Obituaries : James F. Mastoris; Retired Attorney

James F. Mastoris of Ventura, a retired attorney for the state of California and a 30-year resident of Ventura County, died Tuesday at his home. He was 75.

Mastoris was born Jan. 20, 1921, in San Francisco. For 34 years he worked as an attorney for the state. He spent 17 of those years also serving as a presiding judge for the state Worker’s Compensation Appeals Board in Ventura. He retired in 1983, said his wife, Gertrude Mastoris.

“Theater was a passion of his,” said his wife. Mastoris put himself through college doing work as an extra in the movies, she said.

In some versions of the 1942 classic “Casablanca,” starring Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman, Mastoris can be seen in several bar scenes. He can also be seen in the final scene standing next to a weapons carrier, his wife said.

Mastoris earned his law degree from Santa Clara College and a master’s degree in taxation from USC.

He was a member of the California State Bar Assn. and the state Worker’s Compensation Bar Assn.

When he wasn’t practicing law, Mastoris enjoyed attending sporting events with his son, William of New Jersey. He and his daughter, Susan, now of Texas, learned to sail together, his wife said.

Besides his wife and children, Mastoris is survived by a brother, Thomas of Los Angeles, and one granddaughter.

A private family service was held Friday at the Joseph P. Reardon Funeral Home in Ventura.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made in James Mastoris’ name to a charity of the donor’s choice.