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Local author Beck chronicles M.J. experience was globally.” Beck said he often was presDan Beck, a 43-year resident ent for high-level meetings of Rockville Centre, is offering a involving Michael Jackson and rare, behind-the-scenes look at other major artists, such as the global operation behind members of the rock band The Michael Jackson’s career in a Clash, Cyndi Lauper, Luther new memoir tracing his time Vandross and Pearl Jam, which led him to document detailed working with the King of Pop. Beck, a longtime music indus- notes and reflections. While his time working with try executive, shared his experiJackson coincided ences as Jackson’s with intense public direct marketing conscrutiny — including tact at Epic Records a 1993 allegation of i n “ Yo u ’ v e G o t sexual abuse made M i c h a e l : L iv i n g by 13-year-old Jordan Through HIStory,” Chandler resulting which was released the following year in last October. The 289a civil settlement of page memoir $23 million with no explores the inner admission of wrongwo rk i n g s o f t h e doing — Beck said he music business as chose not to focus his Ja ck s o n’s c a re e r memoir on those reached a global DAN BEcK events. scale. Instead, he concenBeck, 76, said the project grew organically from trated on the business side of personal notes he began keeping working with an artist of Jackwhile working with Jackson son’s global stature. “I didn’t want to write a salafrom 1991 to 1996, during a period when the superstar was cious or sensational type of already a global phenomenon, book,” he said. “I really wanted but he never intended to turn to write about the business circumstances of working with an them into a book. “I really started writing — not artist of that kind of global intentionally as a book at the impact.” Beck chronicled his experitime,” Beck said. “I just found it extraordinary how big his career
By KYLE DENSON
Intern
Courtesy Lauren Marquardt
Though she isn’t a runner, Lauren Marquardt, 21, took part in the half marathon in New York City on March 15, in support of the Mary Ruchalski Foundation.
Guided forever by the number 11, a friend turns loss into purpose By ALYSSA R. GRIFFIN agriffin@liherald.com
Eight years after losing her best friend to cancer, Lauren Marquardt still finds meaning in the number 11, and has turned a childhood friendship formed on Rockville Centre playing fields into a lifelong promise to “be like Mary.” Marquardt met Mary Ruchalski when they were both 9, and on basketball courts, lacrosse fields and softball diamonds, they grew, side by side, their friendship quickly expanding beyond sports. Despite attending separate schools, Ruchalski at St. Agnes and Maquardt at Hewitt Elementary, they were the closest of friends. “I coached those little girls when they were young in basketball,” Eugene Marquardt, Lau-
ren’s father, recalled. “Her connection with her friend, it’s kind of transcendent. It’s amazing.” Changes came in sixth grade, when Ruchalski was diagnosed with cancer. At an age when most children are just beginning to find themselves, Marquardt said, she was forced to confront something much bigger — an experience that helped shape her faith. “It was definitely really hard to wrap my head around the fact that this was happening at such a young age,” she said. “That’s where my faith really started to kick in as well, because you can’t control these emotions by yourself.” While Ruchalski underwent treatment, CoNTiNued oN page 13
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