Former Massachusetts first lady Kitty Dukakis dies at 88

Flint McColgan, Boston Herald on Mar 22, 2025

By clicking submit, I authorize Arcamax and its affiliates to: (1) use, sell, and share my information for marketing purposes, including cross-context behavioral advertising, as described in our Privacy Policy , (2) add to information that I provide with other information like interests inferred from web page views, or data lawfully obtained from data brokers, such as past purchase or location data, or publicly available data, (3) contact me or enable others to contact me by email or other means with offers for different types of goods and services, and (4) retain my information while I am engaging with marketing messages that I receive and for a reasonable amount of time thereafter. I understand I can opt out at any time through an email that I receive, or by clicking here

BOSTON — Katharine “Kitty” Dukakis, wife of former Massachusetts governor and 1988 Democratic Party nominee for president Michael Dukakis, has died. She was 88.

A Massachusetts native, Kitty Dukakis served as first lady of the commonwealth across her husband’s three nonconsecutive terms, from 1975 to 1979 and again from 1983 to 1991. She was born Dec. 26, 1936, in Cambridge.

She died on Friday surrounded by family. Her son, John Dukakis, told the Associated Press that “She was loving, fesisty and fun, and had a keen sensitivity to people from all walks of life.

Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey said she is “saddened to hear about the passing of Kitty Dukakis, who was a force for good in public life and behind the scenes.

“She was a strong advocate for children, women and refugees, while also taking a leadership role in ensuring that the horrors of the Holocaust are never forgotten,” Healey continued. “She spoke courageously about her struggles with substance use disorder and mental health, which serves as an inspiration to us all to break down stigma and seek help. My heart is with Governor Dukakis and their loved ones during this difficult time.”

Michael Dukakis announced his campaign in Boston in March 1987 and was selected as the Democratic nominee for president at the party’s convention in Atlanta in the summer of the following year. Michael Dukakis would end up losing the race to then-Vice President George H. W. Bush.

Kitty Dukakis worked for a number of important issues, including women’s rights, human rights and the environment.

She was a founding member of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum after having been appointed by President Jimmy Carter to the President’s Commission on the Holocaust. She has also served on the board of directors of the Refugee Policy Group and Refugees International, according to a biography of her posted on Northeastern University’s Dukakis Center for Urban and Regional Policy website.

She was also active locally, having been director from 1985 to 1989 of Program on Public Space Partnerships, a joint program between the John F. Kennedy School of Government and the Graduate School of Design at Harvard University.

Kitty Dukakis also struggled with addiction and came clean with her story in the 1990 autobiography "Now You Know," written with Jane Scovell.

State Democratic Party chairman Steve Kerrigan said that Kitty Dukakis “made our Commonwealth — and our world — a better place.”

“Kitty Dukakis used her role as first lady of the Commonwealth to champion refugees and the homeless, promote greater awareness of the Holocaust, and advocate for placing more women in leadership roles within state government,” Kerrigan’s statement continued.

“Yet, it was her courage in publicly sharing her struggles with depression and substance use disorder that truly defined her strength. Her honesty and bravery helped break down stigma, inspiring countless others to seek support and begin their own journeys of recovery.”