CARMEL – Putnam County’s Child Advocacy Center (CAC) in conjunction with Friends of the Putnam CAC held its annual Champion for Children Breakfast outlining events and initiatives aimed at raising awareness, promoting prevention, and
strengthening support for children and families throughout the Hudson Valley.
Keynote speaker Joseph Fazzary, a survivor, and former Schuyler County District
attorney shared his personal story, and the impact community awareness and support can have on protecting children.
The veteran prosecutor who retired last December after serving for 28 years, was sexually abused as a child. “When I was about eight years old, the son of my parents’ friends started sexually abusing me. He was four years older than me and was very mature at an early age.”
Fazzary discussed how the sexual abuse lasted for seven years and happened hundreds of times.
“My parents, his parents, and many other adults sat in our kitchen playing card games, smoking, drinking, laughing, and eating. None of them ever checked on us,” he said.
The abuse stopped when Fazzary began attending college but the aftermath remained. “I experienced feelings of filth, shame, and disgust that drove me to become an overachiever, graduating at the top of my class, putting myself through college and law school at Syracuse University, and becoming the youngest D.A. in New York State,” he said.
Fazzary’s painful experience made him an effective prosecutor and advocate for victims. “I spent my entire career putting victims first in a system that puts them last,” he said.
After almost 30 years of silence, Fazzary recalled his life falling apart. “I told no one.” When I reached my breaking point, I decided to tell my wife, who I had been with since our senior year of high school. It was extremely difficult for me to utter the words ‘I was sexually abused’! She was not prepared to understand it or to help me. Only those who have gone through it understand. After another four years of remaining silent, I eventually reached a point where I considered ending my marriage and family, and experienced thoughts of self-harm. It was then that my wife found a way to help me. She investigated the challenges of being married to someone who experienced sexual abuse as a child and insisted that I seek therapy. She is now my biggest advocate.”
Due to his challenging upbringing, Fazzary founded the Justice Center of the Southern Tier, providing victims and survivors with a safe place where all essential services are available in one convenient location.
Fazzary described his story as a “sad story but it tells of my resilience and my care and understanding for victims over the years.”
Also at the event, Captain John Alfano, who recently retired from the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, received the 2026 Champion for Children Award. Alfano, a longstanding ally of the CAC, showed unwavering dedication to safeguarding children and enhancing teamwork between law enforcement and child protective services in addition to community partners to improve the safety and well-being of Putnam County families.
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