On first impression, he looks like so many of his ‘age group’ – having lost the battle of the bulge and sporting white hair on top as well as on face. But, look a bit closer and what magically appears are his red coat and pants trimmed with a fur-lined cap, along with black belt and boots.
During the Christmas holidays, he’s Santa Claus. During the rest of the year, he’s Richard Simpson who leaves his North Pole address for his warmer home at the Recreation Plantation RV Park, just outside The Villages.
Simpson also proudly wears another uniform during the year: for the past four years that of the president of Veterans Memorial Park in The Villages.
“I’ve been Santa for more than 40 years — ever since I had to quickly fill in at my company’s Christmas party in Phoenix, N.Y. I immediately knew that being Santa was more than a ‘calling,’” recalls Simpson. “My wife Ursula had been very supportive, and now often accompanies me. Of course, she’s dressed as Mrs. Claus.”
On Wednesday, he, once more became his cherished Santa, and held court for astonished and appreciative youngsters at the Lady Lake Library. He gave them candy canes. They gave him warm hugs and ear-to-ear smiles.
His visit was one of 15 such stops this holiday season throughout Central Florida. Recently, Simpson “officiated” at Lady Lake’s Tree Lighting ceremony. He also was the center of attraction at a special holiday party in Fruitland Park for abused children, and surprised young students at the Villages Elementary at Lady Lake He was the VIP guest at a Christmas party, for deserving community children, which was held in a funeral home.
“Since I never charge for an appearance, the company donated $150 to Veterans Memorial Park,” Simpson said.
And his “kids” are not always younger than the age of ten. He devotes many hours to visiting retirement homes and greatly enjoys spending time with the “kid in every resident.”
“Recently, at one facility, there must have been 50 to 60 women who waited to sit on Santa’s lap. I hope they enjoyed my visit,” he said. “But boy, by the next day, my legs were sore.”
“I’ll never forget once while touring a nursing home and greeting those residents too frail to leave their rooms, we stopped in front of the closed door of a patient’s room. My nurse escort suggested we continue as that patient did not speak much and was ‘unemotional.’ But, I went in anyway. As soon as she saw me, her face lit up and yelled out ‘Santa.”
“I love what I do. It’s my thing,” Simpson continued. “I love the kids and all the other people I meet.”
