Laurie Beechman - Later Life and Death

Later Life and Death

During the later years of her life, Beechman married Neil Mazzella in 1992, recorded three more solo albums, performed countless concerts and club dates, sang at President Bill Clinton's second Inaugural Gala, was awarded the Gilda's Club's "It's Always Something" Award, and returned to singing and acting. In early 1995, Beechman's cancer returned. She spent an hour on The Phil Donahue Show singing and discussing her condition and her will to keep going.

Although her treatments were ongoing, Beechman continued performing until just a few months before her death on March 8, 1998, at age 44. One month later, a memorial service was held for Beechman at the Winter Garden Theatre, the theatre where Cats played for so many years. She was survived by her mother, stepfather, two sisters, and husband, Neil Mazzella. She was buried at Montefiore Cemetery in Rockledge, Pennsylvania.