LYNN — Agnes Ricko, a staple in the political world of Lynn and the Commonwealth, died Thursday morning at the age of 87.

Ricko dedicated her life to the Democratic party by helping candidates campaign and urged her community to become involved. She served on the Lynn Democratic City Committee for 16 years, as the co-chair for 10 years and chair for six, until Spring 2023. She also served on the Democratic State Committee from 1988 until her death.

Agnes Ricko still made phone calls to support the Democratic presidential candidates until her final days.

Among her involvement in local, state, and national elections, she was former Lynn Public Schools teacher and the Chief of Staff for former Lynn Mayor Patrick J. McManus. She grew up in Lynn and raised her two sons, Al Ricko and Anthony Ricko, in the city.

Al Ricko, Agnes Ricko’s oldest son, still lives in Lynn and said his mom was a “force to be reckoned with.”

Growing up with Agnes Ricko as a mom, Al Ricko said he always helped on political campaigns with her.

She valued helping others and doing what she thought was right, he said. She felt her best way to help others was backing and supporting political candidates who reflected her values.

“Driven to do what she thought was right — helping others,” Al Ricko said.

He said he vividly remembers driving around campaigning with his mom during the former U.S. State Sen. George McGovern’s 1972 presidential campaign.

Al Ricko said he remembers his mom’s famous six words — “Hello, this is Agnes Ricko calling,” — that others in the political community also remember her by.

Anthony Ricko, Agnes Ricko’s younger son, referred to his mom as a “political

“She was driven to give back and driven to do what she thought was right,” he said. “She tried to make a difference.”

The two most important aspects of her life were her family and her drive to make a difference in her community,” Anthony Ricko said.

Agnes Ricko taught her sons the power of hard work and giving all your effort into what you do, both Al and Anthony Ricko said.

She was involved with political campaigns all around the city and the Commonwealth, Anthony Ricko said

“People had to go through Agnes Ricko,” he said. “She was a powerhouse.”

Former Gov. Mike Dukakis, who served as governor from 1975-79 and 1983-91, said he remained close to Agnes Ricko from when they first met.

“She was a community activist. She was a leader. She was a remarkable person in so many ways,” he said. “Most of us who knew her looked to her for leadership. I know I did and many, many other people did.”

Former State Rep. James Smith said he remembers first meeting Agnes Ricko in 1970 outside of a polling station when he was on the ballot. She was outside the station all day during the rain starting from when the polls opened at 10 a.m. He went on to serve as a state representative for eight years.

“We became very good friends, not just campaign friends,” he said. “(She was) a really remarkable woman.”

Campaigning is a volunteer effort, Smith said. “She was hard working — extremely hard working.”

She served as a mentor to young politicians in the area and always tried to get members of the community involved, he said.

Former Lynn City Councilor Charles Gaeta said he first met Agnes Ricko when he was 22 years old and they worked together on Smith’s political campaign. She was also his campaign manager during his run for city council.

He said during his campaign for city council, he would spend his Sundays watching football. Agnes Ricko would always ask him how she could run a campaign without a candidate on Sundays.

“She was a part of our family,” he said. “We had more laughs over the years up until near the bitter end.”

“Agnes represented the very best of democracy,” former State Rep. Steven Walsh said.

She was the “single most influential figure in local politics” for more than five decades in the area, he said. She did this by caring for those she served instead of her individual success.

That type of person is rare and truly impossible to replicate,” Walsh said.

“She may have knocked her last door, but we will continue to benefit from the ones she opened for so many others,” he said. Her commitment and her contributions deserve and demand our respect, our admiration, and our appreciation. She was one of a kind. A unicorn. I will miss Agnes greatly, as will her many friends, but democracy will miss her the most.”

Drew Russo, who served as an elected member on the Democratic State Committee with Agnes Ricko, said he met Agnes Ricko 22 years ago when Walsh ran for state representative.

“From pretty much the first moment I met her, I knew, instinctively, she was just an unstoppable force of nature, one of the most incredible activists I’ve ever met in my entire life, and somebody who could organize a campaign… like you couldn’t believe,” Russo said.

He said he remembers traveling across the country with Agnes Ricko and her husband during Hilary Clinton’s presidential campaign.

“She had such a unique skillset of being able to motivate volunteers,” Russo said. “She was just a force in every campaign that she was ever a part of.”

“Agnes was an amazing leader, fierce campaigner, and incredibly caring person. Her passion for her family, for Lynn, and for her life’s work and the indefatigable commitment she brought to all those things will continue to inspire all who knew her,” Mayor Jared Nicholson said.