Sagamore Hills family's holiday lights help brighten lives of ill children

It started with a little light on Brandywine Road.

Well, more than a little light. Sagamore Hills resident Don Rambacher is known in his neighborhood for his colorful Christmas displays in his yard.

Last year, Rambacher said, his neighbors tried to give him funding to help him cover the costs of illuminating the block with a festive glow.

"I had people trying to give me money to go to my light bill," Rambacher said. He added that he initially received $300."I tried to refuse, but they insisted."

Rambacher, who is retired from the Cuyahoga County Board of Developmental Disabilities, decided to donate the money to a nonprofit. One organization he considered was St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn., which provides treatment and care for children fighting cancer and other life-threatening diseases. Families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food.

"One day, I went to get the mail, and the first letter on the stack was from St. Jude," he said. "I took that as a sign."

His wife Rose, who also had been thinking of donating to St. Jude, agreed. They also decided to ask around for donations. By the end of the holiday season last year, the Rambachers had raised about $5,500 to donate to the pediatric research hospital.

"This year, we set a goal for $10,000," Rambacher said. This past holiday season, he contacted St. Jude to create a more professional process for donating, as well as reaching out to local businesses.

The end result was more than tripling the Rambacher's original goal, raising more than $37,000 and counting to St. Jude.

"I'm just extremely happy with the people in this community," Rambacher said. "I think they deserve a lot of credit for being so generous. I'm thinking of having a sign made to put in my yard to thank people and let them know how it went. 'Congratulations, YOU raised that much for St. Jude.' As much as people have told me you've done a great job, I wouldn't have been able to do much without people being so generous. A conductor can't do much without a band to play."

Steve Froehlich, the chief revenue and development officer for the American Lebanese Syrian Associated Charities, the fundraising and awareness organization for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, said, "Support like this is critical to the ongoing $11.5 billion, six-year St. Jude strategic plan to accelerate treatment and cures across the world." The hospital's goals include a $200 million investment "to provide cancer medicine to as many as 120,000 children globally by 2027."

"“As we wrap up the holiday season, we celebrate all who are a part of our St. Jude family, including Donald Rambacher whose light display has raised tens of thousands of dollars for our lifesaving mission," Froehlich said.

Rambacher said many local businesses and organizations contributed, such as Women of Eaton, who gave $1,300, and Bin Treasures in Northfield Village, which donated $900 plus boxes of lights and a few trees. However, the smaller donations also were appreciated.

"I would have 8- and 9-year-old kids come in and say 'here, I've been saving my allowance money,'" Rambacher said. "They'd give me $2 or $3. That's touching stuff to me, and it shows what a good job parents are doing in raising these kids."

Rambacher said he is still taking donations. St. Jude will take donations 120 days from when the collection started, which was Nov. 24.

Here comes Santa Claus

The Rambachers' residence is a local destination during the holiday season for those looking for some Christmas cheer. Rambacher said he starts planning his light displays in June. It takes about 115 hours to set up all the twinkling lights and other decorations.

"My grandson helps me put up the lights on the steepest part of the roof," he said. Otherwise, he added, he puts up the display himself.

For 40 days starting Nov. 24, Rambacher dons a Santa suit and goes outside to greet passers-by, pass out candy canes, and take collections in a box posted outside. This year, Rambacher passed out nearly 2,500 candy canes. On the Saturday before Christmas, his busiest night, he passed out 119 candy canes.

"Santa had his outfit on for 3 1/2 hours," Rambacher said.

Speaking of the big guy at the North Pole, children with letters for Santa could also leave them in a mailbox especially designated for the Jolly Old Elf at the Rambachers' house.

"Santa" Rambacher has five elves who went through the letters once a week and sent replies. The head elf, Marcie Murphy, said that she and the other volunteers sent 29 replies. This was the first year for the letters.

Murphy said that they responded to as many letters as possible but could only send a reply to those with return addresses.

"The letters were charming," she said. "Some asked for gifts for their pets. 'Can you please bring my cat a toy?' We enjoyed it. They were heartwarming and fun."

Murphy said they started meeting right after Thanksgiving, when the letters started coming in.

"We hope all the boys and girls are good again and stay on Santa's nice list."

Planning for next year

Although the 2021 holiday season is just winding down, Rambacher is already thinking ahead to the next one.

"I hope to raise $45,000 next year," Rambacher said. "I want to reach out to more local businesses and see if I can get more to match funds."

Next year will feature new decor in the Rambacher yard as well, including a Santa that goes up and down a ladder, plus a sleigh with reindeer. Rambacher said that this year, he introduced a reindeer in his yard after a child asked about where Santa's reindeer were.

Rambacher said that the child's query about Saint Nick's flying crew spurred him to add a large decoy buck to his display, and he told children that "Donder" was keeping a lookout and the rest of the team was in the back.

This did lead to an interesting situation when four or five real deer, the Ohio native white-tailed variety, showed up, curious about their new neighbor.

"One buck just stared and stared and 'Donder,'" Rambacher said.

There was no word if any of them were recruited for Santa's team.

Those who wish to donate to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital can contact Rambacher at drambomam2@gmail.com or call 330-998-1015.

Reporter April Helms can be reached at ahelms@thebeaconjournal.com

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Holiday light display attracts visitors, donations for St. Jude