John Toomey Dead: Famously Fired Santa Found In Hotel Room

John Toomey, the 69-year-old Macy’s Union Square Santa who was fired for making an inappropriate joke to an adult couple last year while working, was found dead in his residential hotel room on Friday afternoon, according to CBS.

While the cause of death is under investigation, police believe that Toomey died of natural causes. A neighbor went to check on Toomey after he said he hadn’t been feeling well and found him on the floor of his room, SFGate reported.

Toomey worked in the San Francisco store for 20 years, but gained media fame last year when he was fired for cracking dirty jokes to a couple. According to SF Weekly, when adults sat on his knee, he would ask if they had been good. If they replied yes, he would reply, “that’s too bad.” And then remark that Santa was jolly because he “knows where all the naughty boys and girls live.” Toomey later insisted that he never used that kind of humor around children.

After his termination, Toomey appeared on the “The Tonight Show” and worked as Santa at popular restaurant, Lefty O’Doul’s, downtown. Lefty’s owner Nick Bovis told SFGate that Toomey helped make the annual toy drive the most successful one to date. “What he brought to the scene was incredible,” he said.

Comments

[MWA1111]

06:15 PM on 09/09/2011

I was a professional Santa for over 20 years. The funny thing is you should hear some of the things the non-uptight adults have asked for or said to Santa. There were many things that were said in order to try to get a reaction.

From one Santa to another, RIP my brother.

[dball]

01:44 AM on 08/05/2011

yep! ethical Macy's ; concerned about "doing the right thing" huh!?
start with giving people privacy in the fitting rooms! they are too much...and should be ashamed.

http://www.clickorlando.com/news/28684326/detail.html

[foxbatt211]

05:36 PM on 08/01/2011

Someone ought to polk that bitchy coupe in the eye.

[supertamsf]

04:34 PM on 08/01/2011

It just doesn't get anymore macabre than a dead fired Santa.

[Swimdude]

03:47 PM on 08/01/2011

I hope he with with one of the Naughty Women when he passed away. I have not shopped Macy's since I heard the original story.

[RadicalAmerica]

03:47 PM on 08/01/2011

PC run amok. When are we going to learn?

[shempbat]

03:21 PM on 08/01/2011

I hope that the "whistleblowers" get a defective condom in their stocking this year! Screw them and Macy's!

[Makeredhappy]

03:05 PM on 08/01/2011

Very sad that a comment as innocuous as what he was quoted as saying caused him to be fired. Has anyone watched TV lately?? Do you not see what is in these "reality" shows?! Do you miss what passes as "entertainment" on TV? And these dancing shows?? Really, people should be ashamed that there's so much trash out there yet one-on-one adult comments are enough to get Santa fired? Boycott Macy's....their ads are shown during some of the most vile TV shows but I guess that doesn't matter!!

[HSC55]

02:41 PM on 08/01/2011

What ever happened to the uptight couple who complained about him and got him fired?

[jemteku]

02:31 PM on 08/01/2011

I remember when he was fired, I thought it was unfair. But, he took his talent elsewhere and excelled. May he rest in peace.

[Kenneth Neugent]

01:53 PM on 08/01/2011

I just always remember to never shop at Macy's. They proved there is really no job security in America anymore. The couple of immature adults should have been spanked by Santa for being little tattletales. They really are pathetic human beings to get him fired from his job. What is wrong with a little adult humor with so-called adults.
Rest in Peace Santa. You are a winner in my book.

[Makeredhappy]

03:06 PM on 08/01/2011

But sometime really pay attention to the TV shows that Macy's ads run during!!! And this passes as "entertainment"??!!

[kaysquare]

01:40 PM on 08/01/2011

Hard to believe he got fired for making those remarks to "adults" who were sitting on his lap. Jeez, if an adult sits on Santa's lap, surely that adult should be able to take a little joke about it.

[bbuck913]

05:57 PM on 08/01/2011

Thank you! That is exactly what I was thinking!

[georgiabub]

01:28 PM on 08/01/2011

This country always finds fault with anything, even Santa. He was having fun and was fun to be around. Even adults loved it and he got fired for being an adult. So sad that it had to end with his death. Rest in Peace and remember you made us all smile being Santa.

[Makeredhappy]

03:08 PM on 08/01/2011

People, we are watching the Decline and Fall of America....won't happen overnight, but it's happening nonetheless. And it's the little things that will chip away at the foundation of what this country was build on. Little by little....and Congress worries about leaving debt for our grandkids??! Hell, there will be little else for them anyway!!

[truposer]

12:51 PM on 08/01/2011

I want a G.I.Joe with the kung fu grip and a electric train and a new baseball. OH now I am sad R.I.P. Saint Nick you will be missed dearly.

[Ken Koziol]

12:49 PM on 08/01/2011

So Macy's killed Santa Clause.

[Jasonsmith2468]

02:59 PM on 08/01/2011

yeah, pretty much