Nicholas "Nick" Naples, known by fairgoers throughout New England and New York for his booming, gravelly voice calling horse, pony and oxen pulls, died early Monday morning at the age of 83.

"His strong voice will especially be missed at the fair," First Selectwoman Maryann Boord said.

"He’ll sorely be missed," said President Todd Gelineau, of the Connecticut Agricultural Fair Association. Naples was a member of the association for 37 years. Gelineau said he will remember Naples for his voice.

"It’s not quite the same without the bellow of his voice," he said, adding it was a friendly voice. "It was part of the soundtrack of the fair."

Durham Fair Association Vice President Henry Coe agreed, saying "I’m going to miss him."

"We’re all very, very sad to lose (Nick)," he said. "He’s a man who’s done more for Connecticut fairs than any other. He’s a part of many fairs.

"He is the voice of Durham. His voice is so unique," Coe said. "You come on the (fair)grounds, you hear his voice, and you know you’re at the fair."

Coe remembered that Naples had a wonderful voice.

"When he was speaking at the drawing ring, it put chills up and down your back," he said. "You just knew you were at the Durham Fair."

Naples was associated with the Durham Fair since he started calling the horse and oxen pulls in 1942. He had also competed with draft horse teams at the beginning, but the calling took more of his time.

Naples, one of 11 siblings, had grown up on a farm. He worked with draft horses and logging with lumber mills.

"There will be a huge void in the town," First Selectwoman Maryann Boord said. "It was evident at the (Saturday) tree lighting that Nick was not there."

Naples, with his booming "Ho, Ho, Hos," has portrayed Santa Claus throughout the area including at the town’s holiday tree lighting, the holiday visit at the Durham Public Library and the Durham Lions Club’s holiday parties.

"He was a great man. He was our own St. Nicholas," said Assistant Director Cyndi Shirshac, of the Durham Public Library. "He certainly will be very, very missed. He made a big difference at the library."

Naples was to have been at the library’s event on Saturday for the last time before retiring his red suit, but was hospitalized prior to the weekend.

"He wanted his famous red suit to be donated to the library," Shirshac said. Naples had attended the library’s event for more than a dozen years. "He was looking forward to it."

Naples was also an "ex-officio" member of the Durham Lions Club, said club President Benedict Kupcho.

"He was close to the Lions Club," he said. "He was our Santa Claus for our Christmas party. He was so committed to us."

Kupcho said Naples -- in the earlier days -- was kind of a professional Santa working in the department stores. Naples had portrayed Santa for the Lions Club for more than 30 years, he said.

"He was a man about the town," Kupcho said. "He was known at fairs across the state. He was a very nice man."

"He was a very humble, warm man who would help anyone," Coe said. "He touched the hearts of many children."

Coe added "he is Santa. He was the spirit of what Santa Claus represents to the fair, the town and the fair industry."

Naples and his wife Rosemarie were always a unit working together at the various fairs, Boord said.

"They were somewhat part of one another," she said. "There were so much part of each other for years."

Boord suspects when Rosemarie Naples may speak at a meeting, people will also "hear Nick."

"He always had a smile," Coe said about Naples. "He was very, very positive."

Gelineau worked with Naples within the association for 12 years. Naples was one of the superintendents.

"He was a great guy to work with," Gelineau said. "He always had some ideas, and he was always willing to share ideas with you."

"He’s been responsible for developing the institution of the competition of drawing horses," Coe said. Naples has also been a part of supporting the farming institution. "Boy, did he love those draught horses and oxen."

Naples was one of the founders of the Eastern Draft Horse Association and an honorary lifetime member, said association Secretary Caroline Smith.

"He will be sadly missed," Smith said. "The Connecticut fairs have lost a great promoter of pulling and agriculture in general. He would always try to explain to the crowd about the pulls and what the horses used to do for work back in the old days."