It’s impossible to be a part of the Penn State community without knowing that yesterday marked the ending of the life of a legend.  Coach Joe Paterno was known for football.  But he was an educator first and a coach second.  He was the coach who re-affirmed the “college” in college football.

That being said, Coach Paterno had a lot to teach in many aspects of life.  What always amazed me about him was his relationship with money.  He was monumentally successful in his career, but he didn’t let his success (and the financial benefits that came with it) change who he was fundamentally.  He and his family never moved to an expensive McMansion.  They continued to live in the modest home they bought decades ago.  Coach wasn’t known for driving fancy cars.  He was known for preferring the simplest mode of transportation—for as long as he was able, he walked to work.  He loved his wife and his family and his very modest lifestyle.

So, what did Joe Paterno do with his money?  He gave it away to causes that he cared about.  He was passionate about literature and the humanities (and almost went to law school rather than going into coaching), so he donated huge sums to Penn State’s library, which now bears his name, and to establish the Paterno Fellows program for undergraduates in the liberal arts.  And these were just the extraordinarily huge gifts.  Coach Paterno gave and gave, both of his money and of himself.  We can learn a lot from his example.

Live simply.  A modest life can be an extremely happy one.  Lifestyle does not have to escalate with income.  Loving the people you care about will bring you more joy than possessions will.  Be passionate about what you care about, and give of yourself to those causes (whether it be in time or in money).

“Little things make the difference.”—Joe Paterno