I do think his death was a form of suicide. Not suicide in the classic sense, but I feel he gave up after he lost his team. He hung on longer then he should (he had a number of health issues) just because that was his whole life and was in a race with Bowden to get the record. He was diagnosed with cancer after he got fired. I have known people who died quickly after being diagnosed who were much younger than Paterno, but he may have just given up on life as he had nothing to live for and did not want to to live to see his name and legacy tarnished.. I think it is a good chance that Joe Pa deteriorated faster because of his conscience. Yes I am over philosophical sometimes, but he sure went down the hill quickly after this broke.
I wish he had been in good health so he could have seen all that came out about him.