Long time Lehigh community leader and activist Willard Baker has been hospitalized at Lehigh Regional Medical Center and his family said he is on life support today.

Doris Baker, who has been at her husband’s bedside, today said he remains in he ICU unit of the hospital and generally family and close friends may be able to visit. She said he is listed in critical condition.

“He is very must sedated today,” his wife said. “We’re praying for him They say if he improves, it will be a miracle,” she said.

Mrs. Baker said a few days ago he was planning to go to a Shriner’s meeting when he suddenly said he felt bad and he was taken to the hospital, where has remained now for several days.

Baker has belonged to several organizations in Lehigh and is known as Mr. Santa to thousands of youngsters in the community at Christmas. Baker has played Santa Claus for two decades and as recently as this last Christmas still played the role in some of the schools and for his friends. He was Santa at several Lehigh Regional Medical Center Christmas celebrations on the front lawn. He often arrived as Santa on a fire engine. He would pose for photos with children and then turn on the official Christmas tree lights in front of the hospital.

He has been the strong advocate in Lehigh Acres for several years in getting sidewalks built. He once said during a LACPC meeting that he would fight to get sidewalks in Lehigh to the day he died.

While he has been active on several organization’s boards, he is better known today as a member of the Lehigh Kiwanis Club and has helped manage the thrift store on Homestead Rd. He is a member of Lehigh Community Council where he has served as president and was secretary for years. He is also a member of the Lehigh Acres Community Planning Corp. (LACPC) and helped draw up the Lehigh Acres Plan which is being added to the Lee County Comprehensive Plan.

Willard and his wife and grown children live on North Ave. in Lehigh.

“All we can do is pray for him now,” his wife, Doris, said over the weekend