The Joan Angela D’Alessandro Foundation honors the memory of 7-year old Girl Scout Joan. The Foundation promotes child safety via programs we provide and legislation we advocate. In addition, we provide support to neglected and abused children through fun and educational excursions; and we help victims of crime by way of consultation. Joan’s story has brought hope through awareness and prevention. The lives of thousands will continue to benefit from the impact of her legacy.
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Joan was seven years old when she was delivering two boxes of Girl Scout cookies to a neighbor who lived across the street, three houses down from her house. The neighbor, a Tappan Zee high school chemistry teacher, Joseph McGowan sexually molested and murdered her on April 19, 1973 – Holy Thursday. Joan’s body was found three days later on Easter Sunday in a sepulcher like space in a large rock at Harriman State Park, New York.
Rosemarie believed that changes in our laws were needed. After three years of work and a grassroots movement, Joan’s Law was signed by Governor Christie Whitman on April 3, 1997 in New Jersey. It says that anyone who murders a child under fourteen years of age in conjunction with a sexual offense will never be eligible for parole and will never get out of prison. The law cannot apply to Joan’s case because it is not retroactive. A Federal version of Joan’s Law was signed by President Clinton on October 30, 1998.
Seeing the need for more victims’ rights, Rosemarie proposed and advocated the Justice for Victims’ Law that was passed in New Jersey on November 17, 2000. It eliminates the statue of limitations for wrongful death actions brought in murder, manslaughter and aggravated manslaughter cases, allowing the victims to sue criminals if they acquire inheritance or other assets any time after the crime. She used the law on April 19, 2001 on the twenty eighth anniversary of Joan’s death to file a wrongful death suit against Joan’s killer to insure that he will not have monies for appeals. He did not contest the suit and on September 26, 2001 a $750,000 judgment was awarded. To this date about $600 has been collected and it has all gone to Joan’s Foundation.
A New York version of Joan’s Law was signed by Governor George Pataki on September 15, 2004 in Harriman State Park, the site where Joan was found. 1998 marked the 25th Anniversary of Joan’s death. A Joan Angela D’Alessandro Memorial Foundation, which is nonprofit, was created. Its goals are to promote child safety and protection, advance victims’ rights and help homeless and neglected youth. Joan’s legacy lives on through the Laws and the Foundation. Joan Angela D’Alessandro Memorial Foundation.
