Richard Gregory Klimaski

“Ho-Ho, Ho-Ho, I had somewhere to go. Just leave your name and a message too, and I’ll get back to you Ho-Ho. Ho-Ho-Ho!” – Santa Rich Klimaski (voicemail)

Richard Gregory (James) Klimaski, 80 years old, of St. Charles, Missouri, formerly of Rockaway Township, New Jersey, passed away on Wednesday March 26th, 2025. He was born in Montclair, New Jersey on November 11th, 1944, to his parents Alexander and Mary Klimaski.

The world has lost a shining, magical light, of a person. Richard was loved by everyone he met and instantly friended. He was the embodiment of the Christmas spirit, bringing joy to children and adults alike daily!  Whether he was making personal Santa videos for the parents of young children, charitable visits to hospitals and elementary schools, hosting campus tree lightings, leading rooms of people in singing Christmas Carols, performing as the official Santa Claus of Madison Square Garden in NYC, or being the friendly chat encounter at a New Jersey Diner, he had a positive impact great or small on everyone’s day or in the environment he was in.

Richard is survived by his three sons Brian, Steven, and Michael; their mother Janet; his daughter in law Rebecca; his two grandchildren Christopher and Lillian; his sister Betty, his brother Al; his many nieces and nephews, and his personal assistant Siri. 

Richard will bring his Christmas Spirit to the angels. He left us all on the third anniversary of the passing of his beloved, Diane Rocco. It seems to be fitting that he would rejoin her at that time.

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