Lester James (Jim) Clarke ’68, a kid from Holy Name Parish in Providence was a good student at La Salle, co-captain of the cross country and track teams, went to CCRI and Bryant College and by his own admission had “no clue what I wanted to do upon graduation” but found his passions in working with animals and animal research, marrying his high school sweetheart and becoming Santa Claus!

“I was a solid student who enjoyed math and science and long distance running,” said Jim, who during his years at La Salle was better known as Les.  “I remember Brother William, in particular as he was my math teacher.  I also vividly remember my friend Jacque Viera, who also ran cross country and track, convincing me to join him at a dance at St. Charles High School in Providence my junior year where I met Suzanne, the girl who would become my wife – it was as close to love at first sight as possible.”

“I also remember Brother Timothy catching us holding each other a bit too closely on the dance floor one Saturday night at the Canteen.  I had to meet with him after school the following Monday.  I got the lecture of my life but it made no difference.  We knew that we were made for each other.”

After two years at Rhode Island Junior College (now CCRI) and graduating from Bryant in the job-bleak summer of 1972, Jim began looking for work.  Since I was working at Roger Williams Park Zoo as a animal handler, while attending Bryant I decided to continue working until something else became available. During his stay at Roger Williams Park Zoo Jim worked with sea lions – work that led to the Zoo receiving a Rhode Island Foundation grant that funded the Roger Williams Park Zoo Mobile.  More importantly, that year he and Suzanne got married in June.

Jim has also has been the supervisor of the Warwick Police Animal Control Division, a veterinary technician and ultimately supervisor of the veterinary technical staff at the Warwick Animal Hospital and for the last 18 years the Veterinary Services Coordinator at Rhode Island Hospital.  During those years, Jim and Suzanne had two children, Sean and Heather – more about them later.

And, then there is that second career – a professional Real Bearded Santa Claus!

Jim prematurely began getting white whiskers in his beard some 14 years ago.  At that time he learned of the organization that ran the Santa photo displays at the local malls.  “Over my wife’s objections, I approached them about becoming a Santa and decided to give it a try and I have been at it ever since,” he said.  “One youngster, named Johnny, has been coming to see me every year that I have been a Santa – he was 4 that first year and now as an 18-year-old he is still coming and bringing his younger siblings.”

In addition to being a “mall” Santa, Jim is now sought after region wide, appearing as Santa from New York to New Hampshire.  He will make his ninth annual Santa visit to three camping resorts in Massachusetts and New Hampshire this summer.  He has been approached to become the Santa for a theme park in upstate New York but has deferred that until he retires from his “real” job.

“I will be very busy this holiday season with appearances at Warwick Mall, the Wickford Village Festival of Lights, my ninth season there,” said Jim.  “Perhaps my most moving appearance has been at Gillette Stadium to help Christie Coombs with the Christmas Party for the families of soldiers who are serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.  Being Santa for those families is very special.”

Jim ended the conversation talking about his children, Heather and Sean.

“Heather is an event coordinator and planner with Infusion Nursing in Norwood, Massachusetts and Sean works as a meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Little Rock, Arkansas where he lives with his wife Tabitha He has a master's degree in Advanced High School math and has taught in the Arkansas school system for three years prior to being hired by the weather service.  Sean and Tabitha recently had a baby boy, Brayden who is now 5 months old.”  We are all very big Patriot fans and Brayden will be called Brady for obvious reasons.

To read more about Jim’s Santa career, Google ”Sleigh Em with Santa” you will find a story that the Providence Journal ran a few years ago.  Jim can be reached at Naturallysanta@yahoo.com or at RIsanta@aol.com. Jim’s resides in Warwick his home phone is 401-739-1678.