Les Yeffa has been playing Santa at San Jose’s Christmas in the Park for 30 years
By Mary Gottschalk
‘All … jobs pale in comparison to the one he most enjoys and does for free–portraying Santa Claus at Christmas in the Park.
“I love the kids,” he says by way of explanation.
After a pause, he shares the story about why he’s been volunteering since 1980.
“My first time as Santa at Christmas in the Park, this lady speaking broken English brought her three little boys up.
“You could tell she didn’t have any money and she wanted her sons to visit Santa. The shopping malls charged $5 then to have your picture taken with Santa, but we’re free.
“Someone had told her about Christmas in the Park and she kept saying, ‘God bless you.’ She was so sincere and so thankful that her children could see Santa. That’s why I’ve stayed with this,” he says.’
(Photo by Rick Zerby/for SVCN/11/25/11) Santa Claus (Les Yeffa) listens to what two year-old Mary Ann Cardinale would like for Christmas during a visit to Christmas in the Park on November 25, 2011.
Mrs. Claus, Santa Charles, Elf Maddy, and Elf Madeline at Crossing Automation Party
Yes, Virginia, there’s a real Fraternal Order of Real Bearded Santa Clauses
By Angela Hill
Oakland Tribune, published in the San Jose Mercury News
Santa Walter makes the front page of Mercury News
- Santa Walter with sisters Karen and Linda
Back to snow business (excerpt from Angela Hill’s article published in the San Jose Mercury News)
‘Some hard feelings remain, but most have gotten back to the calling of Claus. Santa Walter, a sixth-grade teacher (his kids all know Mr. Roach and Santa are the same big, booming guy) at San Jose’s Norwood Creek Elementary School, has been Santa-ing for about nine years. He’s mostly an event Santa now, posing for photos at the Willow Glen shopping district, plus private parties, a breakfast with Santa at Happy Hollow Zoo, a company party at an In-N-Out Burger in Lathrop.
“I try to keep my number of appearances below 60 in five weeks,” he booms in his deep voice. “It’s still better than being a mall Santa. That’s a real grind. We’re entertainers, and it can be very draining. You’re ‘on’ all the time, pulling out all the stops for every child. And that’s the only way to do it. No child should ever be disappointed in Santa.”‘
Santa Walter's Boots
Santa Walter and Elf Madeline
Santa Walter Roach, working at San Pedro Square Market in San Jose, tries to limit his Santa appearances to 60 events in 5 weeks.
Julie and her team at the Peninsula Golf and Country Club have learned how to avoid disappointment; they book Santa for the following year an entire year ahead! It is wonderful to be appreciated! Excellent photography supplied by Scott.
Santa Walter & Elf Madeline at PGCC
Santa Walter equally enthralled!
Please take a look at Santa Walter in a retouched photo into a ‘Normal Rockwell’ style painting.
Below is how it started!
Santa Walter Enthralled by a Child
The Official NORAD Tracks Santa page! The website www.noradsanta.org goes live Dec. 1! There is a countdown timer, videos, photos, and even a mobile phone application for the big night. When children visit the site, hovering the mouse over various locations yields games and fun activities.
NORAD - Santa's Village
TechCrunch Scores An Interview With Santa Claus. And YES, His Epic Beard Is Real
Santa Walter Interview at TechCrunch
Santa Walter had a wonderful opportunity to do an impromptu interview with the folks at TechCrunch who were nice enough to air it over the Thanksgiving weekend. While touring around with Michael Celiceo to various places last Tuesday, Santa Walter was helping announce the rollout of Microsoft Windows 7 and Southwest Airlines collaboration to give free photos with Santa to travelers in 26 airports who fly SWA. Check it out below:
TechCrunch: TechCrunch Scores An Interview With Santa Claus. And Yes, His Epic Beard Is Real.
Santa's Ladies at Mike & Babba's
Now that is what may be considered to be completely surrounded! If I counted correctly, there are only 15 stunningly beautiful ladies; however, at the time it was almost overwhelming. We certainly had a great party with all of the extended family getting together each Christmas. Can you believe all of these ladies are related? They have already booked Santa Walter to return in 2011!
When he sent this photo, Mike said, “Santa Walter, Thanks again for Saturday night. Attached is the picture of you and all of the wives, daughters, nieces, daughter in-laws, etc. Looking for this to get posted on the website! Merry Christmas, Mike”
It is our pleasure!
73 is the best number: 21st prime; its mirror, 37, is 12th prime; its mirror, 21, is 3 x 7; and in binary 73 is 1001001
According to Sheldon on TV show “The Big Bang Theory”:
73 is the best number because:
- it is the 21st prime number
- it’s mirror, 37, is the 12th prime number
- it’s mirror, 21, is the product of 3 and 7
- in binary, 73 is a palindrome – 1001001
That’s why 73 is the best number!
(It’s a little hard to argue with that logic! — submitted by Denise Blackman, who hit the DVR replay enough times to catch all of the dialog.)
Santa Walter at Baldwin School, December 8, for Holiday Potluck Celebration
Santa Walter and Austin Vandecoevering; Photo by Patrick Tehan/Mercury News
The Mercury News Photographer, Patrick Tehan, captured the essence of the enchantment of a child chatting with Santa at Baldwin School, San Jose, CA, at the holiday potluck. In a way, it is unfortunate, since the article was discussing $30,000 embezzlement of Home and School Club funds.
Santa Walter was delighted to participate, since he is friends with some staff members at Baldwin School, and his daughter teaches there as well. None of those present at the potluck were part of the financial chicanery and collusion of two former leaders, which is well on the way to being fixed.
