One local veteran is helping bring magic back to the community in the jolliest way he knows how.
Needham resident Jake Cole has been portraying Santa Claus for the last few years.
“This will be my fourth year doing it,” he said. “I was in the marines for 15 years, did law enforcement for about five years, odds and ends things. I’ve always loved Christmas, so my wife said, ‘Why don’t you look and see how to get involved.’”
Cole was taken under the wing of his dad’s friend, who also portrayed Santa. His costume is designed by Jamie Dampier, who has worked as a seamstress for celebrities like Post Malone and Rachel McAdams.
“She made my tote for me, with 20 to 30 different pockets on the inside to keep [little gifts],” Cole said. “I can pull a nine foot candy cane looking ‘North Pole’ out of a three foot bag.”
Cole’s Santa appearances are frequent at Toodleydoo Toys. He’s brought the holiday spirit to the Franklin toy store for the last three years. He also does home visits and photography sessions. He even learned a little sign language.
“I was the Santa for French Lick a couple of years ago,” he said. “In cumberland, I was their Santa last year. … It’s about giving back. I do nursing homesm I do schools, I do photography shoots. This year there’s a girl I met who does caroling downtown Franklin, and she made a post about it so I said I’d love to be a part of that. We’re working trying to get that to grow. We want to spread Christmas Cheer, like Buddy the Elf said.”
(“The best way to spread Christmas cheer is by singing loud for all to hear.” — Buddy the Elf, Elf (2003))
Cole is a U.S. Marine Corp. veteran who enlisted right out of high school and served for 15 years. He served in the reserves until the U.S. began deploying troops to Iraq, where Cole would serve four tours (2003, 2004, 2005, and 2009). He would also serve a tour in Afghanistan (2010). He served as a gunnery sergeant and had a skillset in radio operations.
To learn more or book a Santa visit, go to www.santacurtisclaus.com.