Saddened by Paterno scandal at end of life

I opened my mail browser today to find great sadness. Joe Paterno died at 85.

Outside of knowing Joe Paterno was the Penn State coach for like centuries, I only knew his name and never really followed Penn State.

If you ask around, you will find all sorts of Joe Paterno followers. I never was.

I am deeply saddened by his death so soon after the scandal he was linked in.

Sure, I would like every college official who knew about the sexual abuse and dropped the ball to be taken to the carpet. There is a part of me that still wonders if there could not have been a better way and time to bring the scandal in the open. Despite the 85 years he lived, and the many problems he may have had, I wonder how much all of this scandal did to hurry up the time of his death.

I wonder how many who pushed this scandal at this particular time figured that the death of someone was just and good.

Daniel Robert Smyth
Rockford

From the Feb. 1-7, 2012, issue