As we look back at 2021, one story stands out as arguably the most remarkable and far-reaching: the ongoing work of Rosemarie D’Alessandro and the Joan Angela D’Alessandro Memorial Foundation.
Also called Joan’s Joy, the foundation honors the memory of 7-year old Girl Scout Joan in promoting child safety via programs it provides and legislation it advocates.
Moreover, Joan’s Joy provides support to neglected and abused children through fun and educational excursions and helps victims of crime by way of consultation.
As the organization notes, “Joan’s story has brought hope through awareness and prevention. The lives of thousands will continue to benefit from the impact of her legacy.”
Rosemarie lobbied to create what became known as Joan’s Law in New Jersey in 1997. The law — its federal version passed in 1998 — ensures that anyone who sexually assaults and kills a child under 14 will not leave prison.
In 2017, New Jersey raised the protected age to 18.
And Rosemarie advocated for a state law, passed in 2000, that eliminated the statute of limitations for wrongful death lawsuits in cases of murder or manslaughter.
She also has been instrumental in the creation of similar legislative work in New York.
Rosemarie has described the work to Pascack Press as “the movement,” and through exposure in documentaries, books, television, and in her speaking to students in psychology, law, and law enforcement it’s only getting stronger: drawing more souls, more wings, more reach.
This Sept. 25 brought the 7th Annual Joan’s Joy Child Safety Festival to the Joan Angela D’Alessandro White Butterfly Sculpture and Garden at the Hillsdale Train Station, on Broadway.
There were blue-ribbon speakers, a social justice circle, a butterfly release, entertainers, face painting and balloon fun, and a tricky tray and raffle.
The event was all the more celebratory as it followed on the heels of the death, in prison in June, of Joseph McGowan, the former high school chemistry teacher — and neighbor — who admitted to the sexual assault and murder of Joan in 1973, as she was delivering cookies.
Joan was found on Easter Sunday in New York’s Harriman State Park after McGowan admitted to her murder. He was sentenced to life behind bars but was eligible to try for parole — again — in 2025.
(The Joan’s Joy website recounts this in a posting as “The end to a 30-year parole struggle.”)
Rosemarie is tireless in her advocacy for victims, demanding victims’ rights be protected, calling for reforms that imprison child murderers without parole, teaching youngsters how to stand up for themselves, and mentoring those dealing with tragedy and change.
On Joan’s birthday, Sept. 7, the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office renamed its Child Advocacy Center in Paramus for Rosemarie.
A plaque there declares the space “The Rosemarie Room,” and honors both Joan’s life and Rosemarie’s decades of work to strengthen child protection laws.
It also acknowledges a major source of Rosemarie’s strength: her Birri family roots.
“May those who enter this room find hope, comfort and resilience,” the marker reads.
In her remarks, Rosemarie said in part, “So this has my name on it — my name on it — but it’s surrounded by all the supporters, all the angels, all the beautiful people.”
She said, “There are always going to be people that want to be good and try to be good, and good is going to win. It’s going to take time and patience and perseverance but it can can happen — will happen.”
After the ceremony, the BCPO returned to Rosemarie a pair of sneakers and a lock of hair taken from Joan as evidence 48 years ago.
“I am honored and grateful for this,” Rosemarie told the crowd of law enforcement officers at the event. I never expected it in a million years.”
She added, “Remember Joan today so tomorrow’s children will be safe.”
Jason Love, the county prosecutor’s chief of detectives, said the center, which was recently expanded and accredited, is “a safe place for our children to whisper their secrets” to investigators and health professionals working on a coordinated response to allegations of sexual and severe physical abuse.
“Our mission,” he promised, “is to hear those whispers and to hold sacred the secrets that they carry in the pursuit of justice and the truth.”