Bergen County Town Will Honor Organization Formed After Girl Scout Was Killed

HILLSDALE, NJ — The town of Hillsdale will unveil an honorary street sign next week dedicated to Joan's Joy, a child safety foundation named in honor of a girl who was killed in town.

In 1973, Joan D'Alessandro asked her mom if she could deliver a box of Girl Scout cookies to a neighbor around the corner. Her mother, Rosemarie, agreed.

Joan didn't come home, and was eventually found dead.

After an investigation, Joseph McGowan, a chemistry teacher who lived across the street, was sent to prison for Joan's sex assault and death.

When McGowan came up for parole in 1993, Joan's mom, Rosemarie, fought many battles to keep him in jail. He was denied parole several times and died in prison in 2021.

Rosemarie started the Joan's Joy foundation in 1998 to promote child safety and related initiatives.

The foundation holds child safety fairs and talks each year. They have also gotten legislation passed to protect children, and have helped disadvantaged children and victims in other ways.

The Events

Monday, Sept. 7, will be Joan’s birthday. She would have turned 61.

The street sign unveiling will be held at the intersection of Florence Street and Clinton Avenue. The ceremony is scheduled for 11 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., with remarks from officials.

The ceremonial sign will be added at the intersection of Florence Street and Clinton Avenue.

After the brief ceremony, attendees are invited for light refreshments at 45 Florence St.

Free Safety Fair For Kids This Month

The foundation’s annual child safety event is set for late September.

The 12th annual Joan’s Joy Child Safety Fest will take place Saturday, Sept. 26, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the White Butterfly Sculpture and Garden in front of the Hillsdale train station on Hillsdale Avenue.

The free event will include children’s activities such as face painting and balloon twisting, along with a professional dance group, a butterfly release, and live music.

It will also feature a tricky tray raffle with 12 eight-foot tables of baskets and major label gift cards.

For more information about the event or contributions to the foundation, click on Joansjoy.org or reach out to rosebd@email.com, or call 201-664-9140.

The Killer's Letters

While in prison, McGowan wrote many letters. Rosemarie has included them in a book she wrote.

D'Alessandro's book, "The Message of Light Amid Letters of Darkness," can be found on Amazon.