So, the tradition began 5 years ago. I was wrapping everyone’s presents late Christmas Eve through early Christmas morning when I stumbled upon an old car stereo that would make a perfect gift for my brother-in-law. I decided, “I don’t need this anymore,” so I wrapped it and wrote Eric on it with a black Sharpe. At that moment I realized that there were many things in my room that would make very practical, yet humorous gifts for my family. I found my dad’s screw drivers from around the house, for my mom it was pen’s and nail clippers (these were gifts that were already theirs, but had been missing for quite some time. The best gift that year was, however, my sister’s diary from 6th grade I found under the bed, which I wrapped and gave to her, only after reading the best parts myself. I left a note from Santa, about how he lost all of the presents from the NE branch due to hurricane Katrina, and that these gifts would have to do. My family loved it, and so the tradition began.

The expectations were high for the next Christmas. How could I top wrapping my sister’s diary and giving it to her for Christmas. The only thing I could think of would be to somehow have Santa actually make an appearance. I thought about leaving sleigh tracks in the front yard, but there wasn’t enough snow. I thought about doing something on the roof, but I also had visions of falling off in the dark, and that didn’t seem like a good way to top last years fun. I decided to film a short video about why Santa didn’t show up that year which starred myself streaking as drunk santa through the streets. Some of you may be familiar with this video. (don’t worry, I was wearing shorts, sort of)

The next Christmas was right around the time that Tay Zonday’s Chocolate rain had become the youtube sensation, so I recorded a Christmas version with lyrics that my family would enjoy, and last year I did a green screen video with a short news clip showing Santa being arrested for public indecency and public intoxication.

This year Santa came again with gifts, only this time they were pretty much junk from the thrift store, but his excuse was the fact that he’d just been let out of prison on probation, and that he was a recovering alcoholic. (My, I have a dark sense of humor).

Well, to keep up the video tradition, I had extra help. With my sister, her husband, and one of our best friends we composed an 80’s power ballad about the tribulations that every Mall Santa must face. We shot and edited the video in just under 24 hours, and it is now up on youtube for your enjoyment.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GU_nCKLY7Ns

Some of you may have met my grandmother over the years, whether as friend’s of the family, students of hers, neighbors, or life guards at life center plus who took the heat from her potent distaste for splashing kids in the pool. She was a strong willed woman, and very blunt, but she was a great woman.

The best memories have from my childhood will always be from summers at the cottage on Atwood Lake, ski trips to Peek ‘n’ Peak, and weekly dinners at Red Lobster, where she would let us pick out which lobster she would eat that evening. I owe so much of where I am today to her. My first piano, and guitar were from her and my grandpa. They came to every concert from elementary school through high school. She and my grandpa were the reason I could afford to go to college, and why I am truly a Blue and Gold Akron Zip through and through.

She truly has a remarkable life story, and I thought I would share that with you as a memorial to her life.

STOW Irja (nee Tiits) Piirma, Ph.D., died Dec. 5, 2009.

Born in Tallinn, Estonia, she left her homeland during World War II for Germany, where she and her husband survived the Dresden fire-bombing in 1945 and as a post-war displaced person, she completed a diploma in chemistry from Technische Hochshule Darmstadt and immigrated to the U.S. in 1949. She received an M.S. in Chemistry in 1957 and became the first woman granted a Ph.D. from The University of Akron in 1960. As professor of Polymer Science at U of A, she spent her career advising masters and doctoral students. A lifetime member of the American Chemical Society, she published in many professional journals and her 1992 book Polymeric Surfactants remains in print. She was a Stow resident for over 50 years and a member of St. Stephen Lutheran Church.

Preceded in death by her husband, Aleksander in 2002, she is survived by her daughters, Margit Codispoti of Fort Wayne, Ind., Silvia (Gerald) Dolson of Stow; grandchildren, Emilie (Lee) Fairbanks, Adrianne (Eric) Hays, Alika Codispoti, Andrew and Peter Dolson; great-granddaughter, Kendall Hays.

Friends may call Thursday, 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at Redmon Funeral Home. Funeral service 10 a.m. Friday at St. Stephen Lutheran Church, 3725 Kent Rd., Stow, Rev. Arthur Cubbon officiating. Burial at Stow Cemetery, Memorials may be made to The Irja & Aleksander Piirma Fellowship in Polymer Science care of the Dept. of Dev. The University of Akron, Akron, OH 44325-2603. Dr. Piirma’s video tribute will be available at www.redmonfuneralhome.com

(REDMON, STOW, 330-688-6631)