songwriter Lonnie Heckman dead at 38

A SONG FOR HOWARD STERN in the NEWS section: Lonny Heckman spent his final days knowing he had finally made his mark on the music world. And it took radio shock jock Howard Stern to help make it happen. A 38-year-old songwriter, resident of Northampton and lifelong Stern fan, Heckman died this morning from kidney failure complications. Heckman's song, "When I See Beth Smiling," became a staple of Stern's radio show after the radio personality began airing it in September. Heckman had spent the last several years battling diabetes. But it was music, and Stern, that kept him going. Heckman had written the song around Valentine's Day for Stern to sing to his fiancee, model Beth Ostrosky. Ultimately, Heckman hoped the song would be performed during the couple's wedding next summer. In preparation for an interview with The Express-Times about the song, Heckman sent an e-mail to the paper the night before his death.

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