At The Table With Mr. and Mrs. S. Claus
THIS INTERVIEW IS FROM 2017 >> before the world lost the true Santa Claus — better known as “Big” Tom Mitchell.
I want to share it with you once again.
It was the Christmas of 1969 when 18-year-old Tom Mitchell was asked to be a standin Santa Claus for the Royersford Jaycees. Just two times as Santa, he was hooked for a lifetime and became the REAL DEAL. For 49 years until he unofficial retired in 2008 — officially retired in 2011 — he was Santa Claus.
In August 1970 he and Kathleen Fedorsic started to date and were married in 1971. Kathleen became Santa’s driver. It was 1983 when she became Mrs. Santa Claus. When they were young, their children Tommy & Wendy were elves — Jingle & Belle. The love and joy of life were passed onto their five grandchildren.
Know by all as “Big Tom,” he made it a mission to grow his belly, so no padding was needed. In 1970 when he purchased his first Santa suit, it was size XXL — several suits later he wore XXXXL. I was always so proud that I was one to make one of the suits for him.
This Mitchell family were a very busy family. Tom’s daily job was a car salesman over the years. Kathleen ‘s love of children had her caring for several children. Each child was like her own. Later she went to work for Aetna, retiring in 2011.
In 2011, Tom lost his right leg (below the knee). The Mitchells adopted to this life change. Tom on his electric scooter with his sidekick Fannie (a Shih Tzu) could be found all over the place. There wasn’t a group or event, especially in the Phoenixville area, that he wasn’t involved with. He was the Ambassador of Phoenixville. Tom and Kathleen’s involvement was so great that it is impossible to name each and every one.
From 2010 to 2015, Tom and Kathleen created “Costumes for a Cause”. They lent body costumes out for charitable events at no charge. This project was handed over to the P.A.H.S. Honor Society and is still going strong.
He fell and broke his left leg in 2015 — so severely that it needed to be amputated. But Tom always seems to bounce back. He now uses an electric chair — with his prosthesis, he uses a walker around the house.
Today, Kathleen is once again the driver, as Tom goes to dialysis three times a week for a little over four hours each time. He needed to slow down somewhat. So with retirement they moved to Royersford to a new place that suits his needs. Tom still be found on his chair with Fannie riding around Royersford — weather permitting.
Santa still keeps his naughty & nice list. He is known to deliver to “naughtiest” lumps of coal — not actually lumps of coal. Mrs. Claus whips up these up in her kitchen for Santa to use.
CHRISTMAS COAL for the Naughty!
3 Tbsp. butter
6 cups marshmallows 1 tsp. vanilla
1 cup chocolate creamed filled cookies – crushed
5 cups Rice Krispies Cocoa cereal black food gel
In a large bowl — crush cookies & combine with cereal – set aside. Over medium-high heat melt butter. Turn the heat down to lowest setting & add marshmallows. Stir until mixture is melted down for several minutes – add in vanilla. Add black food coloring a little at a time until you get a black coal color — continue until mixture is completely melted. Remove from heat & stir in cereal – combine until all is black. By teaspoon drop onto greased baking sheet & shape into coal shared pieces. They should cool for 25 to 30 minutes before eating.
Surprise your naughty family & friends with the old tradition of putting a piece of coal (cookie) in the toe of their Christmas stocking!
May I wish you all the love & joy that the holidays will bring to you!