PROFILE: One Santa ready to pass reigns

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December 12, 2008

By Neale Gulley The Tonawanda News Fri Dec 12, 2008, 10:47 PM EST

Once a year for 40 years local Santa Claus Fred Wisniewski listened to what you wanted for Christmas, and in the process, he’s made an observation or two.

Now 77, the almost life-long North Tonawanda resident and former GM employee is getting ready to cut down his four-inch beard and retire, but not until after Christmas, of course.

“I started out as a redhead and my beard turned white about 40 years ago,” he said. “Some people wanted me to play Santa Claus and I think that was the Sikora Post.”

Since then he’s found work each year, all the way from Toronto to the Southern Tier.

Wisniewski said children’s wish lists have changed quite a bit over the years. In fact, he said most youths today don’t really brings lists and that the number of things they ask for has decreased since the post-war generation returned to domestic life. Further, he said that has never been truer than in the last two years, but he’s not sure the economy is the reason.

“I don’t know what kids four, five, six years ago know about economy, I just think they’re being raised where they don’t get as much as they used to ...” he said. “I think after the war the veterans got home and it seemed like they wanted to give the kids everything. Now the parents are saying ‘well, you can’t get everything you want.”

But there are some very different kinds of clients. The gigs vary— there are the children, of course, but also parties for adults.

“They come in and see me and then their faces light up and so does mine. You just be nice to the kids and ask them how they are with their parents and how they do in school. Then you ask, ‘now that you told me you’re a good little boy,’ you say, ‘well should I ask your mother?’ and they look at you and they say ‘sometimes,’ he said, laughing.

“Then you get the little boy or girl whose parents are separated and all they want is their mother and father to get back together. I’m a sentimental guy, and it doesn’t take long for me to get a tear in my eye.”

The adults have their requests as well. Wisniewski sometimes goes to the bars for a holiday party, where he said the ladies, usually after a few cocktails, ask him for things like cars and even husbands.

On retiring, the former machine technician doesn’t really want to pack it in.

“I sit there for about four hours — I’m getting old and my legs are giving out on me,” he said. “The last couple of years some guys would come out with me and walk along with me to make sure I didn’t fall down. I’m sorry I have to quit but ...”

His wife Nancy, who has oft played the elf handing out candy, and to whom he has been married for “51 years, two months and five days,” compares his retirement to taking a boat out of the water for winter. “Dry dock” she interjected during an interview Friday.

“After Santa season, a couple of days after Christmas, well I cut it down to about a half an inch long —then I pass for a sea captain.”

Shaving may be a once-a-year ritual, but this time, it’s for good.

“I’ve got two tomorrow, two on Sunday and then that’s the end of it. I’m going to cut my beard down to a half an inch and that’s it.”

Contact reporter Neale Gulley at 693-1000, ext. 114.

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