‘He’ll go to the end of the Earth to see a kid smile’
MILFORD — Macy’s is breaking with its 160-yearold tradition of Santa Claus greeting children this year because of coronavirus, and some Santas are scheduling Zoom visits, but Connecticut’s top Santa has found a way to keep upclose magic alive even during a pandemic.
This Santa, whose workshop is in Milford — and who is believed to be the real deal — will visit with children from behind a glass picture window on wheels, using a speaker, and will pop a candy cane out of a chute at the end of the visit. The whole family can pose for a picture before departing.
“I’m getting more phone calls than I’ve ever gotten,” said Santa, who looks a lot like Rick George. “I think people are looking for normalcy. Everyone’s trying for a safe, creative situation.”
He calls it “Santa Under Glass,” but before anyone envisions a squashed Santa, he’s just behind glass. George already had the traveling workshop so he could visit with children at nonprofit fundraisers and Christmas tree lightings. The wood-framed room, built atop a hitched trailer and built by George, is fronted by a glass-paned picture window with a spectacular, old-fashioned Christmas tree inside. He got the inspiration from a Macy’s Christmas window.
“It’s important to give people a feeling of hope and that this isn’t going to exist forever,” George said. “Under glass they can still have a piece of that Christmas and have their pictures taken.”
In normal years, George opens the back of the structure, puts out a ramp and when it’s their turn in line, kids come up one by one to tell Santa their wishes for Christmas. In the past, before COVID-19, children could sit on Santa’s lap if they chose or stand nearby to give their list. At the end, they may have gone for a high-five or hug, Santa would hand them a candy cane and someone usually would take a picture.
This year, though, Santa will be facing out the window — which normally would be to his side — and kids will move up to the
window when it’s their turn, talk to him through a speaker and then retrieve a candy cane sent through a chute made of PVC pipe. The child or even the whole family can pose for a picture with Santa in front of the window.
People in line to see Santa will be at least 6 feet apart, George said, and there will not be any popcorn, hot chocolate or other food items given out. While George — Santa — is ready to go and booked big time from the day after Thanksgiving on, the details of the many events where he’s scheduled to appear haven’t been worked out since the COVID-19 situation is fluid.
“This is a way I can provide a Christmas experience,” with no personal contact, George said. “Which is sad to me, but necessary.”
George not only wanted to be extra careful during the pandemic, but he also didn’t want children to see him in a mask because they already are faced this year with so many changes in tradition. George made it clear that he is in support of people wearing masks in public to stay safe when social distancing isn’t possible.
Sarah Muoio said George holds a special place in her family’s heart because he’s been so extra kind to her son, Anthony, 6, who survived a brain tumor and stroke, and now has epilepsy. Muoio said she’s not surprised at all that George went through all the trouble to make it nice for kids this year.
“He’s a beacon of hope and light in a world that’s difficult to navigate right now,” Muoio said. “I feel
like he’ll go to the end of the Earth to see a kid smile.”
She said that during the pandemic, Anthony wondered aloud, “Has anyone checked on Santa and the reindeer?” She sent George a video, and he called Anthony to reassure him and ask Anthony what he wanted or Christmas. Anthony said he would love a boat for the bathtub that he could build Legos on.
Santa delivered the boat early.
Lynda Tornatore, owner of Miss Dallas’ Shop in Milford, said she and husband, Gee, became friends with George since they met a few years ago — and so she wasn’t surprisedhe’s done so much to keep as much normalcy with the kids as he could.
She described him as having “extreme passion and gentle finesse and a willingness to share with all.”
Tornatore said George is stubborn — but not in a bad way. That trait “convinces him he can do whatever task he thinks of in his mind, regardless how long it will take, and how much it will cost. Determination without a doubt.”
Milford firefighter Kevin Frank said Milford Professional Firefighters Local 944 members love having George at their events.
“He brings great enthusiasm and a caring demeanor towards the kids in this area,” Frank said. “Both of which are extremely important for Santa to have.”
Many believe the Santa from Milford is the actual, real deal Jolly Old Elf, as children stare or stop him throughout the year when he is in plain clothes, rattling off their wishes.