Real-life Santa

Torus Tammer

Fountain Valley bar owner Tony DeSantis has spent the last year

nudging his customers to pony up spare pennies, nickels and dimes -- just

so the children at the Fountain Valley Regional Hospital and Medical

Center could receive a present this Christmas.

The 66-year-old DeSantis, a child at heart himself, was noticeably

excited as he dispensed stuffed toy lions to numerous bedridden children

at the hospital Tuesday.

Kathleen O’Brien, a hospital spokesperson, said what DeSantis and his

loyal customers have performed is an incredible service for many.

“He and his customers have been persistent and have done this for

three years now, and it seems to just keep going,” O’Brien said. “The

hospital benefits from Tony’s generosity and the kids love to get the

toys.”

Stepping into the role of Santa Claus, this is the third year he has

distributed the toys to “Pops Kids.” And it is something this big-hearted

family man treats with reverence.

“I’ve been married 44 years, and Santa Claus has come to my house

every year,” said DeSantis, a longtime Fountain Valley resident. “ I’m

inspired to do this because a lot of kids don’t have Santa Claus and

presents, and I want to be able to bring a little something to them. I’m

a firm believer in Santa Claus.”

Darlene Haas, 42, DeSantis’ daughter, helps run T and T’s Frolic, the

DeSantis family business. Haas said it was wonderful growing up with such

great parents and even greater memories.

“My dad believes in Santa Claus ... he really does,” Haas said. “My

father loves kids and loves making people feel special. That’s why he

plays Santa every year.”

This is the third year of “Pops Kids” said DeSantis, which he said

started after he attended an Avon meeting with his wife, Janine, and saw

that the group was promoting fund-raisers and involvement by its members.

DeSantis said it was after being at that meeting he decided to contact

the Fountain Valley hospital and pitch his “Pops Kids” concept. They

accepted and since then he has adopted a take-no-prisoners approach to

raising money for his beloved kids, which to date has totaled $6,500.

Diana Morrell of Westminster has been a regular at the Frolic bar.

Morrell says if you know Tony, then you know he is a “super guy.”

“It’s family-owned and operated and you know it because you get

treated like a family member,” Morrell said. “It’s great to see Tony push

everybody to donate money to the cause throughout the year.”

Customers love DeSantis, Haas said, who added it is her belief the

kind of adoration her father gets is due in part to the way he makes

everyone feel, whichis as though they always have a home away from home.

She added her father is the kind of person who will see someone at his

bar who is alone on Christmas and invite them home for dinner.

“He likes his customers so much that he even scolds them like he would

his own family, and they all love him for it,” Haas said. “That’s why the

customers are so loyal to him.”

DeSantis sees himself as a man who respects and appreciates the

sanctity of Christmas.

When he talks about the festive seasons of past, his voice emanates a

tone of gratitude, filling the air with the sense of happy memories.

When talking about this years achievement and the loyalty of his

customers, DeSantis shows much joy and pride.

“This was the most satisfying year yet because we went to the hospital

during the day and not the night and the kids were awake and not sleepy,”

DeSantis said. “There’s nothing like seeing their faces when we show up

-- that’s the reward. My only wish is that all my customers could be

there too.”