Kitty Dukakis, wife of former Massachusetts governor and presidential hopeful Michael Dukakis, dead at 88

Her son, John Dukakis, said that the wife and mother of three died Friday night "surrounded by family."

"She was born on December 26, 1936, and lived a full life fighting to make the world a better place and sharing her vulnerabilities to help others face theirs," he said in a statement. "She was loving, feisty and fun, and had a keen sensitivity to people from all walks of life. She and our dad, Michael Dukakis, shared an enviable partnership for over 60 years and loved each other deeply. Thank you to all who have touched our lives over the years or who were touched by our mother."

The Washington Post and the New York Times both reported that John Dukakis said his mother's cause of death was complications from dementia and that she died at her home in Brookline, Mass. 

Kitty Dukakis was the first lady of Massachusetts during her husband's three nonconsecutive terms and supported Michael Dukakis during his unsuccessful presidential run against Vice President George H.W. Bush. 

Kitty Dukakis later said her husband admitted "I really blew it," with an answer that was widely perceived as emotionless and tone-deaf. She also condemned the question as "outrageous."  

Her father was Ellis Dickson, the first violinist with the Boston Symphony Orchestra and a conductor of the Boston Pops. She detailed a more complicated relationship with her mother, Jane (Goldberg) Dickson, in her first book, "Now You Know."