For most weeks of the year, Bob and Sue Baker are regular South
Valley residents. Come December, things change
There’s something distinctly superhero-ish about Bob and Sue Baker. To the unschooled eye, they seem like average South Valley residents. They’re business owners who run B&B Heating in Gilroy. If they stood in a crowd, nothing would set them apart from the others. But as Christmas draws nearer, a change comes over Bob and Sue. They become Santa and Mrs. Claus.
For the past 13 years, the Bakers have been donning Claus outfits and bringing the Christmas spirit to life. Traditionally, they have visited schools, the Ochoa Winter Center Transitional Housing and Supportive Services Program at St. Joseph’s Family Center, La Isla Pacifica, the Live Oak Adult Day Care Services, San Ysidro Park and other charity and community events in the South Valley.
“It’s magic. Santa Claus is just magic,” Sue said. “We enjoy doing it, and it’s something special for the community.”
At first glance, the Bakers don’t seem to resemble the Clauses. Bob doesn’t have a beard, and Sue has straight, closely cropped dark hair rather than Mrs. Claus’ stereotypical white curls. But spend a little time with them, and it’s easy see why they’re perfect for the job.
Bob is a quiet man with a slightly gruff air about him, belied by twinkling blue eyes and a kind smile. His hands are precisely the right size for Santa hands. They’re big – big enough to envelope adult-sized hands – making them just right for lifting children into his lap, for making even the tiniest believer feels safe, and for keeping the most fragile visitor steady.
Sue is chatty and motherly and warm; talking with her feels like visiting with a long-time friend. She keeps every letter handed to Bob by the children he talks with and is an expert at handing out candy, directing children to their parents and pointing out where to pick up your picture with Santa.
Once upon a time, Bob dressed as Santa for his grandchildren, but when the oldest noticed Santa bore a striking resemblance to grandpa, it was time to stop, Sue said. The Bakers made their first community appearance as the Clauses more than 10 years ago when they adopted a family at La Isla Pacifica, a home for battered women.
They got special permission to bring gifts to the family with Bob dressed as Santa, and they’ve been making the transformation every year since.
The Nimble Thimble, an embroidery shop in Gilroy, made Bob’s Santa suit for him, and Bob’s sister made Sue’s Mrs. Claus outfit, which includes an apron and dust cap.
Though Bob doesn’t sport a real beard, he’s made a special leather strap that goes all the way around his head to keep his fake white whiskers in place.
“The kids can tug on it all they want, and a lot of them do, but it won’t go anywhere,” Bob said.
Bob starts reading toy ads in early December so he’s well-informed by the time he starts hearing children’s wish lists. Computers, motorcycles, X-Boxes, Barbie, bikes and Gameboys are some of the most requested gifts, he said.
“The seniors at Live Oak (Adult Day Care) ask for some tough ones,” Bob said. “They ask for things like peace on earth and good health, and I tell them we’ll do our best.”
When the Bakers are on duty, everyone, including adults, gets to sit on Santa’s lap and have their picture taken. The Bakers have seen it all when it comes to having pictures taken with Santa, Sue said.
“Bob’s held tiny little 2-day-old babies. People have brought in pet iguanas. One boy brought his pet duck to sit with him on Santa’s lap,” she said, smiling. “We’ve had whole families get into pictures with Santa.”
Some children climb right up on his lap and have a whole list of gifts prepared, while others are too shy or in awe of Santa to speak. Bob said the 2-day-old babies don’t ask for much.
“I just tell the quiet ones to keep being good, and Santa will bring them something special,” he said.
The most frequently asked questions Bob said he hears as Santa are about his reindeer.
“Kids always want to know where the reindeer are,” he said. “I tell them there’s no snow here, so I couldn’t bring them.”
Sue’s favorite story to come out of their years as dressing as the Clauses started with a letter to Santa found at the post office. A little girl wrote that her family didn’t have a lot of money, and could Santa please bring them some warm clothes? The girl didn’t ask for any toys, and she listed the clothing sizes for each member of her family.
The letter had a return address on it, so Bob and Sue turned up at the family’s home dressed as Santa and Mrs. Claus. They brought clothes, food certificates, toys and a Christmas tree.
“It was truly what the magic and spirit of Christmas is all about,” Sue said. “They didn’t know who we were or how we had found them. Santa just showed up at their home with all these presents, just like all the stories say.”
And what do the Bakers think the real Santa makes of them?
“Santa’s probably just happy to have a day off,” Bob said, smiling.
