30 years ago...

Monday night, July 28th, was the 30th anniversary of Michael's first Bruce Springsteen concert.

This is the opening number from Monday's show, Out in the Street. It was a great night and Michael would have loved it.

Bruce Springsteen performs Out in the Street

From Today's New York Times

Michael Joseph Decasper
DECASPER--Michael Joseph, 45, of NYC and East Chatham, NY, died July 22, 2008 at his home surrounded by family and friends after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. Michael was an assistant director for "The Sopranos" and many movies. He was a proud Florida Gator with a deep passion for music, sports, and politics. Michael is survived by his wife and best friend of 26 years, Amy Lauritsen, parents Linda and Dennis Beynon, sister Mary DeCasper, brother-inlaw Matt Dobbins, in-laws Sally and Paul DeMartini, Linda Jesberg, Scott Lauritsen, Marcia Cowin and Rick Lauritsen, nieces, nephews and countless friends. He was a special man who will be missed by all. A memorial service will be planned at a later date. The family is requesting donations in Michael's name to: Dr. Allyson Ocean Research Fund, c/o Allyn Rose, Weill Cornell Development Office, Box 123, 525 East 68 St. NY, NY 10065.
Published in the New York Times on 7/27/2008

In Memory of Mike

Mike and I have been friends for 30 years. It has been one of those rare friendships that didn't fade after high school. Even in those days, I saw Mike as different, and our friendship as something that was certain to endure. During the height of our misguided teenage pursuits, Mike exhibited enormous depth, self-knowledge, and an inclination toward adult concerns. He was a wise man in a teenager's body. We all make decisions in those years that affect our entire adult lives, and without Mike, I don't think I would have made good ones.

For those who haven't read it, I recommend Paul Tatara's excellent tribute to Mike. Like Paul, I too was influenced by Mike's musical sensibilities. In college, it was Mike who convinced me to expand my musical universe beyond FM radio to then-upcoming acts like The Clash, Joe Jackson, and Elvis Costello. His exposing me to the Imperial Bedroom album, in particular, made me feel like I had just discovered America. I drove him and my other roommates crazy by playing only side 1 of the album over and over, out of fear that there was no way side 2 could ever match side 1's perfection. As a musician, I owe an enormous debt of gratitude for his educating me in this music, which influences me greatly to this day.

After college, our friendship was still strong. He was instrumental in helping me re-think my career. This critical help gave me the focus and courage to greatly change the trajectory of my adult life for the better. I can only imagine how different my life would have been had he not been there.

The years after that have been very happy ones, and still he was always there, sharing thoughts about external matters like world affairs or sports, but also still courageous enough to confront his inner self. Mike knew innately that the richness of his life came not from his external success, but by the quality of his relationships and by the tending to his soul.

Mike, I will miss you more than words can say. Whenever my life's path approaches a fork in the road, I will know you are with me, giving perspective that never would have occured to me. And that gives me comfort that the path leads to a blessed place.

A note from Amy

For those of you that haven't heard the news Michael passed away early this morning.

His sister, Mary, reads everyone's horoscope every day. It's not something we ever read
but his today in the Daily News was:

"Building a strong support group of people you can rely upon can provide comfort as well
as peace of mind. People enter your life for different reasons, Pisces. Some will sit in the
background, floating in and out, being there just when you need them. Others come for
specific reasons, and it seems they only stay around for a short time. When someone
leaves your life, don't feel that something unpleasant has happened. It could just be that
their reason for being there has ceased to exist."

I encourage you to keep the blog going and tell your stories of Michael. We were both
apprehensive at first about this but it helped us along the way and we enjoyed it. It
brought us many smiles during this rough time. He was a man to cherish and to
remember.

We will plan a memorial for Michael in the future and will let you know. Also setting up a
fund for donations for pancreatic cancer research - Chris will post the info soon. Please,
no flowers - the garden is in full bloom.

With all of you I share my very heavy heart.

Amy

One of the Best Concerts Ever

I will post to the mailing list about this concert in more detail, but I am pretty sure this is from the same tour that Michael, Sarah, Bill Shaouy and I saw in Rhode Island in the summer of 1989. Elvis & Nick Lowe, both performing solo.

One of the great shows I have ever seen. The details of it are special.

No Caption needed

Buy me a Wonderloaf

Funny. Funny. Funny. This is worth 4 minutes of your life.