Paterno memorial tributes begin Tuesday

PENN STATE will have 3 days of memorial tributes to former coach Joe Paterno, beginning today.

Public viewings are scheduled for today and tomorrow. The family will hold a private funeral tomorrow and a public memorial service is scheduled for Thursday at Bryce Jordan Center.

Two tickets per person will be available for the memorial service starting today at 10 a.m. Tickets are available by calling 1-800-NITTANY or at www.GoPSUsports.com/tickets.

The service begins at 2 p.m. with doors opening at 1. No photography, video, signs or large bags will be permitted. Despite requests that classes be canceled, the university will operate as usual Thursday, a spokeswoman said.

Specifics on who will speak at the service are being worked out with the family.

Public viewings begin today at 1 p.m. through 11 p.m. and tomorrow from 8 a.m. to noon at the Pasquerilla Spiritual Center on the University Park campus, near the intersection of Curtin Road and Allen Street.

Parking for the viewings and service will be limited. Those attending are encouraged to park in the Nittany, Eisenhower, HUB and East parking decks, or in downtown State College or take the free CATA Loop shuttle to the Pattee-Paterno Library stop.

The private funeral will be held tomorrow at 2 p.m. with the procession to begin at approximately 3. According to officials, the procession will leave the Pasquerilla Center, turn left onto Curtin Road near the Pattee-Paterno Library and travel Curtin Road past Beaver Stadium. The procession will then turn right onto Porter Road and turn right onto College Avenue, heading west through downtown State College.

Burial is private.

In lieu of flowers or gifts, the Paterno family requests donations be made to the Special Olympics of Pennsylvania (www.specialolympicspa.org) or the Penn State-THON

(The Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon; /www.thon.org or call 1-800-392-THON.)