Candyman

I saw a post on Jameel's blog recently with a sign campaigning for someone who was "running" for the position of shul candyman. I have been in shuls where the rights to be candyman get sold on Simchas Torah, and sadly it often goes for more than chasan torah and chasan braishis combined. It reminded me of an amazing story of a very different candyman.
There was a man who was niftar almost two years ago who had been the candyman for years in the shul in which I grew up. I had always assumed that he did it because he liked kids, was a giving person, and liked seeing kids smiling. By his shiva, his wife revealed otherwise. She remembers him coming home from shul one shabbos bemoaning the fact that "kids these days don't have the midos that we were taught in Europe", "kids these days don't have an appreciation and respect for the older generation". He made a decision right then and there that he was going to do something about it. He was going to become the candyman.
There were rules though. This was not just a candyman, this was a candyman on a mission. You couldn't just approach him and get a candy. You had to come over and say "good shabbos", and respectfully request a candy (you had to say please). You would get a candy and then say your "thank you", until you said it, you weren't allowed to leave. It was all done with the biggest smile you could possibly imagine. I have no idea upon how many kids he made a lasting impression. He was one of the most loved and admired people I have ever met in my entire life. yehi zichro baruch.
It's amazing how with such a simple act... you can accomplish so much, without anybody (including his children. they had no idea why he did it either) ever seeing or knowing or understanding your true intentions.