Just two months after leaving Penn State, Joe Paterno has died, according to his family.
Yesterday, CBS news reported that Paterno had died, but a family spokesperson denied that, and even sent a tweet to clarify: "Dad is alive but in serious condition. We continue to ask for your prayers and privacy during this time."
Then this morning, in a text message, his family said the famed Nittany Lions coach has died:
"It is with great sadness that we announce that Joe Paterno passed away earlier today. His loss leaves a void in our lives that will never be filled. ..."
Paterno's bad health was reported in mid November, shortly after being released from his duties as coach of the Nittany Lions in the aftermath of the arrest of Jerry Sandusky, a longtime Paterno assistant coach who now faces 50 counts of sexual abuse against children.
In the end, it would be difficul to sum up the impact Joe Pa had, but in their message, Paterno's family said making an impact was his mission:
"As the last 61 years have shown, Joe made an incredible impact. That impact has been felt and appreciated by our family in the form of thousands of letters and well wishes along with countless acts of kindness from people whose lives he touched. It is evident also in the thousands of successful student athletes who have gone on to multiply that impact as they spread out across the country.
And so he leaves us with a peaceful mind, comforted by his "living legacy" of five kids, 17 grandchildren, and hundreds of young men whose lives he changed in more ways than can begin to be counted."
BucsLehboy
11:04 am on Sunday, January 22, 2012
Rest in peace Joe Pa. No liberal media in heaven. He will be remembered for his good works by family, friends, players and fans.
eileen hirschhorn
11:22 am on Sunday, January 22, 2012
Very sad- he was treated so badly by the PennState trustees! they should be ashamed of themselves! what lesson about due process did they show the student body???
careless fills
8:45 pm on Sunday, January 22, 2012
Actually, a very good one. He was not fired. He was only relieved of his duties and paid until his contract ran out.
matt
1:05 pm on Sunday, January 22, 2012
his conscience killed him.
Robert Sentner
4:59 pm on Sunday, January 22, 2012
Matt horrible for you to say that, and if you really did graduate from PSU, you for one should know all the positive things he has done for so many people, families, and organizations, I honestly believe along with many others that if it wouldn't have been for Joepa you would have gone to a much different college. Joepa helped build PSU and we all owe him a huge thanks. Rest in peace Joepa not all of us feel the same way Matt does.
matt
9:40 am on Monday, January 23, 2012
Paterno WAS penn state university. i would argue he had even more power than the campus police. to report a horrible act, and by all accounts, do nothing to follow up on it is weak. very weak. look, everyone knows that Sandusky is the real monster in this case. but for the all powerful paterno not to follow up on this and actually allow Sandusky back on campus after these crimes were committed is shameful. and yes mr sentner, i did graduate from psu, but i'm not drinking the paterno kool aid!!!
John G. Lewis
7:14 am on Monday, January 23, 2012
Too bad he has to pass away, like that; that is, after being fired. May have been an overreaction on the part of University officials.
WILFREDO G. SALCEDO, Sr.
7:21 am on Monday, January 23, 2012
Any way one looks at it, this man is as classy as it gets...He did what he thought was the proper way to take care of the problem...He told responsible people, who in turn did not go to the police...Yes, ignorance of the law is no excuse, but not everyone knows all the intricacies of the laws in the books...I believe, this man's conscience is clear...He died of cancer...Requiescat in pace, good sir.
John G. Lewis
8:11 am on Monday, January 23, 2012
I think this is a fair comment. And he was fired. - JGL
An interested bystander
8:58 am on Monday, January 23, 2012
Until all the facts come out, we don't know what he did, didn't do, know, not know, etc. I hope he did the right thing but what I've heard so far is damning, but I am waiting to see what the truth is before reaching conclusions.
Funny thing though, he was fired but continued to collect his paycheck right up until he passed away. If that's firing, I'd like to get fired too.
toni ingram
7:30 pm on Monday, January 23, 2012
My sympathy goes out to his family and friends but more so to the boys he did nothing to protect. He should have gone directly to the State Police and reported what he was told. He knew what should have been done and he did not do it. I agree with Matt. All those who knew what was going on and did nothing more than pass the buck are equally guilty.
Brunell
3:54 pm on Thursday, January 26, 2012
Those of you who are so negative, I am glad you all are so perfect. Joe came from an era that you reported to you superiors, kept your head down, and trusted that the ones above you made the right choices. Not so today. I just hope that I am as perfect as Joe. He touched so many. He gave himself to the school, and the kids. He gave back more than he took! Watch the Utube videos, he coaches 3rd string quarterbacks that may never see a second of play like they were the star. Listen to the athletes that went on to professional football speak about him. Anyone who is in a position where they are responsible for more than just themselves realizes how this could have happened. I know in my personal life, there were many decisions I made, that in retrospect, "Monday morning quarterbacking" i would have done completely different. I would venture to guess, if you wrapped up all the people that visited this page, combined our sum total of positive effect, it wouldn't equal what this man has accomplished. We may never know the truth. The media has a way of re-writing history. Rest in peace Joe, you will be missed!
matt
11:46 am on Friday, January 27, 2012
i'm sure if one of those little kids getting raped was one of his grandchildren he would have handled things the same way. i agree that he was a good coach and did alot for the university, but his legacy will be stained. as it should be.
Southern Lehigh Mom
3:31 pm on Friday, January 27, 2012
Paterno was a great coach. He touched many. He did a lot of great things. And now he's dead. RIP. But, I couldn't have stated the problem any better than you did Brunell: "Joe came from an era that you reported to you superiors, kept your head down, and trusted that the ones above you made the right choices." THAT'S THE PROBLEM! In THIS ERA people know YOU CAN'T always count on others to do what they should do -- YOU HAVE TO FOLLOW UP!! In particular where CRIMES MAY BE OCCURING! By not following up, Paterno contributed to the situation in which KIDS WERE BEING MOLESTED AND RAPED! Paterno should have retired/been forced to retire 15 or 20 years ago to make room for someone FROM THIS ERA who would have known enough to NOT trust that the ones above him would do the right thing! College coaches IN THIS ERA are expected to monitor and control the behavior of their players, much less their staff! Coaches IN THIS ERA have been fired for the OFF-SEASON misbehavior of their players! Like I said, he was a great coach. He touched many. He did a lot of great things. But he also failed to protect innocent children when he was in a position to do so. RIP Joe Paterno. It won't be easy... but RIP.
capnwickie
1:06 pm on Friday, January 27, 2012
give it a rest Matt...he's gone..many others had a higher responsibility to do something ( like the trustees) and didn't...dead men can't defend themselves..
Brunell
1:18 pm on Friday, January 27, 2012
Matt, it seems you missed the point. You act as it were Joe committing the acts! Please, quit the nonsense. I too am upset at the events that occurred on and around the campus. Put the blame where it belongs. Once again we let the politicians (trustees) get off scott free! They sit back and let people like you do their dirty work. Joes dedication and positive impact has spanned decades. It is very well documented. No hiding, No running away......Who here can put their record against that.....