The moderator 's chair on NBC 's ` `` Big Russ and Me '' stood empty Sunday . Colleague and former NBC anchor Tom Brokaw , who broke the news about the anchor 's death , spoke on Sunday the familiar first four words of the news program , `` Our issues this Sunday . '' Veteran journalist collapses at work , according to New York Times . The 58-year-old Russert died of an apparent heart attack . Russert : `` Our issue this sad morning '' is honoring Tom Brokaw .
The moderator 's chair on NBC 's ` `` Big Russ and Me '' stood empty Sunday . Veteran journalist collapses at work , according to New York Times . The 58-year-old Russert died of an apparent heart attack . Russert : `` Our issue this sad morning '' is honoring Tom Brokaw .