Earl James Cantos

The Honorable Earl James Cantos Sr., Municipal Court Judge and active member of San Diego's civic, arts, and educational communities for decades, passed away of natural causes in his home in San Diego, California on Sunday, March 11, 2012 at the age of 91.

Earl Cantos was born in San Diego on November 25, 1920 of Portuguese and Greek descent, the son of Theodore and Hilda (Sears) Cantos. He graduated from Hoover High School and San Diego State University, and worked for the Union-Tribune Publishing Co. as a district supervisor from 1939-42. He enlisted in the US Army during World War II, serving on active duty in both the European and Pacific Theaters in a demolitions unit as a sub-machine gun expert, and also serving as an entertainment/band director. Upon leaving the Army, he moved to Los Angeles where he worked as an actor, including roles in radio programs such as Gunsmoke. There, in 1947, he met and married Irene Trifiatis; they eventually moved back to San Diego. Earl earned a law degree from Balboa University School of Law (now California Western University) while continuing to write and perform in local radio and theater.

He practiced law for 10 years, serving as president of the San Diego County Bar Association. He was appointed to the Municipal Court bench in 1963 by then-Governor Pat Brown and served as Presiding Municipal Court Judge and president of the California Judges Association. Judge Cantos was active in leadership in diverse areas of the San Diego community. He was a board member of 16 different civic/community groups including the Armed Services YMCA, Goodwill Industries, Big Brothers of San Diego, the Chamber of Commerce, California Community Colleges, Metropolitan Transit Development Board, the First San Diego Courthouse, the Cabrillo Festival, and the Old Globe Theater. He was also active in California Republican Party politics as a campaign manager for many candidates, notably Congressman Bob Wilson.

From the late 1940s through the 1960s, Cantos was closely associated with Starlight Opera (San Diego Civic Light Opera), first as an actor, then as board member and president. His lifelong love of show business manifested itself in appearances as an emcee and public speaker. He also lectured on various topics, including examining the trial of Jesus from a legal perspective.

He retired from the bench in 1983 and continued to be active in the community while devoting more time to his love for golf, gardening, and travel. For many years, he was also active in the Cursillo spiritual renewal movement. He maintained involvement with the law by working in arbitration, and served briefly as Bankruptcy Court trustee in the J. David Dominelli investment fraud case. In 2007 and 2008, he returned to the stage as a performer in Senior Follies at the East County Performing Arts Center.

He is survived by Irene, his loving and caring wife of 65 years; four children, Rita Cartwright (husband Robert), Fr. Earl Cantos (wife Presvytera Carol), Roxanne Fulkerson (husband Jeff), and Bill Cantos (wife Mari); and five grandchildren, Heather Cartwright Dickey (husband Mark), Aimee Cartwright, Jeffrey Fulkerson (wife Emily), Trevor Fulkerson and Wesley Fulkerson.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Saints Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church.

The American Dream

What is the American Dream? Is it something new today, or something left over from yesterday? Is it a replay grown old and useless, or a bright new picture of strength and promise? Is there such a dream to be dreamt, and then to come true? There is, and it is as diverse as the sum total of fifty States, and as strong as a blend of two hundred million parts to the whole.

The American Dream is a vision that is many things, expressed in many ways, by many people, all of them saying that it is the need to be free to pursue ones hopes; the faith to seek something more for family and children, the desire to reach for the stars, and maybe even, to become President. In short, to dream the impossible dream, believing that it can come true.

THE AMERICAN DREAM IS

THE IMAGE

THE SPIRIT

THE SUBSTANCE

OF AMERICA

All that we are, or hope to be, lies in a deep rooted dedication to a spirit of fair play and independence and of love of country, that is part of each American citizen.

This individual and collective dedication is expressed in daily word and deed. Every day in some way each of us gives something to the Image, Spirit and Substance of our country. However small, what we give in sum total with all Americans, becomes what our country is to us, and is to the world. Because of this, each of us must act with restraint; with understanding; with dignity, and with pride and honor.

The Image of America is that which we create as citizens in our daily lives.

The Spirit of America is embedded in Faith in God and Country and the obligation to demonstrate by deed the belief in Rule of Law. It is the right to be free and the duty to be responsible.

The Substance of America is people, and in being part of the well-spring which offers opportunity, ideals, education, morality, and hope. It is how we treat one another and our institutions.

This Image; This Spirit; This Substance; is our Country's bloodstream! The very life of the United States of America is how we speak; we act, and how we feel about our Country.

The American Dream is the American Truth, and can be expressed with resolve and pride in just one way: By living daily this thought

I AM MY COUNTRY.

EARL JAMES CANTOS, 1971

Judge, Municipal Court

San Diego, California