In this harsh and volatile political climate, it is easy to overlook public service. The legendary life of Frank Bellotti, who served as prosecutor for 12 years and died last week at the age of 101, is an occasion to consider how much influence a true public servant can have.
I met Frank when I was running for Attorney General in 2022. I had just turned 40, and he was approaching 100. We were both Bostonians, each having lost a parent at a young age. Even then, after decades in public life, Frank maintained an unparalleled passion for service — for the potential of using the law to improve life in the Commonwealth. He committed his support and friendship.
I relied on both as I entered the modern prosecutor’s office that I was instrumental in building. Until his final days, he was a mentor, guide and friend. I looked up to him because he embraced the power of both law and social justice, and he leveraged both to fight for the vulnerable.
In 1975, when Frank took over the office, it was staffed with part-time attorneys who balanced private practice and public litigation. He knew that the office was not up to date, requiring a “people’s law office” to protect the population.
So, realizing the full potential of the position to which he had been elected, Frank built a new general law firm. While some understood this role as merely defending state government, Frank expanded the scope of the office. The general law firm he envisioned would face the challenges of the time. He has hired full-time attorneys committed to public representation in the areas of consumer protection, environment, and civil rights. Under Frank, the office was not afraid to confront public corruption and hold the powerful accountable. This is still our spirit today.
Frank moved the office out of the Statehouse, emphasizing its independence, so that the public would see it as a resource they could trust. He modernized the office into a model that is widely respected across the country today.
He also knew that Massachusetts was most effective when it led a coalition of states similarly concerned about their voters. He was instrumental in the development of the National Association of Attorneys General. These alliances have helped achieve accountability before the judiciary Cigarette industry in the 1990sand The e-cigarette industry two decades later. Today, along with more than 40 other states, we hold Meta and TikTok accountable for designing social media platforms to addict our children and harm their mental health. This is Frank’s legacy in business.
Frank’s leadership was also personal. He was a devoted husband, father and grandfather. He set an example of balance, proving that public life does not come at the expense of personal life. Frank always remained grounded and present in the lives of the people who mattered most.
Frank had a deep commitment to his health and vitality. He believed that a healthy mind flourishes in a healthy body. His physical regime of daily walking and weightlifting reminds us all that self-care isn’t an indulgence, it’s essential to looking your best.
Frank has left us a wonderful legacy. His forward-thinking and innovation have made the Attorney General’s Office a guardian of the rule of law and social justice. The law has been used to protect fundamental rights and uphold public confidence. He put justice above everything else.
Now, more than ever, his leadership and integrity must serve as a blueprint for the next generation of public servants. As the state faces the challenges of a new federal administration, the office Frank built would be better served to protect our people and our economy. We are indebted to his service, and I am proud to continue his legacy.
Andrea Joy Campbell is the Attorney General of Massachusetts.
