Joe Paterno’s family has released his seven-page will to the public “in an effort to ensure maximum transparency and eliminate unfounded speculation,” the family said in a statement through a spokesperson Thursday.
They had originally sealed the will, filed in 1997, in an effort to maintain privacy among the family.
"At the suggestion of the attorney managing Joe Paterno's estate, the family filed a motion, which the court approved, to seal the contents of his will," the family said in a statement Thursday. "The request was entirely appropriate and totally consistent with the actions of other prominent individuals. The only objective was to preserve a measure of privacy for Sue Paterno, their 5 children, 17 grandchildren and other family members."
Paterno’s wife, Sue, inherits all of Paterno's personal property. A single codicil -- or a supplemental document to the will -- was also released, which appoints Sue as her husband’s “Personal Representative” with full authority to manage Paterno’s property. Their daughters, Mary Kay Hort and Diana Paterno-Giegerich, in that order, stand as Sue’s successors if she is unable to assume the position’s responsibilities and has not appointed a successor.
The will also leaves “all of the residue of [Paterno’s] estate to the Trustees under the Joseph V. Paterno Revocable Trust.” The members of this trust were not identified in the will
Paterno died Jan. 22 of complications caused by lung cancer at 85 years old. His death came two months after the Board of Trustees removed him from his position as head football coach on Nov. 9, several days after child sex abuse charges were first filed against former assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky.
