Mom Of Murdered Bergen County 7-Year-Old Plans Event Wednesday

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — Hillsdale resident Rosemarie D'Alessandro — whose daughter Joan was killed in 1973 while delivering Girl Scout Cookies — will hold an event Wednesday to launch a new edition of her book, "Shining the Light."

D'Alessandro has spent 53 years advocating for Joan, who was 7 years old when she was killed by a neighbor in Hillsdale.

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

Her daughter didn't come home, and was soon 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 came up for parole in 1993, Rosemarie fought many battles to keep him in jail. He was denied parole several times.

He died in prison in 2021.

D'Alessandro published a book of the killer's letters to a pen pla in 2024, but it topped 800 pages. On Tuesday, she's holding an event to release the slimmed down 217-page version, with new information and perspective.

She also continues the fight to keep children safe. She and her non-profit group, Joan's Joy, have held child safety fairs, and she's spoken to classes.

The event on Wednesday in Hillsdale will celebrate the new book and include a question-and-answer session

History

D'Alessandro's original book, "The Message of Light Amid Letters of Darkness," earned positive reviews on Amazon.

"Too often people want to sympathize with the aggressors," wrote one reviewer of her book, "let them out of jail early; give leniency because 'they have changed' mentality. If you take a child from this earth in such a monstrous way — what is the message we are giving."

D'Alessandro's younger children also help her promote the book. She invites anyone interested to celebrate the book launch and get involved in the child safety movement.

"[The] book deals with many areas of life," said her son John. "Not only the tragedy."

Rosemarie said, "The tragedy put everything in perspective and trained me to be strong in spiritual ways, and develop my perseverance. [Readers] can realize how to do that in their lives through the book."

The book launch event will be held Wednesday from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Thrive Hall, 124 Broadway, Hillsdale. More details are here.

Rosemarie will read selected excerpts and answer questions about justice and child protection.

Find out about other events related to the cause at this website: Joan's Joy.

Read more about a related documentary here.