The audience shared tears and laughter throughout the service, as figures from Joe Paterno's life in college sports spoke on behalf of the beloved coach. (Photo by Randy Griffith/The Tribune-Democrat, Johnstown, Pa.)

By Paige Minemyer
CNHI News Service

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — June Duncan’s family has followed Penn State football since the 1960s. The Duncans’ three children are all graduates of the university and they met legendary coach Joe Paterno on several occasions.

On Thursday, Duncan and her daughter, Marge Bruno, made the trip to State College to say final goodbyes to the coach they said they learned so much from.

“Joe has brought more wonderful memories to our family than anyone in this world,” Duncan, of Sinking Spring, Pa., said – pausing to hold back tears – at the HUB-Robeson Center student union building.

The two women were among thousands of mourners who swarmed Penn State’s campus since Paterno’s death on Sunday morning. A two-day viewing began on Tuesday, followed by a private funeral Mass Wednesday afternoon.

Paterno died from lung cancer complications. He was 85 years old.

The university hosted a public service, “A Memorial for Joe,” for the legendary coach on Thursday at the Bryce Jordan Center.

All 10,000 tickets to the service were gone in seven minutes, so the memorial was shown at several locations across campus for those who could not get into the BJC.

Bruno, who was a member of Penn State’s class of 1983, said she was thankful to have the opportunity to watch the memorial on campus as it helped her come to grips with the emotions she’s had over the past several days.

She said the speakers’ words resonated strongly with her.

“The speakers made it so clear that Joe was a man of integrity,” Bruno, of Norristown, Pa., said. “And they spoke about how they will have an impact in the future, not just going to be in sorrow (about Paterno’s death).”

She said she was particularly excited to see former quarterback Todd Blackledge speak, as it reminded her of attending a speech he gave on Old Main lawn in 1983 after Penn State won its first national championship.

The vigils organized by students also brought her back to that moment, she said.

The crowd in the HUB-Robeson Center included a mix of students and alumni, many of whom reacted to the memorial as if they had been there in person.

When Paterno’s son, Jay, asked the BJC crowd to stand and recite the Lord’s Prayer with him, those in the HUB stood, too, holding hands and crying together.

There was a loud standing ovation at Nike Chairman Phil Knight’s praise of Paterno’s actions during the recent child sex-abuse scandal, echoing the sound of the crowd in the BJC.

Penn State student Abigail Wilson, a State College native who watched the broadcast, said Paterno’s impact is something she’s witnessed throughout her life.

She said she was glad the memorial was focused on the positive aspects of the coach’s life.

“It was sad, obviously, but I was glad they talked mostly about his legacy,” she said. “And (Joe’s wife) Sue. Anything about Sue was emotional.”

Duncan said she will always have the memories of her meetings with Paterno to remind her of how the late coach affected so many people.

“He would always go out of his way to greet us, and ask us about our family, even though he didn’t know who we were,” she said. “He was just a wonderful, wonderful man.”

---
Paige Minemyer is a correspondent for The Tribune-Democrat in Johnstown, Pa.

Jay Paterno, son of former Penn State coach Joe Paterno, speaks at "A Memorial for Joe" on Thursday in State College, Pa. (Photo by Randy Griffith/The Tribune-Democrat, Johnstown, Pa.)