Elk Grove man was Santa to many

James Foss was known throughout Elk Grove Village as Santa to area children and needy families.

He played the jolly old elf at gatherings at Alexian Brothers Medical Center for nearly 20 years, and also for 10 at the Elk Grove Village Public Library. He died June 11 at the age of 74.

"He was a wonderful Santa," says Pat Hertzberg, library circulation department head. "He really looked the part, and children lined up to meet him."

However, Mr. Foss' role went beyond donning his red suit and beard. He began collecting toys for needy children through a charity he called "Toys for Joy," which drew widespread support.

His co-workers at Alexian Brothers Medical Center in Elk Grove, where he worked in the engineering department, gathered once a year in the hospital cafeteria on "wrap day."

The annual project drew employees and volunteers to pitch in and help organize the piles of donated gifts.

"But Jim always delivered them," says Mary Ann Magnifico, construction and support services vice president at Alexian Brothers Medical Center. "He was sort of an ombudsman to the community."

Mr. Foss delivered gifts to Elk Grove Township and area school districts, which had identified needy families, and later to Alexian Brothers Community Family Clinic in Mount Prospect.

Family members say he also sent gifts to disadvantaged children living overseas through Mother Teresa's Missionaries of Charity.

In all, Marilyn Foss figures her husband collected more than 160,000 toys over the life of his 17-year project.

"He loved doing it," she says. "It was a time in his life when he figured it was something he could do."

He was named "Man of the Year" in 1988 by members of the Greater Woodfield Chamber of Commerce for his work, an honor which he cherished, his wife says.

Mr. Foss and his wife lived in Elk Grove Village for 42 years, and for the last 16 he served on the village's community services board, whose role is to identify the human service needs of Elk Grove residents.

One of its many projects is to sponsor the "adopt a family" program for needy families, which Mr. Foss heartily endorsed.

Besides his wife, Mr. Foss is survived by his children John (fiancé Lisa) and David (Jean), both of Huntley, and Eileen (Ed) Showalter of Gilberts, as well as four grandchildren and one great granddaughter.

Visitation takes place from 3-9 p.m. today at The Oaks Funeral Home, 1201 E. Irving Park Road in Itasca, before an 11 a.m. Mass Saturday, June 20, at St. Julian Eymard Church, 601 Biesterfield Road in Elk Grove Village.