Steve Mortara

Steve Mortara was called to our Lord on June 11, 2025 following an accidental drowning at his Monte Sereno home of more than 40 years. Steve was born in Vallejo to Joe and Madlyn Mortara and was raised with his brother Joe Jr. and sister Carol. They attended St. Basil’s grammar school and St. Vincent Ferrer high school in Vallejo. Coming from an athletic family, it’s no surprise that Steve excelled at sports from an early age. (Joe Sr. and Joe Jr. managed Vallejo’s golf courses for a combination of 85 years.) As a youngster he practiced basketball daily in his backyard and regularly pitched baseballs to his maternal grandfather on his front lawn. While in grammar school, he played basketball and baseball for the St. Basil’s team, which participated in the area’s Catholic league. In high school, Steve made the varsity baseball team for four years. At the spring awards banquet in his senior year, he was named MVP in basketball and top hitter in baseball. He also ran track. Steve was active in student government and a variety of school activities. He was chosen by faculty to be represented in the 1966-67 edition of Who’s Who Among American High School Students. Steve attended San Jose State University on a Division One basketball scholarship. He played on the varsity team for three years, taking off his senior to focus on academics. He did make time, however, to enjoy Alpha Tau Omega fraternity life. In February 1969, he helped his San Jose State basketball team defeat the number two nationally ranked Santa Clara Broncos. It was reported to be the “best college basketball game in the history of the Silicon Valley” by TheSan Jose Mercury News and considered San Jose State’s greatest victory. Steve graduated with a double major in business management and physical education, a master’s degree in exercise physiology and a California State teaching credential. In 1971, Steve suffered a severe shoulder injury, ending the opportunity to try out for the Dallas Cowboys, but he came back later and played seven years of amateur basketball. Steve taught and coached at Amador Valley High School in Pleasanton for 13 years; he was a versatile teacher -- teaching business, math, science and physical education. He was also the weight-lifting instructor for all school sports and coached freshman, JV and varsity baseball. In 1987, he left teaching to work in the entertainment business. He owned and operated widely known restaurants and clubs in Northern California, including WPLJ’s in Walnut Creek, At the Hop in Los Gatos, among others. Steve then took a turn at broadcasting -- television, sports talk radio and masters of ceremony work. After this transition, Steve became known as “Raider Mort” throughout the Bay Area. He hosted a TV show called Raider Talk Raw. Later he hosted radio programs, including The Raider Mort Report and The Big Red. He was also an NFL analyst for a radio show titled The Game, which broke down the Oakland Raiders and the AFC Western Conference. Steve’s master of ceremonies work included serving as MC for Oakland Raiders’ anniversaries, team championships, and other milestones. He also served as MC for Vallejo’s GVRD and the Vallejo Sports Hall of Fame. Over the years, Steve earned several special achievement awards, including induction into the Pro-Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio as top Raider fan in the U.S. He was also inducted into Vallejo’s Sports Hall of Fame, followed by the Fox Sports Hall of Champions. More recently he was installed in the St. Patrick-St Vincent High School Sports Hall of Fame. During Steve’s retirement years, he enjoyed spending time at his home, where he gardened, watched old movies and sports on TV. He visited Starbucks at 5 a.m. each morning for an infusion of caffeine and conversation with other customers. And he was a regular at Double D’s Sports Bar and Grille in Los Gatos, where he often enjoyed lunch or dinner while befriending the owners, staff and customers. With his well-honed memory, he relished chatting with friends and strangers alike about almost any subject, but especially sports, and in particular The Raiders. Now at rest, Steve has left his earthly family, friends and community to once again enjoy the company of his mother, Madlyn Mortara, whom he affectionately called “My Girl,” after the popular song made famous by The Temptations. Steve is survived by siblings Joe Jr. (Dianna) Mortara of Lake Wildwood; Carol King of Walnut Creek; nephew David (Linda) King of Redding; grandniece Marisa (Zach) Mitchell of Riddle, OR; grandnephews Richard Anaya King of Martinez, GA; Joseph Anaya King of Modesto; James Mendoza of Piedmont; Joshua King of Tracy; cousins Laurie (Chris) Mortara of Huntington Beach; Michael (Misato) Mortara of Volcano, HI; and Lynn McDougal of Kennewick, WA; three great-nieces and many second and third cousins. Steve was preceded in death by his grandnephew Vincente Anaya of Modesto. A Mass of Christian burial will be held on Friday, July 11 at 11 AM at St. Basil’s The Great Catholic Church. Internment will be private.

Steve Mortara

December 28, 1948 - June 11, 2025