05/01/2026
James D. Rielly. Born May 1, 1908.
To many in Rhode Island, he was Santa Claus. He was also Bristol's first Fourth of July Town Crier, a man who showed up for people not because it was his job, but because he loved his community.
Today, the James D. Rielly Foundation carries that work forward, supporting children and families connected to military, law enforcement, and first responders during some of their hardest moments.
Through the Bristol Santa House, his spirit shows up in a different way. In every visit, every smile, every quiet moment that tells a family they belong here. For many, especially families with children and adults with disabilities, the Santa House is not just a holiday stop. It is a place where they feel seen.
That is the community Jim Rielly helped build. We are proud to keep it going.
Happy heavenly birthday, Papa!
๐โ๐ ๐โ๐๐ก๐ ๐ค๐๐ ๐ก๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ฆ 1, 1975, ๐ฝ๐๐'๐ 67๐กโ ๐๐๐๐กโ๐๐๐ฆ. ๐ป๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ฆ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ก๐ ๐๐ ๐กโ๐ ๐๐๐ค๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ก ๐ก๐ ๐กโ๐ ๐ต๐๐๐ ๐ก๐๐ ๐๐ก๐๐ก๐โ๐๐ข๐ ๐, ๐คโ๐๐๐ โ๐ ๐ค๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ฆ ๐ฆ๐๐๐๐ . ๐๐๐๐๐ 2023, ๐กโ๐๐ก ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ค๐ โ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ โ๐๐๐ ๐ก๐ ๐กโ๐ ๐ต๐๐๐ ๐ก๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ก๐ ๐ป๐๐ข๐ ๐ ๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ฆ โ๐๐๐๐๐๐ฆ ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐. ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ข๐ ๐ก โ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐ก๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐.