(Seguin) – A longtime volunteer of the Seguin Police Department is being remembered today for his role in the annual Blue Santa Program. Randy Burnsides, recognized a few years ago as Seguin’s “official” Blue Santa, died Saturday following a month-long battle with COVID-19. Burnsides donned the blue holiday suit each year in support of the local program which helped in the collection and distribution of toys for underprivileged children.
Working alongside him for most of his 17 years as a volunteer was former Top Elf Hope Vasquez. Vasquez, who retired from the Seguin PD two years ago, says although most residents didn’t know his name, they sure did recognize him as he took part in a number of community events.
Vasquez says the news of his loss has been heartbreaking. She says what makes it even more difficult is that Burnside’s wife Colleena “Nina” is not only struggling with this latest news of her husband, but she too is fighting for her life at an area hospital. The couple reportedly has been in the hospital for weeks fighting the virus.
“When we first met, Randy was just interested in helping. With the things I had at the office, I found some old blue Santa suits. I was wondering if we could update them and then I talked to Nina. She knows how to cook, sew and be crafty and she said ‘yes, I can make some new suits and said, how about my husband be the Blue Santa?’ And I said, of course, we can take him, and we talked to him. He was on board. He didn’t even think about it twice and he became Santa and then it got to the point we bought him, of course, his fake beard and then later on through the years, he grew his own beard. That’s how original he wanted to stay, and he helped every year without a doubt — always asking for a schedule. Where do you have me? Where do you want me? He constantly wanted to make sure that everything was covered that every child who needed a Blue Santa – that he was going to be there but that was Randy and again, a lot of people that want to refer to him, they’d say, ‘Blue Santa, Blue Santa’ and we knew who they meant. Kids would write letters. People would stop by and say my child wants to drop off some cookies and candy canes and Santa was always the one carrying candy canes giving them out to the children and he bought a lot of things out of his own pocket making sure that he had what he needed,” said Vasquez.
Vasquez says both Burnsides have played critical roles as volunteers for not only Blue Santa, but other past events hosted by the Seguin PD including its Halloween Safe House and Cinderella Ball.
“These were volunteers from the beginning through the whole school year. They were there to help during class. They were there to dress up at the Halloween Safe House. He always kept us in suspense on what his costume was going to be. He never would say anything. Nina was hush-hush. She couldn’t discuss anything about his costume. When he would greet every child that would come in through the Halloween Safe House, they all wanted to know who it was, and we never revealed who he was, and they always looked forward to see who was the monster that was going to greet them every year. So, they had fun. They felt rewarded by the community, by the children and by the students that looked forward to them every year,” said Vasquez.
Vasquez adds that in addition to being a volunteer and big community supporter, Randy is also recognized as a retired veteran of the U.S. Army where he served as an Army Sergeant First Class.
While they were active volunteers to most of the community, Vasquez says for her, they were friends who turned into family.
“I am praying for Nina to recover. I can’t wait to see her. It was shocking news and I’m still in awe. I don’t know what to say. Nina and Randy were my right-hand people — when I say right hand, anything that I needed or I didn’t know or I had a question, I’d ask them, and they would jump in an help. So, I’m glad I had them. That we worked together during the time that I was there at the Seguin PD and even now afterwards, Nina and Randy were part of my wedding. So, they become volunteers and they become friends when we leave and they were volunteers maybe the first year and they became close friends — my sister, my brother — year after year,” said Vasquez.
Also hurt by this latest loss are members of the Seguin Parrot Head. Members say they always counted on Randy for serving as Blue Santa during its annual toy drives.
A GoFundMe account has been established by the Burnsides’ two daughters Brittany Deptawa and Danielle Burnsides-Gilbreath. The funds will go toward both funeral and medical expenses for Nina. To donate, visit https://gofund.me/f2decda3.