By Richard Mabey Jr.
honor my Dad’s 30 years as Scoutmaster of Boy Scout Troop 170.
It is the morning of the seventh of October, as I write this essay. My sister and I printed our tribute book to our father’s 30 years, volunteer service as Scoutmaster of Boy Scout Troop 170, a week ago. In that short time, we’ve already sold over 50 copies.
Somewhere in the midst of, “Look Homeward, Angel,” Thomas Wolfe asks the question, “How many of us have looked into our father’s eyes?” I think that I know what Thomas was asking. I think it is a most profound question. For it really is one of the main themes of Tom’s incredible masterpiece book.
My sister, Patricia Mabey, and myself, finished writing Dad’s tribute book about three months ago. I must have done over a hundred reads of the book, before finally bringing it to the printer. We printed a hundred copies. Now, after only a week later, I am doing some slight revisions on the manuscript to submit it to the printer, to run another hundred copies.
Printing expenses have taken a big jump, as well as mailing costs. My sister and I decided to have a very slight profit margin, to make the book more affordable for people, in these days of a tough economy. Thus, we set the price at $15.00 for the book and $6.00 for postage and handling.
The book includes a most heartwarming Foreword by an Eagle Scout of Boy Scout Troop 170, Mark Brancato. Mark is now a very successful attorney, practicing in Boonton. Also, the book includes an endearing chapter written by another Eagle Scout of Troop 170, David Grimm. David is now a renowned musician. And then there is a very charming story written by Deborah Dixon Kearns, who holds the high honor of being the only girl to have ever been registered as a scout of Boy Scout Troop 170. Her story is a very cute story of pure determination.
My father served as a Committeeman of Boy Scout Troop 170 from 1964 to 1965. And then, Scoutmaster from 1965 to 1995. My father not only believed in every word of the Scout Law and Scout Oath, he truly lived it. In my father’s life, the Scout Law and Scout Oath, were only second to the Holy Bible. They were the very core guidance of my father’s life. My father took his role of Scoutmaster, very seriously.
We’ve really only advertised the book on Facebook. The purpose of this book is not to take advantage of people and make a lot of money. Not at all. Rather, it is a compilation of the stories of my beloved father’s relationship with the many boys, whom he touched and cared about, over the time of three decades. Hopefully, the scouts and scout leaders of Boy Scout Troop 170, who are still on this side of Heaven’s Gate, will have a single reference to provide sparks of memories of their time in dear old 170.
Boy Scout Troop 170 was founded in 1958, by Mayor William A. Dixon and Councilman Cornelius Boston. Two of the finest individuals whom I have ever known. The troop was sponsored solely by Saint Andrew’s Episcopal Church of Lincoln Park. The troop met every Friday night from 7:30 till 9:30 at the church’s famous Thorpe Hall.
My dear father was one of the kindest and wisest individuals whom I have ever known. He truly believed that it is better to teach a boy, the straight and narrow moral path, than to have to rehabilitate a wayward man. During the time of my father’s selfless service as Scoutmaster, there were well over 500 boys who were scouts of Boy Scout Troop 170. Some were only in the troop for a month or so, while some stayed on for quite some time, while they were still in high school. A few stayed on to become Troop Committeeman.
I don’t think a day goes by that I don’t think about some memory of Dad’s time as Scoutmaster. I dearly admired my father for his caring heart and for his dedication to scouting. My father went Home to be with the Lord in May of 2006. I still dearly miss him.
Richard Mabey Jr. is a freelance writer. He hosts a YouTube Channel titled, “Richard Mabey Presents.” He can be reached at richardmabeyjr@gmail.com.