Former Arlington State Senator Richard Kraus Dies At 82

ARLINGTON, MA — Former Democratic state senator Richard Kraus passed away Dec. 8 after a long battle with Parkinson's disease. He was 82 years old.

Kraus represented Arlington from 1983-1991. He was a member of the Arlington School Committee from 1970-1976 and served two terms as its chairman.

Kraus earned a doctorate in economics from Harvard University, where he remained until 1982, when he was elected to the state senate. He held senior positions in financial aid and admissions for over a decade and served as Administrative Dean of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, according to his obituary.

Kraus was a leader and local manager of many political campaigns and causes, including gubernatorial bids by Michael Dukakis, anti-war and civil rights movements and Eugene McCarthy's 1968 campaign, his obituary states.

After leaving the state senate, he served as president of Cape Cod Community College for seven years. He was a resident of Leverett in his later years.

Memorial service plans are currently incomplete. Burial will be in his family's plot in Kansas.

Read Kraus's complete obituary here.