One man’s love of portraying the ‘big guy in red’
by JILL SCHMELZER Reporter

Mike and Mary Ellen Stoh dressed in their Mr. and Mrs. Claus outfits and waited to hear hundreds of children’s wishes for Christmas.

“He’s making a list, he’s checking it twice, he’s gonna find out who’s naughty and nice. Santa Claus is coming,” to the Boulevard Mall.

Mike Stoh of West Seneca has portrayed Santa Claus at the mall, located at 700 Alberta Drive in Amherst, for the past three years.

The big guy in red started growing his white whiskers in July, giving “Christmas in July” true meaning.

“I play Santa 365 days a year,” Stoh said, noting that before he met his wife, Mary Ellen, he was a Scrooge.

“She got me into the Christmas spirit by decorating the inside and outside of our house,” Stoh said.

Their home is now lit up with a computerized lighting system. Their winterfest includes a Ferris wheel in the back yard for children to come and play, Stoh said, noting he and his wife are often outside dressed as Mr. and Mrs. Claus.

The grandfather of three said his grandchildren don’t like to come near him when he is dressed from head to toe in his Santa gear, but as he does with other shy boys and girls, he offers them jingle bells and candy to coax them into feeling more comfortable.

Stoh dresses in red year-round, and said he even knows when “you’ve been naughty and nice.”

“The best part of playing Santa is seeing all the smiles,” Stoh said. He noted that children approach him even when he isn’t in his full outfit. For instance when he dons his long Santa hat and big red jacket.

A few hot-ticket items that top his Santa list this year include X-Box 360, Bratz dolls and Dora the Explorer apparel.

For those wishing their mommy and daddy will get back together, Stoh says, “We’ll see what we can do.”

Santa Claus will be located near the carrousel in the Food Court at the Boulevard Mall until Dec. 24.

e-mail: JSchmelzer@beenews.com