[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 86 (Monday, May 22, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E476]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     HONORING FRANCIS XAVIER BELLOTTI OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, IN 
RECOGNITION OF HIS 100TH BIRTHDAY AND WITH GRATITUDE FOR HIS COMMITMENT 
                           TO PUBLIC SERVICE

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. STEPHEN F. LYNCH

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                          Monday, May 22, 2023

  Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Francis Xavier 
Bellotti, in recognition of his 100th birthday and with the deepest 
appreciation for his courageous service to our Nation during World War 
II and his many contributions to Massachusetts' legal and political 
communities.
  Born and raised in Boston, Massachusetts, Mr. Bellotti graduated from 
The English High School in 1942 before enlisting in the United States 
Navy's elite Scouts and Raiders--the Navy's first special warfare unit 
and a progenitor of today's Navy SEALs. Mr. Bellotti led his squad 
valiantly across multiple theaters in World War II and was decorated 
for his service in Europe and the Pacific.
  Mr. Bellotti's earned his bachelor's degree from Tufts University in 
1947 and graduated from Boston College Law School in 1952. He quickly 
became a prominent and respected attorney, practicing at every level of 
the state and federal judicial system.
  Mr. Bellotti's career in public service began on January 3, 1963, 
when he became the 61st Lieutenant Governor for the Commonwealth of 
Massachusetts. He then served three terms as Massachusetts' Attorney 
General, from 1975 to 1987, during which time he transformed the Office 
of the Attorney General, fostering a culture of transparency, 
professionalism, and nonpartisanship. In 1981, the National Association 
of Attorneys General unanimously voted Mr. Bellotti the most 
outstanding attorney general in the country.
  After his departure from elective office, Mr. Bellotti returned to 
the law, where he has remained a steadfast advocate for justice and 
democracy.
  In his personal life, Mr. Bellotti is a proud father of 12 children 
and more than twice as many grandchildren. His beloved wife, Margarita 
``Maggie'' Bellotti, passed away on December 26, 2022. She is 
remembered as the ``driving force'' in Mr. Bellotti's life and a 
powerful victim advocate in her own right.
  Mr. Speaker, Francis Xavier Bellotti's legacy is clearly one of 
service--to country, community, and principle. Over the years, Mr. 
Bellotti has received countless accolades for his good work. In 2011, 
Boston College Law School aptly named its public service loan repayment 
assistance and forgiveness program in his honor. In 2012, the District 
Court of East Norfolk--where Mr. Bellotti first practiced--was renamed 
the Francis X. Bellotti Courthouse. And, in 2017, the United States 
Navy awarded Mr. Bellotti a trident badge plaque for his leadership as 
a member of the Scouts and Raiders.
  Mr. Speaker, it is my distinct privilege to join Mr. Bellotti's 
family and friends in recognizing his 100th birthday and to thank him 
for his service on behalf of a grateful Nation.

                          ____________________