BROOKLINE, Mass. — Kitty Dukakis, the beloved wife of former Massachusetts governor and Democratic presidential candidate Michael Dukakis, has passed away at the age of 88. She died on Friday night, surrounded by her family, as confirmed by her son, John Dukakis, during a telephone conversation on Saturday. Kitty Dukakis was well-known for her openness about her struggles with depression and addiction, which she faced with remarkable courage throughout her life.
In a heartfelt statement, her family remarked that Kitty Dukakis “fought to make the world better, sharing her vulnerabilities to help others face theirs.” They described her as “loving, feisty, and fun,” with a profound sensitivity to people from all walks of life. The Dukakis couple shared a remarkable partnership that lasted over 60 years, marked by a deep and abiding love for one another.
Kitty Dukakis played a pivotal role during her husband’s 1988 presidential campaign, where she earned high praise for her tireless campaigning efforts. She was a significant influence behind Michael Dukakis's decision to run for president. Notably, she was referenced in a crucial moment of the campaign during a presidential debate when a question arose regarding a hypothetical situation involving her safety. Michael Dukakis's calm response was met with widespread criticism.
In 1987, as the campaign progressed, Dukakis publicly disclosed her battle with a 26-year addiction to amphetamines, which she had overcome five years prior through treatment. She began taking diet pills at the young age of 19, and her husband made anti-drug initiatives a central theme of his campaign, with Kitty emerging as a prominent advocate for educating youth about the dangers of substance abuse.
Tragically, just months after Michael Dukakis lost the election to Vice President George H.W. Bush, Kitty Dukakis entered a 60-day treatment program for alcoholism. However, she faced setbacks, including a relapse that resulted in hospitalization after consuming rubbing alcohol. In her 1990 autobiography, “Now You Know,” she candidly attributed her struggles with alcohol and drugs to her upbringing and a history of low self-esteem.
In 2006, Kitty Dukakis published another book titled “Shock,” where she credited the electroconvulsive therapy she began in 2001 with alleviating her long-standing depression. She described the treatment as having “opened a new reality” for her, showcasing her resilience and commitment to mental health advocacy.
Current Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey praised Kitty Dukakis as “a force for good in public life and behind the scenes,” highlighting her leadership in preserving the memory of the Holocaust and her advocacy for children, women, and refugees. Healey emphasized that Dukakis's courageous discussions about her struggles with substance use disorder and mental health serve as an inspiration to others, encouraging them to seek help and break down stigma.
Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell also recognized Dukakis’s legacy, stating that her personal pain was transformed into a powerful tool for helping others. “Her legacy will live on in the policies she helped shape and the people she inspired to speak their own truths,” Campbell remarked in a social media statement.
Kitty Dukakis met her future husband while attending high school in Brookline, a suburb of Boston. Their relationship was characterized by contrasts; he was known for being dull and frugal, while she was vibrant and dramatic. Their differing backgrounds—Michael being Greek Orthodox and Kitty Jewish—did not hinder their relationship. Kitty, who had a three-year-old son from a previous marriage, married Michael Dukakis in 1963, and the couple later welcomed two daughters, Andrea and Kara.
Kitty Dukakis, whose late father, Harry Ellis Dickson, was the associate conductor of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, earned degrees in modern dance and broadcasting. Following the 1989 presidential election, she was appointed by President George H.W. Bush to the United States Holocaust Memorial Council and had previously served on the President’s Commission on the Holocaust in 1979 and the board of directors of the Refugee Policy Group. Her commitment to humanitarian causes extended to her role on the Task Force on Cambodian Children.
By the late 1990s, Kitty and Michael Dukakis split their time between Massachusetts and California, where she worked as a social worker while he taught at the University of California, Los Angeles, reflecting their dedication to both family and public service.
