to be the kind of person you wanted to know, to be friends with. Someone you felt was a friend, even when you had never met.

Greta van Sustern said that she could not recall hearing him ever saying anything bad about another person, something she admitted couldn't be done about herself. He was loved by everyone who knew him and didn't have a mean bone in his body. How many of us can that be said about?

When I heard several months ago that he had a bad report on his medical condition, I knew that the cancer had returned. I just knew then that it was a matter of time. Fox has been showing clips of Tony, before and after the cancer was diagnosed. What surprised me was that he looked good even in the last clips shown. He knew he wasn't going to beat the cancer and that he was dying. Makeup? To a certain extent, maybe. I think it was his attitude; it was just so good that his love of, and enthusiasm for, life showed through his eyes and in his smile.

Tim Russert only a few weeks ago; Tony Snow today. Both men that most people couldn't say enough good about.

Will cable news ever see the like again?