Santa shares experiences from Butler County
As children wait in line for a chance to tell Santa Claus their Christmas wishes, many cannot stand still. From the seat positioned at the end of the aisle, Santa Claus, also known as Tom Dorsch in Mars, sees children jumping up and down, anxiously crumpling the corners of their handwritten lists, and peeking around others for a glimpse of what’s ahead.
Each of the children in line soon take a turn sitting on Santa’s lap — or at least approaching the bearded man and sharing Christmas wishes from a moderate distance.
“When you get a little kid sitting on your lap and their eyes are as big as truck tires and they’re looking at you and they’re so excited they can’t sit still, that does it for me,” Dorsch said.
Dorsch has served as Santa for decades, debuting at Horne’s department store in the 1970s.
“I did it for them for years, and then I’ve been doing it ever since here and there,” Dorsch said.
This holiday season, Dorsch and his wife, Mrs. Claus, also known as Rita, made three or four event appearances, including Light Up Mars and a visit to the Mars Area Primary Center.
The Dorschs will be at Stick City Brewing Company in Mars on Saturday and have plans to appear at Springfield Grille in Adams Township. Additionally, the couple often takes FaceTime calls from children during December.
“My wife and I make people happy and that is enjoyment in itself, especially in the day in age we live in,” Dorsch said. “We need that pick me up.”
Sometimes children are inquisitive, asking questions about the logistics of the Christmas Eve trip around the world. Other times, they are apprehensive, and sometimes, they will cry, Dorsch said.
He takes a soft approach, intentionally taking time to listen no matter what the tone of the conversation.
“Sometimes you get sad stories,” Dorsch said. “Over the years, kids come up and their mother or dad has passed away, and they just want to know if they are in heaven. When you get stuff like that, it just emotionally knocks you out.
“That’s where their head is at; they’re thinking about other people and not necessarily themselves,” Dorsch said.
In nearby Saxonburg, Santa — who is known by many names across the world — is known as Ron Brooks.
Over 36 years, Brooks has watched many children grow up and return to see him, either by themselves or with their children. His red Santa suit is just as old as his Santa career, and his mother is his seamstress.
“It’s the continuity of having that same Santa. I’m that Santa that they remember,” Brooks said.
Over his career, Brooks has made appearances at the Grove City Premium Outlets, the Croatian Hall on Pittsburgh’s North Side and many breakfast with Santa events, and he was at the Light Up Night in Adams Township on Dec. 1. He also does appearances at multiple private holiday parties.
Brooks attributes his effort of spreading Christmas joy to why he is very busy every Christmas season. This year, he has more than 30 appearances scheduled, totaling more than 50 hours between Thanksgiving and Dec. 23.
“I have so many repeat customers because I become a part of their family experience of Christmas,” Brooks said. “They know that when I put on the suit, I’m Santa. It’s an experience like no other, to be able to be a part of people’s lives, be a part of their memories.”
While Brooks spends a lot of time and effort creating Christmas magic for children, he is determined to spread that joy to adults as well.
“I decided that I was going to try bringing back that magic, and not just to kids but to everyone,” Brooks said. “To me, playing Santa is a noble thing, it is a privilege to play Santa and be a part of someone’s life in that way.”
Brooks describes himself as “very soft and gentle,” not the loud in-your-face Santa popularized in the film “A Christmas Story.”
“Kids share a lot with Santa,” Brooks said. “Sometimes more than their parents at times, because it’s somebody that they think they can trust and can talk to. I try to give them comfort; that’s what Santa should be about, comfort and trust.”
After being Santa for so long, Brooks has learned it is best for Santa to not make promises on what will be under the Christmas tree, but to instead offer to look into getting that gift or to “do his best.”
“I think that you have to have the heart for it,” Brooks said. “You have to believe in the process and what you’re doing. You’re a part of kids’ memories and their upbringing.”
