Cecile Richards Obituary, Death News: Feminist activist Cecile Richards dies at 67.
Cecile Richards Obituary, Death News – Cecile Richards, the renowned feminist activist and former president of Planned Parenthood, has passed away after an 18-month battle with glioblastoma, a form of brain cancer. She was 67. Richards’ death was confirmed by her family, who shared the news in a heartfelt statement on Monday, saying that she passed away at home surrounded by her family and her loyal dog, Ollie. “Our hearts are broken today, but no words can do justice to the joy she brought to our lives,” her family said.
Diagnosed with glioblastoma in 2023, Richards continued her advocacy work despite the devastating illness. When asked about her decision to stay active in the fight for reproductive rights even after her diagnosis, she quoted her mother, the late Texas Governor Ann Richards, saying, “Why should your life only be about you?” This sentiment guided Richards throughout her life and activism.
Richards was born in Waco, Texas, in 1957, as the eldest daughter of civil-rights lawyer David Richards and Ann Richards, a future Democratic governor of Texas. Her early involvement in politics began as a teenager when she protested the Vietnam War by wearing a black armband and supported Sarah Weddington’s campaign for Texas’ state legislature. Weddington, as the lawyer who argued Roe v. Wade, would later have a significant influence on Richards’ future work. Richards attended Brown University, and after graduation, she became a labor organizer. It was during this time that she met her husband, Kirk Adams. When her mother ran for governor of Texas, Richards returned to the state to support the campaign.
Over the years, Richards became a key player in Democratic politics. She founded several organizations and later served as deputy chief of staff for Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi. However, it was in 2006 that she gained national prominence when she was appointed president of Planned Parenthood, the largest reproductive healthcare provider in the U.S. Richards quickly became one of the most visible abortion rights advocates in the country, particularly as Planned Parenthood faced frequent attacks from Republican lawmakers.
During her tenure as president, Richards led Planned Parenthood through several turbulent years. She expanded the organization’s reach, reinvigorated its advocacy efforts at both the state and national levels, and helped the organization weather various crises, including attempts to defund it. Under her leadership, Planned Parenthood became an even more powerful political force, fighting for reproductive rights and healthcare access for millions of people.
Richards stepped down from her role as president in 2018, calling it “the honor of my lifetime.” Despite her retirement from the organization, she remained active in advocating for abortion rights and Democratic causes. After the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, Richards continued her work, particularly focused on the impact of the ruling. She co-founded Charley, a chatbot that provides accurate information to abortion seekers, and Abortion in America, a platform for sharing stories about the effects of the Dobbs decision on individuals and families.
Her advocacy didn’t stop with these projects. In recognition of her lifelong contributions to reproductive rights and activism, President Joe Biden awarded her the Presidential Medal of Freedom in November 2024.
Richards is survived by her husband, Kirk Adams, and their three children: Lily, Hannah, and Daniel. In their statement, her family shared a sentiment that Richards often expressed in her final year: “It’s not hard to imagine future generations one day asking: ‘When there was so much at stake for our country, what did you do?’” They concluded, “The only acceptable answer is: ‘Everything we could.’”
Richards’ death marks the end of a remarkable life dedicated to fighting for women’s rights, reproductive justice, and social change. Her legacy will endure in the many lives she touched through her tireless advocacy and her commitment to creating a better, more equitable world.
