Santa Scott Seeks Help For Mentor's Funeral

LEVITTOWN, PA — A beloved Bucks County Christmas icon is reaching out on behalf of the man he says helped get him into the Santa business.

Scott Diethorne, known locally as the fun-loving, tattooed Santa Scott, reached out to let Patch know that Gaetano Martini, another area Santa, passed away on Tuesday after a heart attack.

"My day was just shattered into a billion pieces ...," Diethorne wrote earlier this week on his Santa Scott Facebook page. "If it was not for Gaetano Martini, I would not be in the Santa business. Gaet was the guy who took a chance on me some 20-plus years ago — he gave me some of the best advice I ever had in life."

Diethorne had told Patch about Martini during an interview back in November.

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On Facebook, Diethorne remembered the time he spent learning the Santa trade with Martini.

"One thing that sticks in my head is we used to joke around and I would say 'Thanks for taking me under your beard and teaching me the ropes.' And he would just laugh or do one of his impressions and we will crack up in the break room.

"The second thing he told me is do not try to copy someone.Be yourself. Do what makes your heart fill with joy. And that's what I have done."

According to Scott, Martini's insurance expired about a year ago and he couldn't renew it because of his health. Now, Scott and others are trying to help his family raise money for a funeral and other expenses.

A GoFundMe page started by Gaetano's son, Paul, had raised $12,569 of a $15,000 goal as of Friday morning.

"If any of those who have loved, laughed with or shared a special moment with him choose to give, it would be greatly appreciated," Paul wrote on the fundraiser's page.

Santa Scott is hoping those whose lives he's touched will do the same.