Robert J. George; Full-Time Santa Claus

Robert J. George, who lived full time as Santa Claus for nearly 50 years and presided over the Traditional Pageant of Peace--the White House Christmas tree lighting ceremony--in eight presidencies, has died. He was 74.

George was visiting his doctor for follow-up care after vascular surgery when he died Wednesday of congestive heart failure, according to his wife, Stella.

Born May 18, 1924, in Columbus, Neb., George frequently told the story of the night in 1949 when he first had the vision that he was to become Santa Claus. He gave up his barbershop and assumed the identity year-round.

In 1956, he was invited to join President Eisenhower’s White House Christmas ceremonies. The yearly visits continued through eight presidencies. George’s health problems prevented visits during the Clinton administration.

George moved to California in 1962 and married Stella Chaney--daughter of silent-film star Lon Chaney--in 1965. Stella, a bank auditor who scheduled her vacations around the White House trips, became known as “Mrs. Claus.” The couple lived in Sierra Madre through the ‘70s, then Orange County and Glendale. They had resided in Sun Valley since the early ‘90s.

George was a long-time member of the Kiwanis Club, the Lions Club and received numerous humanitarian awards, including citations from the Motion Picture Council and the city of Los Angeles.

As a testament to his credibility, toy companies and other firms supplied George with the gifts he bestowed upon children in his charitable work, which included arranging visits to his home’s toy-filled “Christmas Room” by terminally-ill children who weren’t expected to live through Christmas.

George’s benevolence extended toward the elderly as well. He would bake cookies and fudge and visit convalescent homes, where he would sing Christmas carols, year-round, with the residents.

“The thing that was so impressive about him is that his life role as Santa Claus was born of a real sense of mission, not just a thing to do,” said the Rev. Jack Hayford, pastor at Church on the Way, which George joined in 1994.

“He was a man of deep faith in God . . . his love of children and his perception of spreading love all year long--not just at Christmas--was motivated by that faith,” said Hayford. George rarely missed Sunday services and always wore red slacks.

A movie based on George’s life called “A Different Kind of Christmas” aired on the Lifetime Channel in 1997.

In addition to his wife, George is survived by his daughter, Roxanne Clark of Celeste, Texas; two sisters, Madeline Kress of Seattle and Frieda Scharfenberg of Sacramento; four brothers, Ted George of Grand Island, Neb., Kenny George of Columbus, Neb., and Phil George and Fred George, both of Cozad, Neb.; and two grandchildren.

A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Church on the Way’s west campus, 14800 Sherman Way, Van Nuys. Interment will follow at San Fernando Mission Cemetery, 11160 Stranwood, San Fernando.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Church on the Way.