Readers of this blog might recall the saga of John Toomey, the plucked-straight-from-a-Norman-Rockwell-painting Santa lookalike who played the role of Old St. Nick for 20 years at the Macy's in Union Square.

Last December, Toomey was fired after grownups complained about a dirty joke he told in their presence. He became something of a national celebrity in the aftermath of the incident, making the rounds on Jay Leno and finding a better-paying gig at Lefty O'Doul's bar, where he helped attract donations for a holiday charity drive.

Now, the San Francisco Examiner reports, Toomey is dead.