Yeah I'm very much of the school that you talk about it all when someone dies. The first paragraph of Joe Paterno's NY Times obit is a good example in my book.
Joe Paterno, who won more games than any other major-college football coach, and who became the face of Pennsylvania State University and a symbol of integrity in collegiate athletics only to be fired during the 2011 season amid a child sexual abuse scandal that reverberated throughout the nation, died Sunday in State College, Pa. He was 85.
To me Pete was already a HOFer; not sure how him being dead changes it (though it would be an ironic and even spiteful thing to do it now that he can't enjoy it). But he can't be voted in without either MLB or the Hall changing their policy (just like with Shoeless Joe). Technically, the debate over whether he should or shouldn't be voted in has never happened.