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By Sarah Fischer Lifestyle Editor Rocky Scarfone considers himself a messenger. Sometimes, Scarfone hops on his Honda 750 to visit an Atlanta housing project. Other days, he can be found giving his testimony before metro Atlanta church members. Four years ago, Scarfone spoke to teenagers at a Duluth school about having goals. He shows off his full-arm tattoos to get their attention Wherever his destination, though, the Lawrenceville man delivers a powerful theme "The message is that Jesus Christ is all-powerful," he said. "God gives you the power to accomplish anything you put your mind to, when you ask him for his help." Scarfone should know. The road for the 43-year-old has been, well, rocky.
When you have Christ in your heart, you still have the struggles, but you can recognize them and overcome them with his help," he said. Scarfone has experienced much, so much, in fact, that he could write a book -- which is just what he did three years ago. His biography, "House of Cards, The Curse of Alphonso." is scheduled to be released Feb 25. The 400-page book, published by M A G I.C Publishing of Atlanta in conjunction with Books International of Norcross, chronicles Scarfone’s family, five generations of Mafia soldiers beginning with his great-great grandfather, Alphonso Dicanio. Dicanio, who came to the United States from Naples in 1908, worked as a laborer but later joined The Black Hand, the predecessor of the Mafia Initially, 50,000 copies of "House of Cards" will be sold at area bookstores "The curse is that Alphonso swore allegiance to an evil brigade’ Scarfone said. "The curse caused the family to be like a
The writer’s spirituality comes across as much in the book as in his everyday conversation. Bouncing his new baby daughter on his knee, it is apparent Scarfone has achieved the inner peace to reflect on the world of his youth, a world where fathers died leaving their children to fend for themselves and their widows resorting to everything from menial labor to shoplifting to survive. At the age of 5, Scarfone said, he discovered a personal relationship with God. Through prayer, he said, he was able to heal the club foot condition he was born with and learn to walk In 1961, when Scarfone was eight, his father, Joseph, was murdered in a gangland hit, "thrusting my family into a world of poverty, sorrow, grief and degradation," he said When he was 11, Scarfone ran away from home. Upon his return, social workers took him for three days of psychiatric evaluation. Those three days became a horrific three months in the adult ward of Belvue hospital--which he believes was orchestrated by the Mafia. From there began an odyssey, which included Scarfone’s living on the streets in abandoned apartments, running with a gang of streetwise kids, staying in juvenile detention centers, even infiltrating the 7 Mafia to learn the details of his father’s death.
See CARDS, Page GB
6B GWINNETT DAILY Post SATURDAY, JANUARY 25, 1997 Cards Writer touts books as saga of spirituality, tale of Good and Evil~ · From Page lB
Still later, Scarfone would start some 15 companies, becoming experienced in wood work, landscaping, sales and marketing and mechanics, to name a few of his professions. But the self-made businessman still felt he had not fulfilled God’s plan for his life. In 1986, a turning point came when his mother, Jeanette, died of cancer. "I had been used to death, but her death was an awakening," Scarfone said. "I had blamed her and my family for my poverty and loneliness. But when she died, it was like coming back to my roots. I came face to face with the truth that she loved me and that it wasn’t her fault. At her deathbed, it was the first time I had looked in her eyes since I was 11, and we forgave each other. Her death awakened God’s anointing in me." The next year, Scarfone met his future wife, Denise Rogers, who encouraged him to write a book about his life. "God sent her to me, and she never gave up. She saw that spark within me," he .said After marrying and moving to Atlanta, the couple opened an 11000 square foot jewelry business, Highland Goldsmiths in Buckhead. Scarfone also ran a boxing gym and jewelry school. Yet, he still did not feel satisfied. "I knew I had a purpose to fulfill, and that I had an anointing. So I started talking about my story," he said. The breakthrough came one day in 1993, when Scarfone decided, "I had to write my book and preach the word of God:’ "As I walked through the door, I wanted to use the education that God had given me to assist other youth in need," he said. "I gave my business away to friends and acquaintances — I took only enough to support my family. I had known the power of God, but that day I went with the full faith:’ Soon after that, Scarfone began the trek to put his testimony in print. he had never written a sentence; in fact, he had only completed school through the fifth grade. But Scarfone earned what he calls a "street degree" and is an avid reader of history and religion. "House of Cards" took him six months to write, with the words easily flowing onto the page In fact, a yet-to-be published sequel also has been completed. Prayer helped, Scarfone said, "Prayer is a relationship I know him now:’ he said "When I wasn’t writing for six hours. I was reading the Bible (Scarfone owns seven Bibles) When I write the words fly:’ Already, the manuscript has garnered praise from people such as Jan Crouch, vice president and co-founder of Trinity Broadcasting Network, and Jay Walton of the Old Rugged Cross Press. Excerpts from the book, which includes poems written by Scarfone, have been featured in "A Sea of Treasures," an anthology of poetry. and garnered the author the 1996 "0 Georgia’ writer’s award.
The rooms where Scarfone writes provide a glimpse into the author’s many interests. A pet iguana lounges in a cage alongside bonsai trees which Scarfone has grown. Framed letters from everyone from Sylvester Stallone to President Bill Clinton share wall space with his writing awards.. Sitting on a sofa near the where her husband works, Denise Scarfone, an interior designer, is obviously proud. "I think the book has been his lifelong dream, something he has always wanted to do," she said. Denise, who shares his religious faith, also is supporting Scarfone in his latest venture. In August he formed The Lighthouse Sanctuary For Youth Foundation. The non-profit organization plans to use part of the proceeds from the sale of his book to fund youth programs. Scarfone is offering a series of free motivational workshops, both secular and non-secular, to churches, civic groups and schools. "I’ve always told him he should work with young people," Denise said. "They are attracted by the way he is He has high energy. When he wants something, he goes for it. Also, he’s very good a t talking to them and deciphering what their problems are. Whether drugs or whatever, he listens to them." The plans for Lighthouse sanctuary include exposing youth to business/marketing operations, spiritual lessons and hands on experience and offering them encouragement and self-esteem. Scarfone wants to provide 24-hour safe space and alternative programs for young people. Clinics will cover such topics as drug abuse, physical abuse, team work versus individualism and reading and success. For more information on the Lighthouse Sanctuary For Youth Foundation, call 770-736-6890 (1-888-207-1494). "I want to use my story to reach young people, and the hearts of adults so they can understand the problems of children," Scarfone said. "My ministry is for youth, which is the number one concern of Jesus Christ today. We’re not doing enough for the young people:’ Clearly, Scarfone’s life is no longer a house of cards. His travels ended two years ago, when he and Denise moved to Lawrenceville, her childhood home. Eight generations of his wife’s family have lived in the Five Forks Trickum Road area since the late 1800s. "I stepped foot on this soil, and I knew I was home," he said of the 10-acre site. Scarfone’s pride and joy, the couple’s 5-month-old daughter. Juliana-Ariel, was born last August --the same day the book went to press! Mere coincidence? Scarfone thinks not. "I had asked God to bless my marriage" he said. "it isn't about money with me anymore, or how many big cars I have. Love has come into my house so tremendously, God has satisfied my needs!"
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Yet, from his
father’s murder at the hands of the Mafia when Scarfone was a child, to life on the
streets, to the great leap of selling his multi-million dollar companies to start a youth
foundation, the New York native has proven that faith can, indeed, move mountains.