Men in red: A look back at some well-known ‘Santas’ in the Tri-Cities

The first time I asked my dad how Santa Claus could be at a store we were just at, but also on the street corner three blocks away ringing a bell by a red bucket, he had the perfect answer for a curious 5-year-old.

“Santa has helpers who go to different places for him when he’s busy,” he said.

And that’s basically what helps make the joy of the holidays click in our communities. Men and women have been “helpers” by playing Santa Claus or Mrs. Claus, much to the delight of thousands of children through the ages.

Some reach legendary status by being willing to don the Santa Claus costume year after year for decades. After all, a historic 1950 St. Charles photo shows Roger Beels playing Santa, standing atop the city’s Municipal Building with Hotel Baker manager Bud Ziegler, waving to youngsters on the street.

As the holidays kick into high gear, it’s a good time to reflect on a few names that became as famous around here as Santa himself. In addition to Beels, John Forni Jr. and his cousin Don Forni stand out as names most often associated with Santa Claus in the Tri-Cities. But let’s not forget that Batavia Mayor Jeff Schielke and his wife, Linda, have also taken on the role of the jolly elf and his wife for 52 years.

Ironically, that’s the same number of years Beels played Santa, from 1930 to 1982, the year of his death at age 88.

Another interesting connection here? Let’s let Mayor Schielke tell it.

“When I was a kid, my mom hired Roger Beels from St. Charles to come and do a Santa visit at our house,” Schielke said. “I can’t say for sure where it is, but I know I have a photo of me sitting on his lap.”

That visit from Beels, who started his traditional “house-to-house” visits by delivering gifts to children as Santa during the Great Depression, may not have sparked Schielke’s interest in portraying Santa in the future, but the fact that someone took the time to play Santa Claus in town likely wasn’t lost on him.

John Forni Jr. made sure the St. Charles area wasn’t without a Santa Claus the community could depend on by playing the role for more than 60 years, up to his passing in 2014 at the age of 89.

It was quite a run for a man who was a school bus driver and park board commissioner in St. Charles and got his start as Santa by illustrating one of the key qualifications for making people merry during the holidays — having a big heart.

The way Forni told it in past interviews, he was working maintenance at Delnor Hospital in 1944 when he heard about a young girl in the pediatric ward needing to be cheered up.

He put on a Santa costume, added a “ho, ho, ho,” cheered up the youngster and essentially created his side “career.”

In the meantime, other than being related to John, Don Forni took a similar path in working for the Geneva Park District for 38 years before retiring as the parks superintendent. He too would take on the role as one of Santa’s “helpers,” appearing often at Geneva Lions Club events (he was a member of the Lions) and greeting kids as Santa during Geneva’s popular Christmas Walk event. Don Forni passed away at age 76 in 2015.

In Batavia, Jeff Schielke does what seems like a Clark Kent change of clothes on Christmas Eve. But he’s not getting into a Superman cape. He becomes Santa Claus, while wife Linda portrays Mrs. Claus.

Having played Santa since 1971, when he was a volunteer fireman in Batavia and would show up at the homes of the firemen in his Santa suit each year, Schielke said he’s cutting back a bit now.

Santa and Mrs. Claus only have so many places they can be on Christmas Eve, so Schielke said they concentrate mostly on “people we know, or those with grandchildren or young children.”

Schielke said he’s operated under a simple rule all these years. “There has to be a believer in the house,” he said, meaning Santa prefers the wonderment of young kids.

Regardless of where our Santas show up to help these days, it’s possible that some of those helpers are men and women building up a history of playing that role for several years.

But it may never be quite the same as the longevity blueprint that folks like Beels, Forni and Schielke have established.

“Years ago, these communities had much smaller populations, so playing Santa Claus was something that a local person would do, and would just do it every year,” Vanessa Quillian, administrative assistant at the Geneva History Museum, said about the longevity of a community’s “Santa.”

Either way, we salute the merry folks who keep this sort of tradition going by playing Santa, a workshop elf, or a caroler from yesteryear.

It’s such an important part of the holiday tradition, one that we can all see stands the test of time.

I’m no Santa

One other thought on the men and women who play Santa Claus during the holiday season.

The men, especially, should have a relatively large build, it would seem. Maybe not fat, but just a big fellow.

Because of that, I have to simply be envious of those who take part in this special holiday tradition. At 5’6“ and 140 pounds, I could never do it. I would be like Barney Fife playing Santa in the popular Andy Griffith holiday episode titled “The Christmas Story” in which Ben, a grumpy business owner in Mayberry, learns about the blessings of family get-togethers during Christmas.

In a pinch, Barney agrees to play Santa and the result is obvious. Skinny guys have a hard time making Santa come to life.

Extending popular ‘Million’

There’s no doubt the Paramount’s production of “Million Dollar Quartet” at the Stolp Island Theatre in Aurora has been popular among attendees. But nothing confirms that better than an extended theater run for the musical.

Paramount recently announced this rousing musical depicting the historic night at Sun Studios in Memphis, Tennessee, when Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash and Carl Perkins jammed together has been extended through June 29.

One thing to watch for is the addition of Matt McClure, who will make his Paramount debut in the role of Carl Perkins. He played Buddy Holly in another musical, so he knows something about the music and personas from that era.

Tickets and information are available through paramount.com.

The ‘Walk’ tradition

Unless a blizzard came up on the weather radar in the time since I wrote this earlier in the week, we certainly hope to get our grandkids out to the Geneva Christmas Walk tonight, Friday, Dec. 6.

I suspect the kids will enjoy the Giving Tree exhibit, in which various charities have trees on display, being in the same place again in the Geneva History Museum this year.

The idea of having the trees, in which people vote for their favorites with a donation, spread out throughout town at different retailers was worth a try, but we like them back in one spot.

On occasion, a new business in downtown Geneva will make its debut during Christmas Walk, and that’s the case with the Oak & Rose Tea Room, a reservation-only afternoon tea room with two-hour seatings for up to 60 guests Fridays through Sundays.

Oak & Rose is located at 1 W. State St., Suite 107, in the Geneva on the Dam complex. The business has an open house from 4 to 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6, to offer tea, coffee or hot chocolate to those heading off to Christmas Walk.

Matching those donations

In an increasing era of digital payments, people often don’t carry much cash. Throw in the stress that inflation has created on all families, and it makes it more difficult for the folks ringing the bell next to Salvation Army donation buckets.

Seeking a way to offset a slowdown in donations, the Salvation Army Tri-City Corps is hosting two Kettle Match Days this holiday season in which corporate sponsors agree to match donations, up to $25,000, on a specific day.

This generous gesture helps the Salvation Army continue its vital work during the holiday season. Past records indicate that people in this area have always responded by stuffing dollars into the red buckets during the holiday season.

Colonial Café will match donations on Saturday, Dec. 14, while Shodeen Family Foundation will match on Saturday, Dec. 21.

Last Christmas, the Salvation Army Tri-City Corps data showed the organization helped 910 families and 1,638 children by distributing 5,353 toys and games; 3,500 coats, gloves, and shoes; and more than 400 Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners.

More than 28,000 people have been helped through rent and utility assistance, toys, clothing and meals at Christmas, older adult classes and after-school and summer programming for children this past year.

dheun@sbcglobal.net