ABC7 photojournalist James 'Jim' Mastri passes away after battle with pancreatic cancer

CHICAGO (WLS) -- The ABC7 Eyewitness News family lost one of our own Wednesday.

One of our photojournalists, James "Jim" Mastri, has passed away after a battle with pancreatic cancer.

Mastri started at ABC7 in 2001 and was a tremendous member of the team for 23 years.

"He was a highly skilled photojournalist and a tremendous member of our team for 23 years," WLS-TV President & General Manager John Idler said. "More importantly, he showed a generous spirit and was a friend to all. Jim always extended a kind handshake and a warm smile, and we will miss him more than this note can express."

He passed peacefully surrounded by those he loved. Mastri is survived by his wife Michelle and his two sons Michael and Nicholas.

Of the many stories our viewers watched, many were brought to you by the unsung hero in Chicago and around the globe.

A photo of Mastri from his senior year of high school shows journalism and television were part of him since childhood.

"Television was in his blood from early on," ABC7 photojournalist Mike Locashio said. "It was in his blood, and he was the best at what he did."

His wife of 29 years, Michelle, told ABC7 Thursday that Jim loved this job. It's all he wanted to do, always pushing to advance the story, innovate and encourage.

"There was a fight with reporters over who was going to work with Jim," ABC7 photojournalist Obie Varnado said. "Now they didn't call him Jim... they called him Mastri. When they were trying to get assigned to him... "I want mastri.'"

When I knew I was assigned to him, it was like this sigh of relief," ABC7 reporter Sarah Schulte said.

Mastri covered the 2008 Democratic National Convention, where Barack Obama gained the nomination. He traveled to Copenhagen for Chicago's bid for the Olympics, and Italy with Alan Krashesky and Cardinal Blase Cupich, covering popes at home and abroad. He went on a reporting trip to Cuba, covered the 2016 Cubs world series win, caught a million dollar shot of the total solar eclipse in 2017, and so much more.

"He gave you something to aspire to without realizing that was what he was doing. He was a very humble person," ABC7 photojournalist Jeff Freeman said. "It's sad he's not going to be here."

In a world where it can be so difficult to see another person's point of view, Mastri provided. He showed us the world through his lens, his own unique perspective, bringing it to the Chicago community we all serve. We saw through his eyes, and laughed aloud at his humor.

"Jim's sense of humor was really dry and really sarcastic," ABC7 reporter Michelle Gallardo said.

"You knew if you got sarcasm out of Jim, you were in a good place with him," Locashio said.

He was known for his creativity, style and commitment to excellence, but Mastri was more than a colleague you knew you could unwaveringly rely on... he was also a friend to so many.

"In a very humble way, in a very dedicated way, he brought his very best to the job every single day, and all of us were better because of that," former ABC7 anchor Alan Krashesky said.

"Such a kind soul," ABC7 photojournalist Lauro Lopez said. "He inspired confidence."

"I love him like a brother," Varnado said. "He's my friend and I'm going to miss him dearly."

"More than a coworker," Locashio said. "He was a friend. He was a brother to me."

"Wherever you are buddy... watch over us, and God bless you," Lopez said.

"He was a story teller, and he loved telling stories," Varnado said. "He didn't just speak with his mouth, he did it with his camera. He did it with the lighting. He did it with editing the stories and putting the pieces together. That's where his magic was."

We will miss Jim Mastri every day. A consummate journalist and an even better friend, all our love goes to his family.