Inside Paula Dorough's Lasting Influence on the Backstreet Boys Legacy
By Marcus Vance
The family's resolve faced its most severe trial in September 1998. Caroline Dorough-Cochran, Howie's older sister and Paula's daughter, died from complications of lupus at age 37. The tragedy occurred just as the Backstreet Boys were ascending to the pinnacle of commercial music.
Instead of retreating into private isolation, Paula and Howie launched the Dorough Lupus Foundation.
Paula took an active hand in community outreach, speaking to families dealing with autoimmune disorders and helping direct fundraising efforts toward research clinics. Backstreet Boys fans mobilized globally, donating hundreds of thousands of dollars over the ensuing years. Ten years later, in 2008, the family endured another devastating loss when patriarch Hoke Dwaine Dorough died after a battle with cancer at age 69. Throughout these compound tragedies, Paula remained the steady center of gravity, maintaining the family's charitable initiatives and preserving her daughter's memory.
Marcus Vance is a cybersecurity auditor and technology writer dedicated to educating the public about online safety, data privacy regulations, enterprise security, and emerging cyber threats.
