Andrew T. Campoli

LENOX, Mass. —

Andrew Thomas Campoli, of Lenox, MA left this world in the early hours of September 6, 2023. He was 99.

Born in Pittsfield, MA on April 7, 1924, to immigrants, Lucia Alberti Campoli and Arcangelo Campoli, Andy learned, through the example of his large extended family, that education and hard work were the key to happiness. He held these values close throughout his long life.

He began his post-high school education at Williams College. He left Williams after the start of World War II to enlist in military service.

After he was discharged from the military, his family encouraged him to study medicine but despite earning a BS in Biochemistry from Tufts University, he abandoned science for the law, following in the footsteps of his uncles Charles and John Alberti. It proved an excellent choice as law became his lifelong passion. After graduating from Boston University Law School in 1952, he embarked on a legal career that spanned decades.

Beyond his sprawling private practice, he became the Chief Public Defender for Berkshire County. For over 25 years, he zealously advocated for indigent clients. Battling for each poor person he represented, to the point of exhaustion, as if he was fighting for himself.

He was the consummate court room lawyer, trying more civil and criminal jury trials in the Berkshire Superior Court than any lawyer of his generation and more than any lawyer since.

In the 1980’s he welcomed his sons Thomas L Campoli, Esq. and J. Peri Campoli, Esq. into his firm which is now known as Campoli, Monteleone & Mozian, P.C., with 6 attorneys practicing in the main office Andy started at 27 Willis St, Pittsfield, and offices in North Adams and Great Barrington.

Outside of his busy legal practice, he was always moving, playing tennis, skiing, hiking, biking, traveling, reading, and playing duplicate bridge throughout the county. Andy was a fun-loving, outgoing guy who had a quick wit and commanded any space he occupied.

He had a lifelong devotion to his 5 children. His example of hard work and human decency imbued those traits in each of them. Andy was fiercely loyal to each child and was extremely proud of their accomplishments and those of his 15 grandchildren.

Despite his restless energy and constant motion, he never wandered far from his beloved Pittsfield, the house he and his father built in 1959 on Commonwealth Avenue, his law office, the Pittsfield Country Club and Berkshire West tennis courts, and the natural spaces of Berkshire County where he found contentment.

He was married to the late Gladys Peloquin Campoli for 17 years and they remained close until her death in 2006. He leaves their five children and partners: Gina Campoli (John Brodhead) of Craftsbury, VT, Thomas Campoli (Maureen White) of Pittsfield, Julie Campoli (John Kassel) of Burlington VT, Peri Campoli of Dalton and Lisa Campoli (Steve Clancy) of Cambridge.  He leaves 15 grandchildren – Hazen, Luc, and Daniel Brodhead, Clara Campoli, Simon and Thomas Kassel, Leila, Sam, and Andrew Campoli, Rachel and Nicholas Campoli, Charlotte and Otis Emslie, and Cal and Nola Clancy. In addition, he leaves 6 great-grandchildren.

He was predeceased by his brother Thomas, his parents, his sister Yolanda and brother-in-law Vincent Cancilla.

The family gives special thanks to the dedicated staff at Kimball Farms in Lenox and HospiceCare in the Berkshires.

FUNERAL NOTICE: Calling hours will be held at Dery Funeral Home, 54 Bradford Street, Pittsfield, MA, from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m., on Monday, September 11, 2023.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Joseph Church, 414 North Street, Pittsfield, MA, on Tuesday, September 12, 2023, at 9:00 a.m., with burial to follow at St. Joseph Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to:

The American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts: https://liveaclumassachusetts.pantheonsite.io/en/resources/ways-give

Massachusetts Audubon: https://www.massaudubon.org/take-action/donate