ANDOVER — Susan Tucker, the former state senator and representative known as a champion of housing choices and a detractor of casino gambling, died Monday, Nov. 20. She was 79 years old.
“She was a good friend for many, many years,” said Susan Stott, Andover Community Trust founder. “I think she was the best state senator Andover has ever had. She will be very missed.”
Tucker has been described as a great friend by many. Joseph Bevilacqua, president and CEO of the Merrimack Valley Chamber of Commerce, said she “had a smile that would light up a room.”
Her former chief of staff, Les Bernal, recalled her “great one-liners,” noting Tucker’s sense of humor wasn’t a match for anyone. Former state representative Barbara L’Italien, executive director of the Disability Law Center, recalled Tucker’s joke about being in the Outback “State” House, noting she was always prepared and ready to talk with anyone about issues.
At her core, though, Bernal said, Tucker was a “citizen politician,” someone who wanted to serve because she saw issues that could be solved.
“For Sue, the kind of issues and success she had really revealed who she was,” Bernal said. “She stood up for women in domestic violence situations, for low-income families, for seniors, for people with disabilities.”
Tucker served in the Massachusetts House of Representatives from 1982 to 1992 and in the Massachusetts Senate from 1999 to 2011, representing the district of Second Essex and Middlesex.
“Susan Tucker dedicated her life to serving hardworking families across the Merrimack Valley,” said U.S. Rep. Lori Trahan, D-Westford.
“She entered the State House at a time when few women held public office, paving the way for countless others to follow in her footsteps. Today, I join the thousands of people Sue touched in mourning her passing, and my heart goes out to her loved ones as they grieve this tremendous loss.”
L’Italien called Tucker a “pace-setter,” saying Tucker did “incredible work with boundless energy.”
One of her first causes as a representative was domestic violence and need for legislation to address it, Bernal said. Her signature bill criminalized domestic violence, worked to support women in the situations and relationships find better, healthier solutions.
“It’s a huge deal,” Bernal said. “That’s kind of significant of her career. She was really always ahead of the curve on big issues.”
Tucker was a champion of housing initiatives, having served as the chair of the Joint Committee on Housing. She was also on the executive board of the Merrimack Valley Economic Development Council and a member of the Andover Industrial and Development Commission.
In 2011, Tucker said she wished she could have ended the state’s housing plan to put homeless families in hotels, an issue that continues over a decade later. She sponsored bills like an act to preserve publicly-assisted affordable housing and worked to retain or secure subsidies affecting housing developments.
“She was truly a tireless advocate for the underdog, for people that didn’t have a voice,” said state Sen. Barry Finegold, who succeeded Tucker in the Senate. “She was someone that just really stood on her principles. There are not many elected officials today that do that.”
She sponsored another bill to stabilize neighborhoods by creating community housing. She proposed rates for senior housing to provide affordable options for elders and people with disabilities. At one point, she secured $8.25 million to implement recommendations of a special commission to end homelessness.
She also worked to support low-income families by targeting auto-insurance fraud rings. Tucker made sure this was a top issue in Massachusetts, working to dramatically reduce insurance rates for low-income families. She had a high-profile fight against the Registry of Motor Vehicles, working to move the agency into the 21st century.
“A lot of the changes still are there today,” Bernal said. “She was at the head of that.”
Other issues that caught her attention include the spread of casino gambling in Massachusetts. She argued the negative social impacts and expensive bureaucracy needed to support expanded gambling outweigh any potential benefits.
For Bernal, the work the two did around gambling changed the course of his career. He now serves as the national director of Stop Predatory Gambling.
“Politics doesn’t change who you are. It reveals who you are,” Bernal said. “Sue at her core was a concerned citizen that decided to run for office and she always stayed that way.”
Bevilacqua said Tucker was “very helpful in bringing ideas forward to unite” her constituents.
She announced her retirement in 2011, noting how much of a “wonderful privilege” it had been to “be of service to the communities and the people who put their trust in me.”
Tucker was a teacher in both Lexington and Andover Public Schools prior to her legislative work.
Former Andover town manager Buzz Stapczynski said the Tuckers were “total advocates” for Andover education. The Andover School Committee voted in 2021 to name the track and field for the former senator, behind the Doherty Middle School and Cormier Youth Center.
“She was the consummate state rep and senator,” Stapczynski said. “She had deep roots in the community. She was an ardent advocate for good government.”
Tucker was predeceased by sons, Mark and David, and survived by Mike Tucker, her husband of 57 years.
A memorial service will be held at a later date.
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