We mourn the passing of Kitty Dukakis

The three-time first lady of Massachusetts, Kitty Dukakis, died at the age of 88 this past weekend. The local NPR station did a lovely tribute, which describes how she was a first in many different ways: she was open and honest about her battle with addiction; she was steeped in the arts as a dance teacher and music lover; she worked hard for the homeless; she lifted up her Jewish heritage through service to Holocaust memorials and more; and she turned that work into a fight for refugees in places around the planet. 

Most inspiring was her mighty partnership with her husband, Michael, who was a three-time governor and 1988 Democratic presidential nominee. Governor Dukakis, a longtime PIRG ally,  is featured in more than one framed photo around our Boston office, in which we’ve documented victories like passage of the Toxics Use Reduction Act, which he signed into law in 1989. Some years ago, Deirdre Cummings and I were walking the halls of the Legislature and ran into the governor. We remarked, “we haven’t seen you in awhile, you look great!” Without skipping a beat, he responded, “You should see Kitty. Beautiful as ever.” In my condolence card to him, I thanked him for sharing with the world what love and devotion looks like. 

Every year (coincidentally, just last week) the Jewish festival of Purim celebrates Queen Esther, a courageous and inspiring leader who came to be known as a woman of valor. Kitty Dukakis was a woman of valor, and she will be missed. 

Photo by Massachusetts Dept. of Environmental Protection, CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons | CC-BY-2.0