One of the most cherished traditions at Mendoza is the arrival of Santa during the annual Christmas party. For more than 20 years, he’s patiently listened to hundreds of our kids’ wishes and requests, and calmed more than a few who were decidedly not Santa fans.

Of course, we know he is the real Santa. But for the rest of the year, he does have another identity. Here’s a brief Santa bio:

• Richard (Dick) Schinkel lives in Berrien Springs, Michigan, on the same 70-acre farm he grew up on. He earned bachelor and master degrees in education and science from Western Michigan University. He spent his career as an educator and trained naturalist, teaching science at Niles Community Schools and also as an adjunct professor for Western, Lake Michigan College and Michigan State.
• Dick’s first “Santa gig” wasn’t actually as Father Christmas. At a special holiday dinner while he was teaching in Niles, he decided to play Santa’s brother (mostly because he had a red beard at the time). He did the opposite of everything Santa would do. He wore a Hawaiian shirt, shorts and sunglasses. He sat on the kids’ laps and took things from them. It went over so well that "Santa's brother" became a tradition.
• His first appearance as Santa proper was for the Sarett Nature Center in Benton Harbor, where he worked as a naturalist. Initially, he wore a store-bought Santa suit, but as he received more and more requests to appear in local parades and other events, he hired a local seamstress to fashion the authentic Victorian-style St. Nicholas robes he wears today.
• Some of you might remember Santa bringing his reindeer to the Mendoza Christmas. He raised two calves on his farm and trained them to pull his sleigh. He later owned four reindeer — Dasher, Dancer, Prancer and Vixen — but eventually decided to sell them because of the cost (and the fact that they were scared of parades).
• Dick and his wife Patricia have been married for 53 years. They have three daughters — Kara, Marna and Jennifer. They all have been Santa’s helpers in various ways over the years, but he does NOT play Santa for his family.

It seems we never outgrow Santa. Dick has played St. Nick for generations of families and communities. He's collected many of his stories into a book, “My Life as Santa,” which is available at Fernwood Nature Center in Buchanan.

I hope you and your family will join our Mendoza family for our annual Christmas party at 4:30-7 p.m. on Friday in the Stayer Center Morris Commons. My thanks to Karma Grundy, who spends the better part of the year organizing this beautiful event. And let’s remember to wish our Mendoza Santa a very Merry Christmas.

In Notre Dame,

Martijn