Grateful Family’s Christmas Light Display to Benefit Samaritan

Legacy of Lights

Tom and Beth Ronketty (left) with Carol Ramos, their cousin, in front of their Marlton, NJ home

You’d fully expect the General Manager of the Christmas Tree Shop to have some pretty lights on his house, but Tom Ronketty has raised “pretty” to “pretty amazing!” When he and his wife Beth threw the switch on Thanksgiving night, their Marlton home’s holiday display shone with 106,000 lights and 27 inflatable characters.

What started out as “just a few lights” the year they were married, has grown over the last six years to “Christmas to the extreme,” said Beth. Along the way, the display has become a much anticipated neighborhood and regional “happening,” thanks to annual media broadcasts on Channel 3 and Channel 10 suggesting great displays for viewers to check out.

As it grew, said Beth, she and Tom (a.k.a Mr. Christmas) began to have an idea just how much the beauty and wonder of it meant to people. So many people tried to give them money to cover the electricity in appreciation of the joy the display had provided their children or grandchildren that the Ronketty’s set out a barrel drum and designated a worthy charity to receive voluntary donations.

This year, Beth and Tom designated Samaritan as a way to show their own appreciation for the care Beth’s mother, Jane Sherman, received last summer.

Beth's mother, Jane Sherman, in 2005. She loved playing the slot machines in Atlantic City.

“Each year, we try to pick an outstanding local charity group,” said Tom, “A group that helps others and not just themselves, and especially a group that may have touched part of our family (such as Samaritan did with my mother-in-law) this past summer.”

Beth said, “We couldn’t be more appreciative of the care my mom received in the Inpatient Hospice Center after being diagnosed and treated for very late-stage gallbladder cancer. It was so serene and peaceful and the nurses and staff could not have been kinder. They helped us honor my mom’s wishes.”

“My mom would have wanted me to give back,” she continued. She grew up in a Philadelphia home of very modest means, but she was a very giving person all her life. She would have backed me 1001% in supporting Samaritan.”

The Ronketty’s light their Marlton home at 58 King Avenue from 5:00-10:00 pm each night from Thanksgiving until the first week in January. During that period, they have become accustomed to people driving by or getting out of their cars for a closer look.

In previous years, when Channel 3 or Channel 10 would give them a few days’ notice of live coverage, Beth and Tom would race into action to prepare for the hundreds who come out in response to the network’s website posting.  Local restaurants such as Chick-fil-A, Shanghai Express and Marcello’s have provided food,” said Beth. “Chick-fil-A has even brought their cow!”

On live coverage nights, Beth, her cousin Carol Ramos and other volunteers have brewed gallons of coffee and hot cocoa and Tom has set up a DVD projector in their yard to play holiday movies for the kids. “We even get into costume,” Beth added. “I’m the reindeer and my husband or father, Bill Sherman, has dressed up as Santa!”

Embracing each moment! Tom dressed as Santa and Beth as a reindeer.

Now in their seventh year, the Ronketty’s have wonderful memories and poignant stories to last a lifetime. “Folks have told us that they were going through painful divorces or family problems and would just come and sit in their car with their kids to lift their spirits,” said Beth.

Tom shared, “One of my assistant managers asked if he could get married in front of the lights, which would have been special enough, but then a limo pulled up and a man from South Philly got out along with his Italian grandmothers and aunts. He was having them chauffeured around to see the area’s prettiest displays. They got more than they bargained for because they stayed for the wedding!”

One night, Tom and Beth opened their door to find a local pastor with more than 40 members of his church’s student ministry singing Christmas carols. When the surprised couple tried to give them some money in appreciation, the pastor said they were there to thank the family for the joy they bring their community.

Their most touching experience came two years ago when they found a letter to Santa in the donation barrel with a donation of $.76. It was from a little girl who asked Santa to bring her family just one gift: a Christmas tree of their own.

When Tom found that the girl’s family had fallen on hard times, he got permission from his corporate office to donate a fully lighted and decorated tree. He and Beth worked with Evesham’s Fire and EMT Departments to have them deliver not only the tree, but gifts for the family!

Samaritan is so thankful this holiday season to be included in the Ronketty’s remarkable generosity, but Beth and Tom remain selflessly humble.

“We started doing this just for us, because we enjoy the decorations and the lights,” said Beth. But now, we do it for the community. This year is extra special. We are telling everyone that my mom will certainly be the “brightest light in our holiday lights” this year!  I know she will be here with us.”