Joe Paterno

Mount Nittany Medical Center has released a statement on the death of former Penn State head football coach Joe Paterno.

On January 22, 2012 at 9:25 am, Joseph V. Paterno died of metastatic small cell carcinoma of the lung at Mount Nittany Medical Center, State College, Pennsylvania. Joe was surrounded by his family at the time of his passing, and they request privacy during this difficult time.

It was initially reported that Paterno had died on Saturday evening. Family members quickly corrected those false reports.

Paterno was diagnosed with lung cancer after being fired from Penn State. His cancer was originally described as ‘treatable’. In January, he was admitted to the hospital for complications from cancer treatments.

Paterno was 85 years old.