RIP Joe Paterno, 85...

Joe Paterno, 85, dies in State College

Joe Paterno has died at the age of 85 after experiencing serious complications from lung-cancer treatment.

The health of Paterno, who had fought the disease for two months, had grown progressively worse after he
recently broke his pelvis in a fall at his home in State College, Pa.

"It is with great sadness that we announce that Joe Paterno passed away earlier today," said a statement
from Paterno's family, released Sunday, shortly after 10 a.m. ET. "His loss leaves a void in our lives that
will never be filled.

"He died as he lived. He fought hard until the end, stayed positive, thought only of others and constantly
reminded everyone of how blessed his life had been.

"His ambitions were far reaching, but he never believed he had to leave this Happy Valley to achieve them.
He was a man devoted to his family, his university, his players and his community."

Paterno died at State College's Mount Nittany Medical Center, where he had been undergoing treatment.

Paterno remained connected to a ventilator into Sunday, individuals close to Paterno's family told The
Washington Post.

The newspaper reported the family had communicated to the hospital his wishes not to be kept alive
through extreme artificial means.

Paterno's cancer diagnosis was revealed Nov. 18, nine days after he lost his Penn State head coaching
job in the fallout of sexual abuse charges against former defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky.