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Influential former AG, 3-time gubernatorial candidate dies at 101
Francis X. Bellotti died Tuesday morning.
Francis X. Bellotti, who served as attorney general in Massachusetts for more than a decade and ran for governor three times, died Tuesday morning at the age of 101.
His passing was announced in a statement by his family, The Boston Globe reported.
“We will always be grateful for my dad for his endless love and support,” Bellotti’s son and former assistant district attorney, Peter Bellotti, said in a statement. “He was always there for us as a guiding light in all our endeavors. I learned from him the power of the law and the special responsibility of serving as an officer of the court.”
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Throughout his career, Bellotti was a champion of civil rights, consumer protections, gay rights, and environmental safeguards, according to the Globe. He ran for governor, unsuccessfully, in 1964, 1970, and 1989.
His first foray into campaigning came in 1958, when he ran unsuccessfully for Norfolk District Attorney. Four years later, he was elected lieutenant governor, serving alongside Gov. Endicott Peabody.
The Democrat served as the state’s attorney general from 1975 to 1987 and is credited with creating a model for the office for attorneys general across the country, the Globe reported.
Born in Roxbury, Bellotti grew up in Dorchester, and eventually settled in Quincy, according to the newspaper. He graduated from Tufts University and Boston College Law School; he served in the U.S. Navy during World War II.
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In a statement, Gov. Maura Healey called Bellotti a “cherished mentor, colleague, and friend,” saying his contributions to the state’s law and policy were “indelible.”
“[He] inspired generations of legal professionals and public servants,” Healey said. “His work to protect residents and uphold the rule of law has been widely respected and recognized across the country by the National Association of Attorneys General. We express our deepest gratitude for his legacy of advocating for civil rights, defending constitutional principles, and elevating the professionalism of the People’s Law Firm.”
The Bellotti family said information about funeral arrangements will be “shared soon.”
“Frank’s life was a testament to the power of service and humane leadership, and he will be fondly remembered by all those who had the privilege of knowing him,” his family said. “His extraordinary journey and enduring spirit will always be cherished. Rest in peace, Dad.”
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