Its own reward

Santa volunteer recognized by family, newspaper.

By: John Dunphy
   While many people last week were finishing up their Christmas shopping, Ed DeLoca, of Holly Lane, was donning an itchy beard, a scratchy red suit and an oversized cap.
   It was nothing new for a man who has been playing the role of Santa Claus for 10 years.
   Last year, however, Mr. DeLoca’s unbroken streak of entertaining children every December as Kris Kringle at the Lawrenceville Presbyterian Cooperative Nursery on Lawrenceville Road could have easily come to an end when his 78-year-old father, Cornelius, died Dec. 1 of complications from surgery.
   Despite his grief over his father’s death, Mr. DeLoca once again put on the St. Nick’s outfit and beard. He even dressed up for residents at the Stony Brook Assisted Living Facility in Pennington, which he has done for four years. He couldn’t let Santa’s fans down, and wouldn’t, said his wife Denise DeLoca., a teacher at the nursery school.
   That is why, last week, Mrs. DeLoca decided to surprise her husband of 22 years with a little recognition for his selflessness by pitching a story about him to The Lawrence Ledger.
   "He has such a big heart. He has a heart as big as Texas," she said. "He’s taking care of the old and the young. So, this is kind of my Christmas gift for him."
   For those who have brought their children to the nursery school as long as Mr. DeLoca’s played Santa, his decision to make sure the show went on last year wasn’t surprising.
   "It just speaks to what a warm-hearted person his is," said Pattie Faranetta, of Bridle Path, whose children have gone to the nursery for six years. "He’s just the kind of person who’s not going to let someone down."
   Lori Coyle, of Penlaw Road, has brought her children to see Santa at the nursery school over the years. Last week, amidst the sea of children eagerly awaiting to tell Santa what they want for Christmas, she said the man’s continued volunteerism in the role speaks well not only of him, but the whole DeLoca family.
   "They’re great people," she said. "They’re so giving and they’re so good with kids."
   There was a time, however, when Mr. DeLoca almost turned down the job of playing Santa.
   "I kind of reluctantly agreed to do it," he said of the time 10 years ago when his wife asked him at the last minute to take on the role after the previous Santa stepped down. "But, after the first time, I was hooked."
   Mr. DeLoca said he was shocked to see a photographer and reporter at the nursery on Dec. 21.
   "I thank my wife; it was a special gift," he said.
   Though praise in the nursery school auditorium was far from in short supply, Mr. DeLoca later played it down, saying he doesn’t do it for accolades, especially last year, when the role helped him and his family take their minds off the loss of his father less than a month before the Christmas holiday.
   "The kids just gave him such joy," Mrs. DeLoca said. "He said, ‘I have to do it.’"
   "It was rough on the whole family so I’m glad I did it," Mr. DeLoca said. "I get a great feeling from doing it. It still gives me a glimpse of fun and hope. There’s something kind of magical."
   Magic was certainly in the air that morning last week. As parents talked with parents, sipping coffee as children ran around and around in circles, tugging at pant legs, jumping up and down, a familiar face entered the room — donned with an itchy beard, scratchy red suit, an oversized cap and a bell jingling Santa’s arrival.
   One by one, the children’s attentions were drawn to the funny-looking figure at the other end of the room. Parents guided kids into a line. And, in businesslike fashion, Santa Claus got to work.