Joe Paterno in Serious Condition, Family Says
Email
The health of Joe Paterno, whose glittering career as Penn State’s football coach was tainted by a child sex abuse scandal, has taken a turn for the worse and he is in serious condition, according to the family spokesman.
Paterno’s wife, Suzanne Paterno, summoned close friends and longtime staff members Saturday afternoon to the State College hospital where Paterno has been undergoing treatments since last weekend, a source told the Citizen’s Voice newspaper of Wilkes-Barre, Pa.
Paterno wanted to see them and say a final goodbye, the coach’s wife told one of the staff members, the source said.
After the report, Paterno family’s spokesman Dan McGinn released a statement saying: “Over the last few days Joe Paterno has experienced further health complications. His doctors have now characterized his status as serious. His family will have no comment on the situation and asks that their privacy be respected during this difficult time.”
Shortly after his dismissal from Penn State on Nov. 9, 2011, Paterno was diagnosed with lung cancer and broke his hip.
Chemotherapy treatments have weakened Paterno, robbing him of his hair and his once-booming voice.
In a recent interview with the Washington Post, he appeared frail, wearing a wig and speaking in a whisper. He canceled public appearances following the interview because of his failing health, according to family members.
RSS
Twitter
Facebook
What a sad ending to an inspirational man. May he go peacefully, yet respected at Penn State, and nationally.
Posted by: Jeff Imparato | January 21, 2012, 7:32 pm 7:32 pm
So very sorry to hear this news. Peace be with Joe and his family and friends during this tumultuous time. Joe is and will always be a Penn State and college football legend!!!
Posted by: Sam I Am a BIG Penn State Fan | January 21, 2012, 7:47 pm 7:47 pm
This is so absolutely tragic and sad for this great leader and inspiration to all student-athletes. Say what you want but our beloved Joepa will ALWAYS be Penn State and Penn State Football. YES, he is our beloved football “god” and always will be. Every Saturday in the fall when the sky is bright blue and painted with those light wispy clouds, we’ll close our eyes and year the faint sounds of our Blue Band playing Fight On State, we will always see those rolled up pants, those black glasses and hear your voice in our hearts. Critics be damned (PSU Board of Trustees included!). Joepa, no matter who is head coach and who succeeds you time and time again, NO ONE will ever replace you. Hail to your Lions, loyal and true… with luv and respect always… peace to you our dear Joepa!
Posted by: Luv Ya Joepa! | January 21, 2012, 8:00 pm 8:00 pm
To LUV YA JOEPA! — perfectly said.
Posted by: Christy | January 21, 2012, 8:38 pm 8:38 pm
My Nephew was the Penn State Nitany Lion from 1992-1995 and I went to blue white dinner and the way JOEPA walk in to the dinner was like a rock star at a concert. This wasn’t all his fault but I am sure it took its toll on him. My GOD Bless him and forgive him like he has forgave our faults. May the new coach have half the success as Mr. Paterno did.
Posted by: Thomas | January 21, 2012, 8:44 pm 8:44 pm
I’ll never respect him. I have issues with men that look the other way when they find out other men are harming children. Some of you need to get your priorities straight. One is a game. The other is children.
Posted by: lexingtonladyl | January 21, 2012, 9:12 pm 9:12 pm
Joe never should have been fired. He should have retired in grace and peace. May God bless the Paterno family during this very difficult and sad time. Go in peace and grace Joepa!
Posted by: Martimouse123 | January 21, 2012, 9:12 pm 9:12 pm
You people are pathetic for worshiping a man who protected a child molester for the sake of football. I don’t care how great of a coach he was…there is no excuse for his actions.
Posted by: Bob | January 21, 2012, 9:22 pm 9:22 pm
An honorable man destroyed, and the Board of Trustees lives on. Just one of life’s injustices. But in the end God will embrace Joepa and his family, not those that have caused or added to this demise. After all, He passes final judgement on all. Peace Joepa, and know that no one is blind to your goodness and your years of dedication to Penn State and those around you. You are, and always have been a kind and gentle soul. May you have no further suffering. Love you Joepa!!
Posted by: Max | January 21, 2012, 9:24 pm 9:24 pm
I am in complete and utter shock at some of my peers’ comments. How could any self-respecting human being praise this man and his legend? How can anyone even faintly respect this man? Shame on you!
“Joe-Pa”, as many of you fans call him, deserves no more attention than a convicted child molester. It really taints my general level of respect for the entire Penn State University and all of the students that continue to praise and cherish him. Please consider all of the mental anguish and physical torture this man has caused to so many young men during their adolescence. Mr. Paterno turned a blind eye and did NOTHING – I certainly do not believe in a higher power; however, this sure seems like Karma to me.
Stop cheering this man! He was a Football coach. Americans should seriously rethink their attitudes in regards to higher education and a fine institution like Penn State; this man has tarnished the entire University. He should be ostracized for his actions. Everybody, please keep in mind… he was not a scholar; he was not a self-respecting teacher; he was a simple coach of a game! He deserves not even a single grain of respect.
Posted by: Tim | January 21, 2012, 9:33 pm 9:33 pm
Who cares. We all die.
Posted by: AJLee | January 21, 2012, 9:54 pm 9:54 pm
It’s unfortunate that in a moment where one is saying good bye to friends, family and relatives, so many find that hiding behind a computer and trashing a person they never knew is acceptable. Regardless of how one might perceive the actions that took place at Penn State, none commenting on this board where there, none knew the situation, and few still know the true activities that actually took place. Your rage comes from fragmented media gibberish rather than true facts. Spewing rage at Joe Paterno about a situation NONE of us here know ANYTHING about is a complete atrocity and those who are raging at their computer screens and bad mouthing people who are simply paying respects should be utterly ashamed of themselves.
I implore ABC to remove the garbage people are spewing and allow for people to comment with a little sense of respect and dignity. I find it ironic that those who spew the most venom are themselves committing the same dastardly sins. How is immediately judging a dying individual on ZERO evidence, and ZERO fact at all reasonable or respectable or responsible? Those who say such things, in my opinion, are cowards who have little to live for. Keep making life decisions based on what the TV tells you to do, cause GOD FORBID any of you make decisions for yourselves, or pass judgement on reality!!
JoePa, I wish you and your family the best during this difficult time. The work you did at Penn State and for the Students at Penn State will never be forgotten. Best of luck to you, in this life and beyond!
Posted by: Kyle | January 21, 2012, 10:00 pm 10:00 pm
May dear JoePa get his just reward in heaven for all the many dedicated years he gave to thousands of people and Penn State University. God knows he never received his just reward here on earth! Although the cancer did not help, it was surely the media that took the life out of this wonderful man.
Posted by: Ann | January 21, 2012, 10:02 pm 10:02 pm
Kyle – Tell me, how much respect to doing the right thing did this man show when it counted? That would be none. Frankly I find you guys trying to idolize him disturbing. Again, football is a sport. Children were harmed because of this. I’m not going to wish harm on this man, but he doesn’t deserve some of the stuff I’m reading on here.
Posted by: lexingtonlady | January 21, 2012, 10:18 pm 10:18 pm
Hey Kyle: Funny how you are doing the same thing. You weren’t there either but you seem to have decided he’s not only innocent, but some kind of hero. Sorry, heroes don’t care more about football than child rape. No matter how many games they’ve won.
You probably don’t even see the irony of this statement: “The work you did at Penn State and for the Students at Penn State will never be forgotten.” Let’s hope it isn’t ever forgotten and people who protect child molesters know they will be caught, even years after they’ve thought it was all over.
Posted by: Michael | January 21, 2012, 11:25 pm 11:25 pm
Our prayers go out to you Joe Pa
Posted by: adam | January 22, 2012, 12:28 am 12:28 am
this man made millions over a college FOOTBALL game over the years while at the same time turned bliind eye knowing Sandusky was butt slamming a 10yo in the shower and many other such behaviors? not even teenagers but pre-teen children?? And Paterno did/said nothing to preserve a “college football team”??? really?? that’s a priority??? how sick and hypocritcal Americans are!! pathetic. What twisted priorities you sick people have. the so called “freedom’ country, self proclaimed “christian country” your time will come and soon.
Posted by: brian | January 22, 2012, 3:41 am 3:41 am
Chemotherapy is essentially POISON. Have you EVER SEEN the GLOVES that chemotherapy nurses wear? THOSE GLOVES are more than *TWICE* AS THICK AS SURGICAL GLOVES–AND, medicine STILL recommends that people who administer chemotherapy DON’T DO IT for more than a few years because of “incidental” contact.
Chemo is essentially a war of attrition–either you’re slowly poisoned enough to kill the CANCER before THE CANCER kills YOU, or, in RARE cases, the chemotherapy actually WORKS.
AS FOR JOE PATERNO, “looking the other way” of an ACTIVE CHILD MOLESTER is IN-EXCUSABLE. I’m GLAD that Don Canham from the University of Michigan hired Bo Schembechler INSTEAD of Joe Paterno for the coaching job at Michigan.
Posted by: Antony Scalia | January 22, 2012, 5:37 am 5:37 am
I’ve been following this story from outside the US and not as an American, I’m a Brit, and so don’t have any real knowledge of Joe Paterno’s history. I knew the name and that he was a legendary football coach but that was it. I couldn’t have even told you who he coached before this terrible story surfaced. So maybe I’m missing something but I can’t believe all of the posters here excusing this man’s part in the cover up of child abuse because he was a good coach. We take our football very seriously indeed here in the UK but any manager found to have behaved as Paterno did would be a pariah. however successful he’d been. And I’m absolutely sure that the forums wouldn’t be full of people prepared to forgive him anything because he’d won a few cups. Nothing does or can excuse Paterno’s behaviour and all the good he has achieved has been tainted. Shame on him. And shame on anyone who can still call him JoePa.
Posted by: 2hundredthousand | January 22, 2012, 8:42 am 8:42 am
I wish those who would condemn JoePa would look past their prejudices and ruthless judgements and examine the life he has lead. Integrity, honor, commitment and the leadership of a true (Nittany) lion. If everyone could be half the man Joe was, and is, the world would be a much better place.
Posted by: BubblerDad | January 22, 2012, 9:16 am 9:16 am
Chemotherapy is legalized poisoning! It is well known among the medical establishment that chemotherapy is ineffective against lung cancer, liver cancer, pancreatic cancer, breast cancer, and many others…the studies prove it. Yet, it continues to be offered, giving people false hope and leading to thousands of deaths each year. Where is the outrage???
Posted by: Enough already | January 22, 2012, 1:12 pm 1:12 pm