Frances Kay Dellinger, an activist in third-party political groups, ended her life June 11 at her Northeast Baltimore home. She was 66.
Friends said she had been treated for intestinal disease and depression for 18 months before her death.
Born in Washington, she earned a sociology degree from the University of Maryland, College Park. A political activist, she organized a tenants union at an apartment house in suburban Washington and had worked for the Moratorium to End the War in Vietnam in the late 1960s. She also demonstrated at the 1968 Democratic Convention in Chicago.
Ms. Dellinger co-chaired the Baltimore campaign for the 2006 Senate run of Kevin Zeese of the Green Party. She also supported Ralph Nader and worked in the Campaign for Fresh Air and Clean Politics.
"She was passionately committed to her causes. Her record of political activism goes back for decades," said Doug McNeil, a Libertarian Party activist who is running for lieutenant governor. "She was also very funny and had a good sense of humor."
Ms. Dellinger wrote numerous letters to The Baltimore Sun and was quoted in news stories for her work supporting public radio host Marc Steiner.
"She was committed to social justice and gathered countless petition signatures to put the Green Party and Populist Party on the ballot," said a friend, Richard Ochs, with whom she co-owned a home.
A memorial gathering will be scheduled for the first week of August at a time and place to be announced.
Ms. Dellinger leaves no close relatives.