……. He came every Christmas Eve, after dinner but before Santa.  The kids laid out the cookies and the Diet Pepsi in gleeful anticipation of his arrival for he was indeed the spirit of our Christmas.  Bob Manypenny was a lifelong friend, first of the kids’  Dad, Alan, (who had the unique distinction of breaking Bob’s leg in Jr. High football despite them playing on the same team). The two went on to be college roommates and back in the day when the only phone in the dorm was a payphone in the hall, I knew Bob would always be accessible when Alan wasn’t.  Bob would always remember the day I, as a tearful 18-year-old alone in a house because my parents had separated and my Mom had gone to Florida, had just discovered my dog was hit by a car on Route 8 and I could not drag him from the road.  I called Alan, but it was Bob who left the phone hanging as he ran all the way to the Student Union to retrieve Alan.  He was always there for me in the bad times.   

……..But, Bob was also there for the good times and that meant Christmas Eve.  It started the first year Alan and I were married and continued every year thereafter. He would have Christmas Dinner with Ed and Leslie Fields and then continue to our house.  I baked a dozen varieties back then and Bob would sample each one.  He crossed the line one fateful year and for a moment achieved Grinch status. Shannon and Doug each made a large gingerbread cookie which they decorated  specially for Santa each year. Doug’s cookie was already set out with the glass of milk when Bob arrived and spying the cookie took a big bite.  To be clear he bit Santa’s head off.  He instantly knew he had done something terrible when Doug began to wail.  No matter, Doug forgave and learned Santa still came without cookies and although Shannon became protective of her cookie,  Bob still was our featured guest the next Christmas.  As  the kids grew they also learned that Bob was Mr. Manypenny  in school, but Bob on Christmas Eve.     

 ……. As the year’s progressed my situation would change and the first Christmas Alan and I separated I saw Bob in the Post Office. Not one to beat around the bush, he asked  “What am I supposed to do Christmas Eve?”   There was no question in my mind and I said “I think the kids and I got custody of you.”  So, he continued to be a part of our Christmas and looking back we cherish every year he was with us.

…… What is so special in our story, however, is that it is only one of many “Bob stories” that his many friends will  fondly recall.   Just like Santa is  integral to Christmas, Bob was integral to New Cumberland and its people.    I like to think that his passing right before Christmas should remind us that much like Santa his spirit lives in each one of us and our ability to love and expand our desire to help one another.