Scout Commissioner Receives Silver Beaver Award

This past week Marilyn Ann Murphy Kahill, Oradell Troop 36 Commissioner, Advancement Chairperson and Eagle Coordinator, was presented the Silver Beaver Award by Northern New Jersey Council, Boy Scouts of America. 

The Silver Beaver Award is the highest Council recognition awarded to registered adults for distinguished service to youth, upon nomination by the Local Council to the National Court of Honor of the Boy Scouts of America.

The Executive Committee, Uniformed Leaders and Scouts of Troop 36 wish to extend their congratulations to Mrs. Kahill and thank her for all of her years of hard work and dedication.

Marilyn first became involved in BSA when she registered her son Derek in Cub Scouting in Cub Pack 142, St. Joseph’s Church, Oradell. She then went on with her son to the Troop and remained with 142 for six years in Advancement and walked the trail with nine Eagle Scouts. When her son decided to move on to the Town Troop, 36 in 1988, Marilyn again moved and in 1990 became its Advancement Chairperson which is the position she still holds to the present day.

Her first Eagle Scout was Derek E. Kahill (1990) and to the present date she has been witness and mentor to 86 additional young men, who have actively sought the coveted award in Boy Scouts of America. On March 19, Troop 36 welcomed seven young men into the brotherhood of Eagle Scouts. They join the 147 Eagle Scouts that came before them, bringing the troop total to 154 since 1925. She is presently working with three Life Scouts who are actively planning Eagle Project.

In 1996, with the death of George Mutchler (also a Silver Beaver Honoree), who was then the Commissioner of Troop 36, Marilyn went to a meeting at United Water of Commissioners, not knowing what the position was all about and what it entailed. Being the stranger in the crowd, Carol Reff spotted her and asked her if she would like to follow in George’s footsteps, Marilyn wasn’t sure if it was an invitation to become a Commissioner or follow George to Heaven. She opted for the former and is still Commissioner to Cub Pack 136 and Troop 36. 

While active in Scouting, Marilyn still found time to be an active participant in her Parish life at St. Joseph’s. During her 38 years as a parishioner; she has been Secretary on the Parish Council, Chairperson of Social Concerns, Lector for 28 years, and Eucharist Minister since 1991. Marilyn taught C.C.D. for ten years on Sunday mornings; Sunday nights found her at T.A.R.G.E.T, a youth group for the young people of the parish in High School; on the “Third Saturday” of every month she was the faithful aide to Father Jim McKenna, setting up for Mass and fellowship afterwards for approximately 200/300 people; she did this for 23 years.

One day during the week for five years she brought Eucharist at Bergen Pines to the guests of detox, along with taking the elderly to and from their rooms for Mass. On Sunday morning once a month she greeted the guests of the Sunrise Nursing Home in Oradell, bringing them to Eucharist. In addition she was a member of “Starfish” and “Meals on Wheels”. 

Marilyn is the proud mother of Maureen Ann Kahill-Brown, an Educator in Vermont, and Derek Edmund Kahill, a Police Officer in Oradell and, at present, Fire Chief and Director of the Office of Emergency Management. Four grandchildren fill in many a void, including grandson Justin, a Star Scout in Troop 36 working toward Eagle like his Dad. In the 100 year History of the Troop, it is the first time a Grandmother and Grandson have been registered on the same time. 

Marilyn’s work has been recognized with Awards from St. Joseph’s Social Concerns Committee – 1987, Troop 36 Eagles – 1990, The Nambe Eagle – 1998, American Legion – 2003, Golden Peaks Award – January 2004, Good Citizenship – February 2004, Bronze Pelican – 2005, District of Merit Award – 2009, Knights of Columbus Certificate of Merit – June 2010, Vision of Peace Award, Resurrection School, Jersey City – November 2010. 

The award is made for noteworthy service of exceptional character to youth by registered Cub Scout Leaders, Boy Scout Leaders, Venture Scouters, Varsity Scouters, District Level Scouters and Council Level Scouters within the territory under the jurisdiction of local Council. 

As evidence of the award, there shall be presented: a suitable certificate, duly authenticated by the Boy Scouts of America, pursuant to the action of the National Court of Honor and a miniature Silver Beaver suspended by a blue and white ribbon to be worn around the neck.