(2003) - Created by
John A. and Barbara L. Campbell and Joseph A. and Shirley H. Hardy to celebrate
the life and good works of their friend, Joseph Femiani.
The following article was printed in the
Observer-Reporter, on May 5, 2003
Once described as an “entrepreneur for humanity,” Joseph Femiani spent the
better part of his life reaching out to those in need, particularly children.
And, it will be Femiani's quest to protect children from abuse and domestic
violence that people will remember through the Watchful Shepherd USA program.
“He had a real compassion for children and their needs for a happy life.” said
Donna Nardine, executive director of Watchful Shepherd, a national nonprofit
program Femiani founded in 1993 to provide Washington County Child Protective
Services Unit with electronic monitoring device to enhance its efforts to
protect children in potential dangerous family situations. The program
idea came to Femiani one day after watching a television news story about a
young girl’s brutal beating death at the hands of her father. Femiani wondered
what could possibly be done to assist caseworkers in monitoring the well-being
of children at risk for abuse.
He found his answer in a technology similar to the “Lifeline” technology
utilized by homebound senior citizens. Once introduced into the program, a child
is provided with an electronic transmitter in the form of a pendant or
wristwatch that, with the push of a button, activates a communication link that
allows the child to summon help from a local hospital emergency department.
Wathchful Shepherd, which is now based in McMurray, was initiated at Canonsburg
Hospital in 1993. Over the next decade, the model of child-abuse prevention has
been successfully implemented in six states and has served more than 393
families and more than 1,978 children between the ages of 3 and 17.
According to Nardine, Femiani had a vision for the future of the program, and
she said, “Obviously, the program will continue.”
While Femiani will be greatly missed, Nardine said his determination and concern
will be the driving force behind the program. She said she always will remember
Femiani saying: “Children are our songbirds, and they are being plucked out of
the sky one by one. Unless we do something, pretty soon there will be no music.”
Ron Galiano, a close friend, said Femiani was truly a special person who lived
life with a passion. He’s the type of person who lived it, he just didn’t
do it,” he said. “He was fighting wherever he had the opportunity to do so.”
In addition to Watchful Shepherd, Femiani established the nation’s first Mother
Teresa Society benefiting the poor, and organized a nationally recognized
“after-prom” program for high school students.
He had been the recipient of many honors, including the Jefferson Award,
established years ago by Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, and others. He also was
named Rotary International Paul Harris Fellow and Citizen of the Year in
Pittsburgh. He received J.C. Penney Golden Rule Award, National League of Women
Voters Social Service Award, Marriott Corp. Modern Health Care Service
Excellence Award and the Pittsburgh Annual Health Care Heroes Award.