| A 1943 magna cum laude graduate of Princeton University , he received his M.D. from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in 1946 and attended the University of Pennsylvania , Graduate School of Medicine in 1949-50. He followed his father into the medical profession and began his career as an intern in 1946, at the Atlantic City Medical Center , where he practiced for more than 40 years as a surgeon. He was a staff member until 1988, serving as Chief Attending Surgeon (1964-75), Chief Consulting Surgeon (1975-86), Emergency Physician (1975-86), Surgical Director (1968-70) and Member of the Board of Governors (1968-2001). He was a Clinical Asst. Professor at Hahnemann Medical College (1972-1986). He was a member of the American Medical Association, the Medical Society of NJ, and the National Board of Medical Examiners since 1948, a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons since 1959, a Diplomate of the American Board of Surgery since 1956 and the Society of Surgeons of NJ since 1959. He was Past President of the Atlantic County Medical Society and its historian for more than 30 years. He also served on the Southern NJ Professional Service Review Organization which reviewed for hospital accreditation; as a trustee of the NJ Foundation for Health Care Evaluation and past president of the Atlantic City Health Planning Council. During World War II, while in medical school he served in an Army reserve unit and enlisted for the Korean Conflict. There he served as Captain in the Army Medical Corps at a battalion aid station, M.A.S.H. unit and as Chief of Surgery in the largest 8th Army hospital in Seoul , Korea . He was awarded the Bronze Star and was later active in the V.F.W. Post 3361 in Ventnor. An avid stamp collector from an early age, he held a leadership role in numerous philatelic societies; at one time he amassed the largest collection of historic Korean stamps, which were exhibited internationally. He served as President of United Way of Atlantic County and was active in many civic organizations. Upon retirement from medicine, he pursued lifelong interests in history and visual art. He enjoyed art studies at the Atlantic Cape Community College and Richard Stockton College and won numerous awards in juried exhibits for his work. He was a life member of the Atlantic City Art Center , was Chairman of the Ventnor Cultural Art Center and enjoyed studying and volunteering as an educational docent at the Noyes Museum of the Art. He served in leadership roles with the Atlantic County Historical Society, the Batsto Citizens Committee and was a charter member of the Gardners Basin Historical Foundation. He was a member of most of the area historical societies and took great pleasure in the camaraderie of the History Roundtable. A resident of Ventnor for 73 years, he founded the City�s Historical Society but the culmination of his work with history was the founding of the Ventnor City History Museum in 2006, with materials he spent more than 25 years collecting. He is predeceased by parents Dr. James H. Mason III and Violet (Shreve) Mason; brothers Richard and Joseph. He is survived by his wife of 59 years Helen (Dempsey), sister Barbara Datz, (Hartford, CT), two children, James 5th (Mary) and Cynthia Mason Purdie (Bill) both of Linwood and three grandchildren: Julia Mason Lockhart (Stu), James "Jake" Mason 6th and Alexandra Purdie; sisters-in-law Gail Mason and Mary Lou Mason both of Brigantine and numerous loving nieces and nephews. |