Dear Mr. Jay Paterno:
Three weeks ago I was sitting in the Mount Nittany Medical Center, trying to cheer my wife on as she endured a 22-hour ordeal to deliver our first child. A multi-year journey that saw my wife overcome nearly dying from a ruptured ectopic pregnancy and the disappointment of a miscarriage along the way.
The moment was finally here and before I knew it I found myself holding my son, Colton. As I sat there, the reality of the situation hit me and I began to think about who I wanted my son to be like when he grew up.
So, I had to think about what qualities I hope he will possess. Here is what I came up with.
I hope my son grows up to:
- appreciate spending time with his family.
- appreciate and take advantage of every opportunity he has in life.
- understand and pass along the lessons that he learns in life.
- always look to improve the enjoyment others get in life.
- always be tolerant of others.
- always stand firm in his beliefs.
- know when to put up a fight and when to let people be wrong.
- handle public pressure well, even if he is being viewed in a negative light.
- persevere through the tough parts of life, even if those moments are played out publicly.
As soon as I thought about my list, I realized the person I hope my son grows up to emulate. His name is Joseph Vincent Paterno Jr.; known to most of us as Jay.
Despite some of the nasty public pressure you have endured over the years, you were always tolerant of everyone’s opinion while your job performance was debated publicly. You have stood firm in your religious and political beliefs while understanding the views of others.
Despite the demands you had as a football coach you always have found time to take your family to various events around town, to help THON and other charities raise funds and to make sure others had neat life experiences.
My friends Peter Farrell and Andrew Kulyk still rave about the way you rolled out the red carpet for them after simply hearing about their sports travel experiences on the radio. You have continued to be positive for both Penn State athletics and THON despite the ongoing feud.
When your father was being made a scapegoat for the failings of an entire university, you held tight and stated your thoughts at the appropriate time. Your legendary speech passed along a few of the great life lessons you learned to thousands of people.
I wish you and your family all the best wherever life leads you. Thank you for being a great role model and a true Penn Stater.
Sincerely,
Joshua Guiher
Colton James Guiher
