Kitty Dukakis, Longtime Supporter of Mental Health and Addiction Awareness, Dies at 88

    Kitty Dukakis, Former Massachusetts First Lady and Mental Health Advocate, Dies at 88

Kitty Dukakis, author, activist, and former first lady of Massachusetts, has passed away at the age of 88. Her son, John Dukakis, confirmed she died on March 21, surrounded by family. The cause of death was complications from dementia. 

Born Katherine Dickson in 1936, Kitty had a life filled with advocacy and public service. She married former Massachusetts governor and 1988 Democratic presidential nominee Michael Dukakis in 1963, and the two shared a decades-long partnership both in politics and personal life. 

Beyond her role as a political spouse, Kitty was an outspoken advocate for mental health and addiction awareness. She openly shared her struggles with alcoholism and depression in her 1990 memoir  Now You Know. Later, she became a champion for electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), detailing its benefits in her 2006 book  Shock: The Healing Power of Electroconvulsive Therapy.

Throughout her life, she also worked on refugee rights, serving on boards for humanitarian organizations and being part of President Jimmy Carter’s commission on the Holocaust. 

Kitty is survived by her husband, son, and family members. Her legacy as an advocate for mental health awareness and addiction recovery continues to inspire.