Sometimes sitting down and trying to decide what to write a column about for an online site that has grown in popularity in a relatively short period of time can be somewhat daunting.

I have a sports background, so I kind of gravitate toward that kind of theme, but then I can’t decide if that’s what I really want to write about since that’s what I usually do. I look at the topics that my fellow columnists write about and I feel humbled by their well-educated words of wisdom, and I wonder if I am worthy.

But there is one thing I do know, and that is the incredible way that the Paterno family handled the entire situation that began back on Nov. 9.

From the man at the top, meaning of course Joe Paterno, to his sons and daughters, total class was exhibited by all in what had to be one of the most difficult times this family has ever endured. Joe never said a bad word about the Board of Trustees, not a bad word about Graham Spanier, not a bad word about anyone in the administration or anyone that had anything to do with his firing.

Only Joe and his family really knew how hard this whole situation was on him, and then throw battling lung cancer on top of it all . . . truly amazing.

His sons, beginning with Jay, the much-criticized ex-quarterbacks coach of the Nittany Lions, could easily have lost it in a moment of frustration or anger, could have easily lashed out at anyone or everyone for what his legendary father had to endure.

But no, Jay was his father’s son, acting with class and dignity and not stooping to lower levels out of pain and frustration. This culminated in his incredible eulogy of his father at the memorial service at the Bryce Jordan Center.

Jay’s brothers, Scott and David, were stoic and proud of their father for all he has done for our community. David is the quiet one; Scott not so quiet, but still acting in the best interest of the family above all. Daughters Mary Kay and Diane were strong for their mother, always by her side during these tough times. They showed their blood lines of an incredible mother and father and making their parents very proud of the way things were handled both publicly and privately.

I had the pleasure of accompanying my father and brother through the lines with the lettermen in paying their last respects to Coach Paterno at the Pasquerilla Spiritual Center, and when we got to the family, many of them had taken a break from a long day. Jay, who was in the line along with David, insisted we go to the back room where Sue and others were resting. We walked in and received hugs and smiles from the first family of Penn State, a memory that will last forever and will always be in my heart and mind as long as I am able to walk the streets of this great community.

Here's one final time for me to publicly say thank you to not only Joe Paterno for what you have done for this university and community, but also to the family of this great man for all you have done and for sharing him with all of us.

We are all better people for having had the experience of either knowing him casually or intimately, been influenced by him in one way or another, or for some, to just know who Joe Paterno was and what he represented every waking minute of every day.