We were saddened to read of the death of Dennis Van Vuren in today’s paper. Our family knew him as Irish the Clown as he performed at our son Brian’s third birthday party. Brian is now 17, but we think fondly of “Irish” whenever Christmas time rolls around.

We once went up to him when he was playing Santa and told him that we enjoyed when he did Irish for us; he stayed in character, saying, “You must be mistaken. I’m Santa Claus.”

Although we’re Jewish, we believe he was as good a Santa as Edmund Gwenn in “Miracle on 34th Street,” and, like that character, we believed in him.

There’s no better person than one who entertains children, and Mr. Van Vuren was a wonderful human being.

Isn’t that what Santa Claus is all about?

Our memories of Irish the Clown and a crowd of giggling toddlers at Conejo Creek Park will remain with us forever.

We hope his daughters know that many people in this town have many similar fond memories of their father.

Gail and Cary Ginell Thousand Oaks