Kitty Dukakis, Wife of Former Presidential Candidate, Dies

BROOKLINE, Mass. — Kitty Dukakis, the spouse of former Massachusetts governor and Democratic presidential hopeful Michael Dukakis, who candidly discussed her battles with depression and addiction, has passed away at the age of 88.

Dukakis passed on Friday evening, surrounded by her loved ones, as confirmed by her son, John Dukakis, during a phone call on Saturday. Her family released a statement noting that she worked tirelessly to improve the world, “sharing her vulnerabilities to assist others in confronting theirs.”

“She was loving, spirited, and joyful, with a remarkable sensitivity to individuals from all backgrounds,” her family shared. “She and our father, Michael Dukakis, enjoyed a remarkable partnership for over 60 years, deeply loving each other.”

Dukakis gained significant recognition as a political campaigner during her husband’s 1988 presidential bid, working tirelessly on the campaign trail. Her influence was pivotal in his decision to run for the presidency.

She even became part of a notable moment during a 1988 presidential debate when her husband was asked: “Governor, if Kitty Dukakis were raped and murdered, would you support an irrevocable death penalty for the perpetrator?” Dukakis’s response that he would not was met with widespread criticism for its lack of emotion.

Earlier in the campaign, in 1987, Dukakis revealed that she had overcome a 26-year addiction to amphetamines five years prior after receiving treatment, starting her use of diet pills at the age of 19.

Her husband prioritized anti-drug initiatives, and she became a prominent advocate for educating youth about the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse.

However, just months after Michael Dukakis lost the election to Vice President George H.W. Bush, Kitty entered a 60-day alcohol rehabilitation program. She later experienced a relapse that required hospitalization after consuming rubbing alcohol.

In her 1990 autobiography, “Now You Know,” she attributed much of her struggles with alcohol and drugs to her mother and a long-standing battle with low self-esteem. In 2006, she published another book, “Shock,” which credited the electroconvulsive therapy she began in 2001 for alleviating the depression she had fought for years, stating that the treatment “opened a new reality for me.”

Current Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey recognized Dukakis as “a force for good in both public and private life,” highlighting her leadership in ensuring that the Holocaust is never forgotten, along with her advocacy for children, women, and refugees.

“She spoke bravely about her experiences with substance use disorder and mental health, inspiring us all to eliminate stigma and seek assistance,” Healey remarked in a statement.

Dukakis transformed her personal struggles into a source of strength for others, commented Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell on social media Saturday.

“Her legacy will endure through the policies she helped shape and the individuals she encouraged to share their own truths,” Campbell added.

Dukakis broke new ground by discussing her challenges openly and advocating for the homeless and political refugees, noted Maria Ivanova, director of Northeastern University’s Policy School, home to the Kitty and Michael Dukakis Center for Urban and Regional Policy.

“Kitty Dukakis brought honesty, empathy, and resilience to public life,” Ivanova stated. “Her legacy embodies service, strength, and truth.”

Dukakis met her future husband while both were high school students in Brookline, Massachusetts, a suburb of Boston. While he was practical and reserved, she was vibrant and expressive. He practiced Greek Orthodoxy while she came from a Jewish background.

Dukakis, who had been divorced and had a young son, wed Michael Dukakis in 1963, and they welcomed two daughters, Andrea and Kara.

The daughter of Harry Ellis Dickson, former associate conductor of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Kitty earned degrees in modern dance and broadcasting.

Following the presidential election in 1989, President Bush appointed her to serve on the United States Holocaust Memorial Council.

She previously participated in the President’s Commission on the Holocaust in 1979 and served on the board of directors of the Refugee Policy Group. She was also involved with the Task Force on Cambodian Children.

By the late 1990s, Dukakis and her husband split their time between Massachusetts and California, where she worked as a social worker while he taught at the University of California, Los Angeles.