Ghosts of Clairemont’s Christmases Past

Guest Post

During Clairemont’s recent 75th Birthday Bash, several visitors to the history tent shared memories of Christmases past.

Santa’s First Sightings in Clairemont

A woman recalled a long wait with her little brother for Santa’s arrival by bus at the South Clairemont Quad. Even as a kid in the 1950s, she thought it was strange to see Santa Claus get off a bus. She commented, “It wasn’t dignified.”

In 1960, Santa made a more traditional appearance at the North Clairemont Square. He was delivered on a sleigh drawn by real reindeer. Because Clairemont had a million kids back in the fifties and sixties, this Santa didn’t waste any time talking with them. He gave out candy canes as fast as he could. Some Santas have personalities better suited to handing out towels in the locker room. 

Twentieth Century Clairemont Santa

The impatience of some of Clairemont’s earlier Santas was contrasted by many fond memories of Gabe Bradford, possibly San Diego’s first real-bearded Santa. A friend who was the promotion director at the shopping center thought he’d make a good Santa. After a few years, Gabe finally agreed. “Being portly with a real beard certainly was an asset for the part,” he chuckled. 

Santa Gabe always had a long line, because he spent time with the kids and, seemingly, remembered every one of them. “I enjoyed talking with the children and answering their questions about Mrs. Claus, the reindeer, the elves, etc.. I enjoyed asking the kids questions and encouraged them to ask what they wanted to know about,” said Bradford.

When told about a mother whose daughter didn’t believe Santa was real, he laughed. The girl insisted that she had visited Santa her whole life. He knew her by name. He had to be real. 

Gabe explained, “I saw the same families year after year and saw the kids grow up. As adults, many would bring their kids to see me. I was privileged to be Santa for the residents of the community for almost 40 years. Over the years, I can remember at least two new moms stopping off to see Santa for pictures with their newborns before going home from the hospital.” 

“Perhaps my most poignant memory was a mom who wanted to sit on Santa’s lap, and she brought Santa to tears. She had been diagnosed with cancer and was afraid she wouldn’t see her kids grow up. What can Santa say? Offer words of comfort and encouragement? She returned for three years… and didn’t return for the fourth. I prefer to think she and her family moved away. I will never forget that day.”

Gabe began visiting kids at the Square in the 1970s and remained until 2017. Following open-heart surgery, he decided to hang up the red suit. “I didn’t want to have a medical emergency in front of a long line of children waiting to see Santa,” he said.  

He was proudest of what he called “A tradition of keeping a long line alive for my entire appearance.” 

The Birth of Clairemont’s Christmas Park

Perhaps the least known Santa in Clairemont was Don Park. For decades, North Clairemont had one of the best Christmas displays in San Diego County, but it didn’t have a name. Park organized the event in 1977 when he and his young son walked the neighborhood, placing notices in mailboxes. Initially, nobody knew who had done it. The idea grew into a colorful winter wonderland. Sometimes, he sat in his driveway wearing the red suit. 

When Don Park died in 2016, his neighbors on Lana Drive and Jamar Drive agreed to name the event in his honor: Clairemont Christmas Park.

Editor’s Note:

Bill forgot to mention his own indelible mark he left on San Diego when he played Santa for many years. He was the Santa at various locations in San Diego, including Balboa Park’s December Nights.

Merry Christmas to everyone who celebrates!