November 01, 2024
Local News

Grieving Trinity Catholic Academy students in La Salle get a pick-me-up from Old St. Nick

Santa's virtual visit brings a moment of joy

By Tom Collins
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He sees you when you're sleeping in class, too. Bob Tieman, of Peru, who does charity work as one of Santa's helpers, conducts a virtual visit with second graders from Trinity Catholic Academy in La Salle. The TCA class had been touched by tragedy — one of the students was recently bereaved — and the school's principal said Tieman produced an electric, and ultimately healing, reaction from the kids. (Photo provided)

The second-graders were listless, droopy-eyed and inattentive as Christmas approached. Barb Crew knew it wasn’t seasonal ennui – this class had seen tragedy – and wondered how to give her students a boost.

All they needed, it turned out, was a visit from Good Ol’ St. Nick.

Monday, Crew surprised and rejuvenated her class at Trinity Catholic Academy in La Salle by getting Santa's helper named Bob Tieman to make a virtual visit. Tieman donned his Santa outfit, sat in front of Crew’s camera and the onlooking children immediately snapped to attention. Tieman made for a pretty convincing St. Nick, too.

“Afterward, they said, ‘Wow, we thought that was the real one,’ ” Crew said.

TCA principal Deb Myers said it wasn’t merely fun and games. The second graders were in need of some Christmas cheer because their previous teacher was placed on medical leave and one of the students was bereaved, her father killed recently in a multi-vehicle crash.

“I had a difficult time finding a Santa who was available during the day,” Crew said of the search for a Santa. “He (Tieman) asked why I wanted it and I said this was a class that suffered loss.”

Tieman, a Peru resident who’s been one of Santa's helpers for three years, happened to be available. He agreed to stop in to entertain the children and read them a Nativity story. Using a roster that Crew provided, Tieman then called upon the children by name and asked what they wanted for Christmas.

One request caught Tieman off guard. The bereaved student told him, “Santa, I just want to talk to my Daddy one more time.”

Tieman happened to know the deceased and struggled momentarily for how to answer.

“I am so sorry,” Tieman responded, “but Santa can’t grant that sort of wish.”

Tieman said later he “definitely did not expect that.”

“It was pretty difficult,” he said. “She tugged at my heart strings, but I’m sure she needed a moment of joy.”

To hear Myers tell it, they all needed a moment of joy.

“There are no words to describe the value and worthiness of the visit,” Myers said. “When you see the spontaneous innocence of children, the memory will be a day I remember for many years to come.”