STATE COLLEGE, Pennsylvania (AP) ― Joe Paterno’s family said Monday the legendary football coach will get a two-day viewing and a public memorial this week on the Penn State campus, two months after the university summarily fired him over the phone.
The family gave no details on who might be invited or asked to speak at the memorial Thursday at the basketball arena, which can hold 16,000 people. Penn State spokeswoman Lisa Powers said the specifics were still being worked out with the Paternos.
But many alumni and students say Paterno was treated shabbily by the Board of Trustees in November, and trustees and other members of the administration might not be made to feel welcome at the memorial for the 85-year-old coach, who died Sunday of lung cancer.
“I don’t think it’s going to be heavily laden with administration and trustees,” said trustee Linda Strumpf, who lives in New York and will not attend. “This is something the family is putting together and not the university. I don’t think the university wants to be in a position to tell them what a memorial service looks like.”
But trustee Al Clemens said he will be there to honor a man he described as a good friend.
“This is really a family thing, and so we’re just going to go as individuals,” Clemens said. “Joe’s a great guy. No matter was the situation was in the last two months, it doesn’t take away from what he’s done through history for so many people. He’s just been tremendous.”
The viewing will be held Tuesday and Wednesday at a campus spiritual center, followed by a private funeral Wednesday afternoon.
