Paterno ‘Surrounded by His Family’ at Hospital, MNMC Notes; Candlelight Vigil Planned

UPDATED @ 1:53 p.m. Jan. 22: The candlelight vigil planned for Sunday night has been moved to the Old Main lawn. The report below has been updated to reflect the change. –AS

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Joe Paterno died of metastatic small-cell carcinoma of the lung, Mount Nittany Medical Center reported in a written statement.

The hospital listed his time of death as 9:25 a.m. Sunday. The former Penn State football coach, 85, was “surrounded by his family at the time of his passing, and they request privacy during this difficult time,” the hospital’s statement reads.

Mourners quickly began to assemble Sunday morning at the Paterno statue outside Beaver Stadium, where many brought flowers and candles.

A candlelight vigil has been set for 8 to 11 p.m. Sunday on the Old Main lawn, on the University Park campus. By 1:36 p.m. Sunday, more than 3,300 people had indicated on Facebook that they plan to attend.

Meanwhile, Penn State announced that all university athletic events Sunday will include a moment of silence in Paterno’s honor.

Memorial arrangements for him have yet to be announced, according to a lengthy piece posted on Penn State Live, the official university news website. Paterno’s family has requested that, in lieu of flowers or gifts, donations be made to the Special Olympics of Pennsylvania or the Penn State Interfraternity Council/Panhellenic Dance Marathon.

Links to related news posts are below.

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• Penn State Coach Joe Paterno Dies (1926-2012) (Jan. 22, 2012)

• Spanier, Trustees Issue Statements as Penn State Mourns Paterno (Jan. 22, 2012)

• O’Brien Extends ‘Deepest Sympathies’; Delany Shares Condolences upon Paterno Death (Jan. 22, 2012)