Good tidings we bring

Each holiday season, the University of Dayton Alumni Association hosts its annual Christmas off Campus event, a fun play on UD’s annual student-driven event, Christmas on Campus.

For the last several years, Jerry Walling '72 has been kind enough to portray Santa Claus for the many children who come through Christmas off Campus as hosted by the Dayton alumni community. But in 2019, upon his retirement, he passed the torch off to his brother, Larry Walling '82, to carry on the tradition.

Said Larry Walling, “When he retired, he gave me the suit and the shoes. We’re seven years apart, and we wear the same size suit — it fit perfectly. I just was the likely person to replace him.”

In 2019, he thought that maybe he was taking on the role temporarily, as Jerry Walling asked him to be Santa while he was preparing to get married. But this year, Larry Walling is excited knowing that he will be an official Santa Claus for the UD Alumni Association for this — and hopefully many more — years, he said.

This year’s Dayton Christmas off Campus looked slightly different, however, in order to keep alumni safe as the COVID-19 pandemic continues. It featured a drive-by event at Curran Place where alumni drove up and dropped off gifts and supplies for a local child through a charitable donation to Toys for Tots or Crayons to Classrooms.

But, Larry Walling said, he is looking forward to getting back to the regular Christmas off Campus event next year.

“The normal Christmas off Campus is so much fun, and I just like to see the kids’ eyes light up,” he said. “I'm enjoying it — it's not a labor for me, so I don't mind spending my time.”

Much like Jerry and Larry, Judy O’Rourke '69 said she has been thrilled to volunteer each year since 2016 as Mrs. Claus for the UD Alumni Association Christmas off Campus events for both the Dayton and Cincinnati alumni communities.

O’Rourke said she plays Mrs. Claus each holiday season in memory of her son, Shawn, who was killed in a motorcycle accident in 2011. He was 41, with a wife and three children. 

“Shawn truly loved life, so in seeing those beautiful young faces when I am playing Mrs. Claus, I remember my son,” she said. “I know my son is looking down from heaven and loving it. That is why I do it each year.”

For more information on Christmas off Campus events across the country, visit https://udayton.edu/advancement/events/coc.php.