Key takeaways:

• Kitty Dukakis, former first lady of Massachusetts, passed away at 88 due to complications from dementia.
• She was an outspoken advocate for mental health and addiction recovery, openly discussing her personal struggles.
• Dukakis played a significant role in establishing the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.

Kitty Dukakis, the beloved former first lady of Massachusetts, died on Friday at her home in Brookline, surrounded by her family. She was 88 years old, and her death was attributed to complications from dementia, as confirmed by her son, John Dukakis. Throughout her life, Kitty fought against the stigma of mental health issues and addiction, openly sharing her own battles with alcoholism and depression. She published a memoir that candidly detailed her struggles and her use of electroconvulsive therapy, a controversial treatment she advocated for following her recovery.

Kitty served as the first lady during her husband's tenure as governor, from 1975 to 1979, and then again from 1983 to 1991. Her activism extended beyond her personal challenges; she took significant steps toward promoting women's rights, human rights, and advocating for the Holocaust's remembrance. Appointed to the President's Commission on the Holocaust by Jimmy Carter in 1978, she continued to serve on the board of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum after its establishment.

Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey praised Dukakis as “a force for good in public life” and emphasized her role in championing underrepresented issues. Her family referred to her as a transformative figure who “fought to make the world better,” reflecting her commitment to service and community. Kitty Dukakis's legacy will persist through ongoing initiatives at the Kitty and Michael Dukakis Center for Urban and Regional Policy at Northeastern University, which continues to uphold her values in public service.