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Pat Robertson - Chairman, Christian Broadcasting Network --letter response from manuscript Oct 10, 1995

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About the Author
Born to Italian-American parents in New York City, Joe Baffa (AKA Rocky Scarfone) was baptized in the Roman-Catholic Church. At eight years of age his father was brutally murdered, his family thrust into a world of poverty, sorrow, grief, and welfare. By eleven years of age he ran away from home: A Don Quixote and Sancho a la New York City, he and his seven year old brother Carmine began a journey as "Men of Respect"-- in a Knightly fashion. "He in brim-feathered fedora, a too small, pinstriped suite and white sneakers; Carmine, in cloths over Pjs". They left a note that they would one day return rich and famous to rescue the family! After an exciting and entertaining journey that took them from the NY Worlds Fair to the mountains of Pennsylvania!--they were returned. But happiness would be short lived: Social workers suddenly appeared on his mother's doorsteps with orders to "take Joe in for three days of psychiatric evaluation to determine why he ran away!" Three days became three months in an adult ward of Belvue hospital.

Upon his "release" at eleven years of age, Joe returned to the streets; living in abandoned apartments and white and black checkered hallways... "That dotted his lonely landscape like the craters of a cold and dusty moonscape". Soon he began running with a group of young "Wise Guys" in effort to survive and belong. After numerous "street: ventures, he was returned, once more--this time to a reform school...

Upon his release at twelve years of age, Joe left once more. Among the many situations along the way, he would become a drug addict. A four story kid with Jack The Cat. A mascot with The South Florida Chapter of The Out Laws Motorcycle Gang. A junior-13-member of a '60's version of the Bonnie and Clyde Gang. A disciple of Rah Lum Nah, a '60's California cult....

All through this incredible journey, Joe believed "someone" watched over him and guided him. Rescuing him at every turn. Though sometimes he received more than a taste of his predicament, his appetite was usually satisfied in small bites. It seemed that he was allowed to feel, see, and experience only so much at each stage, until learned and ready, he would be guided through the next experience.

After a stint in the Armed Forces, where he received his GED, Joe Baffa attended three semesters at Miami Dade Community College. He attended an honors program in English and eventually mastered the business world: A Custom Design Wood Work Company; A Mechanic Shop; A Landscape and Nursery Business; A Consulting Sales and Marketing Firm; Infomercial Production; Flea Market; Boxing Gym; Pawn Shop; A Jewelers Institute; A Custom Jewelry Business...

After a fire destroyed one of his business' and he had begun renovations [Highland Goldsmiths was initiated with $2,500 and in two years became an eleven-thousand five hundred square foot company, involving one hundred associates. It was featured in major newspapers, TV programs, and magazines. And had clients including such renown names as Sylvester Stallone; Bob Lee (Boxing Commissioner and I.B.F. President); Bob Beamon (Olympic Hero); Maynard Jackson)] he had a vision and decided to become a Youth Evangelist

Today, Joe Baffa (AKA Rocky Scarfone) operates The Lighthouse Sanctuary for Youth Foundation, Inc. A Christian nonprofit organization dedicated to assisting At-Risk Youth with apprentice programs, workshops, summer camps, and business opportunities.

Among the publicity Rocky has received for his endeavors are: G-Net, Cable-Vision, PCS, The Watchman On The Wall, 700 Club, Atlanta Journal Constitution, Gwinnett Daily Post, Atlanta Business Chronicle, Southern Jewelry News, Atlanta Magazine, and a vast array of radio talk shows. Rocky has garnered praise and letters from President Clinton, GA Governor Zell Miller, Pat Robertson; Jan Crouch, Barbara Dooley, and many other prominent political, religious, and community leaders. He has received several awards for his writing, including the 1996 "O Georgia" writers' award for an excerpt from "House of Cards: The Curse of Alphonso". (SEE: REVIEWS)

Excerpted from House of Cards: The Curse of Alphonso by R.J. Scarfone. Copyright © 1996. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved
From Chapter 26: "Your father is dead" The need to overcome thoughts of his father, his Knight In Shining Armor . . . Who wore a trench coat and carried a .45. . . . lying in a pool of blood . . . his dying thoughts of his family, his hopes, his dreams . . . filled his soul with a mixture of sorrow, revenge and questions. 'Who was responsible? Salley? Tony Black? Uncle Frank? Genovese? Gambino? The Police? Shorty? All of them? And how could these people go home and play with their children? How did they join their families in celebration that day so long ago? How could they enjoy each succeeding holiday of family solace and warmth when they had destroyed the very essence of an entire family? Death could not be simplified and dignified, especially when there were others who were mourning that death! So many thoughts converged within his novice mind. Revenge was the traffic cop... he would get revenge. They had stolen his mother's happiness and thrust Joe-Pep's surviving family into a world of sorrow and depravity--ending their lives before they began. He'd become the vagabond left in a wake of cold, hard, silence. Lost in nomadic journey upon an endless desert, burdened by a never-ending avalanche, each step of hope foundering in a lucid, liquid sand trap. Only to discover relief and succor concealed in a host of additional questions as soon as truth had been discovered. "The Family", "This Thing Of Ours", had become a ravening beast bent upon total destruction, leaving orphans of society in its quest for life. For a mere child of the storm, it was he who was left to pick up the pieces. Would he ever? Would he become the man who avenged the dishonor and sorrow placed upon his family with total disregard to the repercussions of this disastrous act of continuing greed? "YOU WILL PREVAIL!'... But what of Sparticus? What of all those heroes who battled injustice only to die a glorious death in the end? Was he ready for that? Like Charton Heston in Ben Hur, would he return for the ending the hero who rescued his family with the assistance of God? "Oh Jesus, where art thou now? Come to me and deliver your power to defeat mine enemies--they abound like a plague of locust. Send to them a shower of fire and ice! The death of the first born has occurred! Please let my people go! The trial and tribulation desecrated my soul! My 'Knight In Shining Armor' is GONE! Will you take up my cause?" Was God going to perform miracles of Faith, those same miracles that had burst his soul with HIS power to overcome his handicap? He could not answer those questions, later maybe, but for now the overpowering need to get even overruled any further thought. He'd have to leave NY and plan his action. After the meet, he'd leave once more, only this time, the desire for a real family, a real father figure, and real change in his life would clash with his new plan-- his plan for revenge and rescue.