Ghosthunter answers call at Penn State Worthington Scranton campus

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Ghosthunter answers call at Penn State Worthington Scranton campus
April 17, 2009
BY MEGAN REITER
The Times-Tribune.com

DUNMORE — When then-16-year-old John Zaffis saw the spirit of his grandfather standing at the foot of his bed, he began exploring the paranormal.

Now known as the “Godfather of the Paranormal,” Mr. Zaffis shared his 36 years in the field with a crowd of at least 100 Thursday night at Penn State Worthington Scranton campus.

“Who you gonna call?” he asked at the beginning of his two-hour plus presentation. “At the end of the night, it better be John Zaffis.”

In between fielding at least three questions about Ouija boards — not to mention an inquiry about Jesus’ image on a grilled cheese sandwich — Mr. Zaffis gave the crowd a down-to earth look at popular paranormal theories. Those spots and “orbs” that can appear on photos? Most likely the culprit of dust and moisture, Mr. Zaffis said.

“The thing that intrigued me was that he wasn’t here to hype it,” Bill Jones of Pittston said of the presentation.

Frank Rizzo, 24, of Scranton, enjoyed Mr. Zaffis’ clips of his appearances on “20/20” and a Discovery Channel special.

“He had some pretty credible sources, like Discovery Channel, History Channel,” Mr. Rizzo said. “That’s something you don’t screw around with.”

An open mind is essential in his profession, said Mr. Zaffis, a practicing Catholic with three children. He’s seen some fabrications — and some things that have him absolutely convinced of spirits, ghosts, angels and curses.

“People get cold when they go in a haunted location ... because spirit needs that energy,” he said.

A mechanical engineer by trade, Mr. Zaffis said his “favorite place in the world” to visit is Gettysburg. In 2010, he hopes to open his Museum of the Paranormal to the public.

He’s taken in items that other people considered possessed, although “only people and animals can be possessed. Other things can have energy attached to them.”

The worst thing to do, he said, is try and destroy an item with negative energy attached to it.

“The energy can never be destroyed,” Mr. Zaffis said. “It takes on different forms.”