Ex-Planned Parenthood president, women's rights advocate Cecile Richards dies at 67
"Our hearts are broken today but no words can do justice to the joy she brought to our lives,” her family said.
Cecile Richards, a long-time reproductive rights activist and former Planned Parenthood Federation of America president, has died at age 67. Richards was originally diagnosed in 2023 with a type of brain tumor known as a glioblastoma.
“This morning our beloved Cecile passed away at home, surrounded by her family and her ever-loyal dog, Ollie. Our hearts are broken today but no words can do justice to the joy she brought to our lives,” the family wrote on X on Monday.
The daughter of former Democratic Texas Gov. Ann Richards, she served as president of Planned Parenthood from 2006 to 2018. As one of the nation’s most prominent advocates for abortion rights, she fiercely advocated for reproductive freedom. During the Democratic National Convention, she helped to cast Texas’ ceremonial vote for former Vice President Kamala Harris.
“When women are free to make their own decisions about their lives and to follow our dreams, we are unstoppable. But when Roe v. Wade was overturned, a generation of young people lost that freedom,” she said during the convention.
Richards’ family thanked the doctors and health care workers who cared for her saying, “we are grateful to the doctors and health care workers who provided her excellent care and the friends, family, and well-wishers who have been by her side during this challenging time.
Officials pay tribute to Richards on social media
Social media was flooded with posts paying tribute to Richards' contributions. Among them were journalist Katie Couric, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, and Hillary Clinton.
'"Her legacy will be the countless lives she touched and the generations of women she inspired to follow in her footsteps," Clinton wrote. "I'm thinking of her family and friends today and holding you close to my heart.
Former President Barack Obama praised Richards' dedication to women's rights: "She never wavered in her commitment to ensuring that women had access to the reproductive health care they needed, and her leadership at Planned Parenthood led to the inclusion of important healthcare provisions in the Affordable Care Act."
Planned Parenthood described Richards as "the embodiment of 'Care, no matter what."
"As the reproductive freedom movement navigates unchartered territory, we know Cecile would tell us the best way to honor her memory is to suit up (in pink!), link arms, and fight like hell for the health and rights of all people," the organization continued.
Contributing: Gabrielle Chenault, Nashville Tennessean
Taylor Ardrey is a news reporter for Paste BN, and You can reach her at tardrey@gannett.com.