Starring Bob Nordan, Jr.
Written By Patricia Broussard
Santa’s in town … have you seen him? He has been spotted at grocery stores, banks and parks. Have you seen him? He’s out and about in the Lake Area, and for those who are lucky enough to spot him, be prepared for impromptu smiles, joy and childhood memories.
There’s something about Christmas that brings out delightful anticipation in us all. Whether it’s the joy of giving gifts, the festive lights, singing carols, vacation from work or school, delicious food, or exceptional time with the gathering of family — when it comes to Christmas, nothing else compares. It truly is the most wonderful time of the year.
Our Lake Area Santa is known as Robert (Bob) Nordan, Jr., during the rest of the year, and he’s a 67-year-old retired Lake Charles resident. The day after every Thanksgiving, Bob dons his red shirt and Santa hat to complement his full, snowy-white beard. He will be in character until Christmas, spreading joy, good will, love and laughter.
He has a twinkle in his eye, because he loves what he does, and genuinely enjoys everyone — from babies to elderly persons, and everyone in between. Total strangers are drawn to him, and he, in turn, demonstrates love, kindness and generosity. After Christmas, the beard is trimmed short, and he lets it grow throughout the year, only performing tidy trims. Bob has faithfully been acting as Santa every day from the day after Thanksgiving to Christmas for the past 15 years.
What would make a man dress as Santa for 15 years? In a word: gratitude. Bob expresses immense gratitude for a lifetime of blessings. He acknowledges having faced many challenges throughout his life, but also says God was always there, opening doors to present new and better opportunities.
It is easy to see that Bob is very thankful for his life. He stresses that God has blessed him abundantly. He is devoted to Deenie, his wife of 46 years; his two sons, Robert III and Christopher; and his six grandchildren. Robert IV, a 17-year-old junior at Barbe High, is well aware that his first-born son will have no other name than Robert V. To Bob, family is everything.
Taking on the role of Santa began when he was in his 30s. Bob attended a conference that required him to be out of town for three weeks. While away, he didn’t take the time to shave. By the time he returned home, he had such a full beard, three-year-old Robert III wouldn’t have anything to do with him.
Bob kept the beard, and it wasn’t long before it turned white. In those days, he was a little heftier, and he looked like Santa — so much so that he decided to let the beard grow long. Since then, not a Christmas has gone by that Bob hasn’t gotten into character. Every day after Thanksgiving until Christmas, wherever he goes, the naturally jolly Bob wears a Santa hat and a bright red shirt to make others smile.
It brings Bob great pleasure to go through daily activities and see the faces of little children and reaction of adults when they come face to face with Santa. That’s why he does it. He wants to be the source of making someone’s day; of making someone happy. We live in a fast-paced world, where everyone is rushing, but when they see Bob, they pause, they smile, they laugh — and he gets plenty of hugs and requests for photos. During those moments, time seems to stop, and everyone enjoys the moment. He says it never gets old. He is a genuine, tender soul, and our community is better because of him.
Bob and Deenie have both seen marvels within their own family, and give all the glory and thanks to God for answered prayers and miracles. For those who know Bob, the love he holds for his wife, children and grandchildren is unquestionable.
Originally from Jackson, Miss., Bob moved to Sulphur in 1957, when his dad became a pilot for W. T. Burton. Six months after they settled in their new home, Hurricane Audrey hit Cameron. His father had a tremendous work ethic, and, once with Burton Industries, worked six and a half days a week, with only one holiday off: Christmas. He began as the company pilot, but in the end was second in command only to Burton, himself. He retired soon after Burton’s death.
Once Bob graduated from Sulphur High School, he attended LSU, but soon lost interest. He returned to Sulphur, and attended McNeese, where he met Deenie. It was love at first sight, and he knew she was “the one.” It was 1966, and with the Vietnam War going on in full force, Bob knew it was just a matter of time before he would be drafted. Rather than let that happen, he took the Air Force entrance exam, and scored extremely high in technology. After basic training, instead of going to technical training, Bob was immediately sent to a tiny camp at the top of a Maine mountain, to become involved with Top Secret Crypto communications.
The military gives 30-days leave in the first year, but somehow Bob was able to take 90 days, and spend it with Deenie. In order to make extra money so he could marry Deenie, Bob decided to sign up for combat service. Instead of combat service, however, he was sent to Hawaii for two years.
After only six months, Bob knew the time was right. He was ready to get married, but Deenie was not. He told her she would marry him or they would go their separate ways — although there was no truth whatsoever to his ultimatum, Deenie didn’t know that! She agreed to marry him. The Air Force refused to give him leave in order to get married, so Deenie’s family brought her to him. Once married, they lived on the island of Oahu for two years. Bob says they didn’t have much, but they were together — the only thing he wanted.
They weren’t able to leave the island for the remaining two years, so in 2008, they celebrated their 40th anniversary by returning to Hawaii to see the sights on the other islands they weren’t able to see during their honeymoon.
During this time, Deenie had been taking classes at the University of Hawaii. She returned to Lake Charles to finish her nursing studies at McNeese, and began psych nursing in Pineville, La. Bob was transferred to England Air Force Base in nearby Alexandria, La., to finish his military commitment, so they were able to get a small apartment near both of their jobs.
After her rotation, Deenie returned to Sulphur. Bob had six months left to give the service, but he wanted to be with his wife and return to school. Everyone said it would be impossible for him to leave early. He spoke to his dad, who spoke to W.T. Burton, who spoke to U.S. Senator Allen Ellender and his Chief of Staff, Jim Guirard. It wasn’t long before a fellow Air Force serviceman walked up to him and said something he hadn’t thought possible: “Congratulations, you’re out of the service.” Skeptical, Bob looked at the telegram, which simply read, “Release Robert L. Nordan, Jr. A.S.A.P.” Elated, Bob left the base, still in his uniform, and drove to McNeese to register.
For the next three years, Bob studied accounting, before he again became tired of school. With only one semester left to graduate, he dropped out of school. He failed to tell Deenie what he had done until the day before they had to move out of Pine Haven, McNeese’s married student housing. With a twinkle in his eye, Bob says he never saw his wife so angry.
He applied for employment at Calcasieu Marine National Bank, listing W. T. Burton as a reference, and because of that, the president of the bank, Alan Rohrer, interviewed him personally. Bob was hired, and worked as a teller for six months. It was then decided that computers would be implemented within the bank. Employees were tested for computer aptitude, and Bob scored very high.
For the next eighteen years, he was a central figure in the computer department. The family was doing very well, and in 1979, he and Deenie built their home.
Bob’s sons were getting older, and Bob thought it would be good for them to see their father return to school and get his degree. He finished his last required semester, and graduated in December, 1987. He said his 10-year-old son hugged him tightly after the ceremony, saying, “I’m proud of you, Daddy.” He says it’s a moment he will always cherish.
Bob had converted to Catholicism for Deenie before they married, but eventually, they had stopped attending church altogether. With their boys getting older, Bob and Deenie decided they should resume attending church. They both agreed to try something different, and attended a few churches. On a trip to Mississippi to visit Bob’s sisters they attended a full gospel church, something they had never experienced before. It left him wanting more, and he knew he and Deenie had to find such a church in Lake Charles. Upon returning, he relayed his experience to a friend, who introduced them to Abundant Life Fellowship, headed by Pastor Perry Gaspard.
In 1985, under Pastor Perry’s guidance, Bob says he developed a personal relationship with God on a whole new level. His whole family loved the church, and their faith grew. In 1990, Pastor Perry asked Bob to take over the church’s accounting and computers. Despite skepticism from family members about leaving his secure job, Bob handed his resignation to Calcasieu Marine, and went to work for Abundant Life Fellowship. Three years later, Calcasieu Marine was sold. His secure job would have been terminated.
During these years, Bob was clean-shaven only once. The year was 1993, and his mother was dying of cancer. Throughout the years of sporting a beard, his mom had tolerated it, though she repeatedly expressed she didn’t approve. Bob decided to give his mom something she never thought she would ever see again — his clean-shaven face. Without telling her what he was doing, he shaved, then went to see her. She didn’t notice the difference until Bob moved close to her face. Reaching up, she tenderly cradled his face in her hands, caressing it as she murmured, “You look so handsome.” The devotion this special lady had for her child was obviously returned in full measure by her son. Bob kept his face free of hair until after her memorial service. There was no funeral, because his mother, in her final act of selflessness and generosity, donated her body to LSU School of Medicine.
Bob worked for Pastor Perry for 16 years, until the church was sold to Christian World. Bob considers Pastor Perry a great man and friend. He still attends Christian World, now led by Pastors Jerry and Hope Snider.
Today, Bob and his sons have a string of rent homes that were practically dropped into their laps. Those homes have allowed Bob and Deenie to retire comfortably. He is so grateful for his life, his family and the blessings given to him that he wants to give back any way he can. Being Santa is one of the obvious ways Bob makes a difference in people’s lives.
Bob says his father was a true southern gentleman whom he had always admired. His loving mother was devoted to raising her children. She not only made sure the children attended church; she took special care to make sure her children grew up knowing and serving Jesus Christ. His grandmother was a loving woman who never said anything negative about anybody, and always saw the best in others. Everyone they knew respected them, and Bob says they were the most influential people in his life. He gives them the credit for who he is today.
If you see Bob around town, stop and say hello. He enjoys giving his time helping others. Besides his family, the thing that brings Bob the most joy is computers. He used to be a PC guru, but then he saw the light — today, he’s a Mac geek. Friends who teased him in the past about his love of iPhones are no longer teasing, because he has converted them. When Bob scored his “awesome gold” iPhone 6 Plus on release day, so did someone else. You know who you are.
Throughout the years, Bob and Deenie have witnessed many miracles together within their family. Bob does indeed believe in the power of God’s touch, recalling instances throughout his life, especially the miraculous surgery of his granddaughter performed the day after her birth.
What’s most striking about Bob is his sense of love and gratitude, and because of it he gives of himself to community businesses, churches and schools to brighten the lives of children. Many times, Deenie is at his side dressed as Mrs. Clause. Because of the grace given to him, Bob wants to share grace to others. It’s his way to create and inspire Christmas magic.
He may not wear the Santa hat and red shirt every day all year, but it is Bob’s desire to be an example of God’s love to those he encounters each and every day throughout the year. Keep your eyes open, because Bob might appear when and where you least expect. To sum it up, Bob says softly, “Jesus is the reason for what I do. Jesus is the reason for everything.”
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