Suzanne Rowen, age 72, has been climbing mountains in the Pacific Northwest for the past 30 years. Leading self and others are cross-over skills between mountaineering and working in high stakes crisis communications on Wall Street, Suzanne’s earlier life on the East Coast. She finds climbing mountains to be “equally intense and marvelously expansive.” As a dedicated mountaineer, Suzanne peaked all the volcanoes in the Pacific Northwest and led numerous climbing expeditions. Now she prefers climbing solo and finds that “being in nature keeps us sane; you never outgrow it.” Suzanne mentors young women in mountaineering and is turning to fiction writing set in nature and mountains."The mountains meet you where you are; you can express who you are any time in life"Connect with SuzanneEmail: [email protected]

Wendy Cole, age 76, was 67 when she decided to live out in the world as the femaleshe was born to be. As a young person, Wendy was informed by ‘authorities’ that shewas a male with a psychological condition that was untreatable and uncurable; she was “a freak.” Wendy tells her story of living 45 years of repression while hiding her secret from the outside world. On the brink of suicide in 2014, Wendy learned her diagnosis had changed back in 2012. It is now treatable by therapy, hormones, and surgeries. And people are born transgender: “Gender is between the ears, not the legs.” In 2015, Wendy transitioned and began living fully as her authentic self. Currently, she is a transition mentor who guides individuals through significant life changes. She shares her story to “open minds and possibilities…to show others the beauty and possibilities of living authentically…It is never too late!” "I was born female but assigned male based on my physical anatomy; now, I live freely and fully as a woman."  - Wendy ColeConnect with Wendy: She invites you to ask her anything!  Connection website: https://MeetWendyCole.com Email: [email protected] Website: https://wendycolegtm.net Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wcole212/@wcole212 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wendycolegtm YouTube Channel:  https:www.youtube.com/@wendycole8326@wendycole8326 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendy-cole-gtm Private Facebook group, Demystifying the Transgender Journey, Open to anyone curious to learn more about being born transgender and livingwith it from childhood.

Cynthia Bargar, 76 is the author of Sleeping in the Dead Girl’s Room (Lily PoetryReview Books), selected as a Massachusetts Book Awards 2023 Honors Poetry Book. Her poems have appeared or are forthcoming  in Sugar House Review, Ocean State Review, Lily Poetry Review, Verse Daily, On the Seawall, The Last Milkweed Anthology, and elsewhere. Cynthia is associate poetry editor at Pangyrus LitMag.  She lives in Provincetown, Massachusetts. Cynthia has had 3 careers. First, teaching video and photography to teens; then, she worked in fundraising for 30 years, with nonprofits focused on grassroots activism and social services. When she became sober 44 years ago, she found her voice and started writing. Cynthia’s father was 28 when she was born. It was the same year his 18 year old sister, also named Cynthia Bargar, died of uncertain causes. As a newborn she occupied her aunt’s room. Throughout her life, nobody ever talked about it and she never understood exactly what happened to her father’s sister.  Many years later, as a practicing poet, Cynthia began to explore the unspoken, her aunt’s mysterious death. Her debut collection, Sleeping in the Dead Girl’s Room, is the result.  CONNECT WITH CYNTHIAEmail: [email protected]: www.cynthiabargar.com/Book: Sleeping in the Dead Girl’s RoomOrder from Bookshop.org

On the northshore of Chicago, there has existed a magical boutique gift store for 37 years. Its name: The Yellow Bird. Recently the shopping center where it had thrived all those years, was sold to make room for new residential buildings and some commercial. Yellow Bird’s lease was over but Carol was not. Yellow Bird’s owner, Carol Schaner, 87, was not yet ready, however, to lock the door and walk away. She, her daughter and indispensable manager, Laura, were determined to successfully relocate. And, indeed, they did. The Yellow Bird can now be found in downtown Wilmette.Carol’s handling of the situation is an example of her resilience; of a can-do attitude that has held Carol in good stead over her entire life. She is resilient, courageous, creative and connected. The community loves her and proved it by supporting her in her new location.What will I do in the future? I’ll continue with everything I am doing now! I am blessed to be here. Joy abounds.This episode tells her story. CONNECT WITH CAROL:Email: [email protected]: https://www.facebook.com/YellowBirdStore/Yellow Bird Stationery, Invitations & Gifts: 1199 Wilmette Avenue, Wilmette IL 60091, 847-256-1380

Andrea Gilats—writer, educator, artist, yoga instructor—believes that“when one writes a memoir, one has to be oneself.” Andrea’s captivating newmemoir, Radical Endurance: Growing Old in an Age of Longevity,reveals her journey of ‘discovery through the pitfalls and possibilities ofaging.’ She reflects on dealing with prolonged grief following the early deathof her husband, navigating serious chronic illnesses while living alone, andlearning to recreate her identity and sense of belonging after retirement.Now age 79, Andrea highlights the “singular pleasures of growing up again.”With deeper self-knowing and well-earned wisdom, “this time we can enjoyit… My horizon is no longer longer than I can see—I have arrived!” Andreashares how she is now able to “live a life of peace, joy, and contentment.”Connect with Andrea:Email: [email protected] by Andrea:Radical Endurance: Growing Old in an Age of Longevity (2024).After Effects: A Memoir of Complicated Grief (2021)Restoring Flexibility: A Gentle Yoga-based Practice in Increase Mobility at Any Age (2015)

For 15 years, Karen Allen (age 73), actor and director of stage and film,and Sarah T. Schwab (age 39), writer, director and producer, have enjoyedcollaborating on theatre and film productions, notably addressing oft-avoideddiscussions about dying and loss. Their award-winning film, A Stage ofTwilight—written and directed by Sarah and starring Karen—is a “grass-roots awareness campaign for end-of-life care and decisions.” It raises thedifficult question: “Whose death is it—who has the right to decide when,where, how, and with whom someone dies?” Karen’s directorial debut, theaward-winning A Tree. A Rock. A Cloud., is a short film about the “passingof wisdom from an older man to a young boy.” In 2025, Karen will bedirecting her first feature film, The Batting Cage, with Sarah on theproduction team. This film depicts how two sisters reconnect after the deathof their sibling. In her upcoming third feature film, Crybaby Bridge, Sarahapproaches suicide through the genre of psychological thriller. Please meetKaren Allen and Sarah T. Schwab—friends and collaborators who “reach forthe light” while pursuing what they love."Loss ties us together as human beings; we must learn to respecttime and cherish loved ones."CONNECT with KAREN and SARAH Karen Allen Karen Allen - Biography - IMDb Sarah T. Schwab Sarah T Schwab - Biography - IMDbWATCH A STAGE OF TWILIGHThttps://tubitv.com/movies/100026437/a-stage-of-twilightWATCH A TREE. A ROCK. A CLOUDhttps://tubitv.com/movies/100002111/a-tree-a-rock-a-cloudFor information to support the BATTING CAGE, Via Brian Long, [email protected]

Sharon A. Brangman, MD, Syracuse NY, is a geriatrician who has been a leader in the field of geriatrics for over two decades.  Her focus is directly on the phenomenon of normal cognitive aging, concentrating on prevention. Dr. Brangman serves as Chair of the Department of Geriatrics, Director of the Center for Excellence for Alzheimer’s Disease and is a Distinguished Service Professor at Upstate Medical University in Syracuse.  She has held leadership roles at the national level and was elected to the board of the Association of Directors of Geriatric Academic Programs in 2013 and served as President from 2015-2017." My goal is to help people maintain the highest quality of life throughout their lifespan. "Dr. Brangman is a widely published researcher by the National Institute of Aging. In 2024, Dr. Brangman was elected to serve as a Trustee of the McKnight Brain Research Foundation in 2023.This episode is full of information to guide you in proactively caring for your brain health. Connect with Sharon:Website:  https://mcknightbrain.org/brainworks/

From a very young age, Pamela Rand, 81, described herself as a comic, a clown, a funny kid who liked to make people laugh. She continues today to sing, dance, speak in multiple accents and create skits on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and TikTock. Laughing at herself is her prime mode of comedy. In her early 20’s, Pamela went to Clown School in Paris where she journeyed within to discover her inner clown. Having lost both her mother and brother, this “school of movement, mind and theater” helped her regain her innocence- her silly side-and she learned that 20 minutes of daily laughter enriches your life and is good for your brain. Today she focuses on physical comedy, formerly known as slapstick.  ”Humor is vital to our sanity and longevity.”Pamela is the “Self-proclaimed president of the mature mothers’ society”. Her daughter was born when she was 42, and not wanting her to be an only child, she birthed twins at 51.  She believes in positive addictions - meditation, eating healthy foods, chi gong, weight training, Pilates, and, of course, humor.Pamela Rand is a role model for an aging population and an inspiration for youth.CONNECT WITH PAMELA:Website: PamelaRand.netWebsite: Adventures in Feeling YoungYou Tube: Adventures in Feeling YoungTikTok: Adventures in Feeling YoungInstagram: Adventures in Feeling Young

For 50 years, Marcia Naomi Berger, 79, has experienced a journey from madness to love and meaning. Her first manic episode was at 29, when she was already a well-respected licensed clinical social worker - an experienced psychotherapist well-trained in cognitive-behavioral, family systems, process, and psychodynamic approaches. She draws from many treatment approaches to fit the needs of her clients. Naomi’s life changed abruptly when she experienced the first of two difficult hospitalizations. While her early upbringing was difficult and influenced her decision to become a therapist and concentrate on relationships, nothing prepared Naomi for a diagnosis of bipolar disorder. From that moment on she was determined to write a book about this difficult, shame-inducing condition. Everytime she took pen in hand, she found she could only get so far and would put it away. It was only in May of this year that she accomplished her goal and The Bipolar Therapist was published. Prior to that, Naomi published two books on relationships.Naomi lives her life by three convictions:Don’t bow down to stigma - you are a multi-faceted person who has a lot to give to this worldWhatever your situation is, don’t let other people define you.Live a whole meaningful life. Find happiness every dayCONNECT WITH NAOMI:Email: [email protected]: The BiPolar Therapist Marriage Minded: An A to Z Dating Guide for Lasting Love,Marriage Meetings for Lasting Love: 30 Minutes a Week to the Relationship You've Always WantedLinkedIn Profile

Anne Burke, age 80, retired Chief Justice of the Illinois Supreme Court, began her career as a physical education teacher, earned her undergraduate degree as an adult student at the School for New Learning/DePaul University, completed a law degree while raising four children, and created the Special Olympics. Her law practice centered on helping vulnerable children and citizens. Anne served on the Illinois Supreme Court for 16 years, the last three years as chief justice, during the covid pandemic. Upon retirement, Anne returned to DePaul University as a non-degree seeking student taking courses in history, philosophy, ethics, and creative writing. She has received numerous awards and 13 honorary degrees, including from her alma mater."The core of me is children; I am devoted to helping special populations."Connect with AnneEmail: [email protected]

Ruth Schimel, 84, has original ways to make the most of life’s possibilities. An author of over 70 published articles and seven books, she was previously a diplomat/foreign service officer at the Department of State. She has also taught at four universities. With her mother, Ruth created the Schimel Lode to promote collaboration and innovation in the DC area.In her 40’s, Ruth designed an inside-out approach to career and life management that transcended narrow labeling of her clients. Preferring to honor their complexity using adventure and good judgment, she continues to provide the tools and experiences to help clients access and keep developing their true selves independently. As a child, Ruth and her family were isolated by a flood for four days. She learned first-hand the power of uncontrolled water. That experience makes her involvement with efforts to mitigate climate change reality based. Finding ways to transcend isolation during the pandemic, Ruth and her long-time friend and colleague, Shari, developed a process for using art to generate engaging conversation, deeper relationships and visual intelligence. Their mashups of juxtaposed paintings with poetry became recordings to share online to benefit others’ explorations and insights."Becoming courageous is a process accessible to most people to step into the life they want."Her PhD research on courage, international experience, work with a range of clients and continuing curiosity are catalysts for her own growth and her work assisting others. Ruth knows that becoming courageous involves “the willingness to realize your true capacities by going through discomfort, fear, anxiety or suffering and taking wholehearted, responsible action.” It is a process accessible to most people.CONNECT WITH RUTH:Website: https://www.ruthschimel.com/Website: https://artingconversations.com/Website: https://www.theschimellode.net/Books: https://www.ruthschimel.com/books/

Susan Baur, 84, has been a writer, historian and psychologist for 50 years. As a child, nothing grabbed her passion like listening to her father’s stories which seemed to describe other worlds that exist inside our own. Pursuing these other worlds ever since, the force of nature keeps pulling at her very being and led her first into an obsession with turtles and then to start removing garbage from ponds in Cape Cod, MA. This is hard work. The water is often cold, visibility poor but nevertheless she dives in and sees . . . garbage - garbage like tires, futons, bicycle wheels and tons of beer cans. Trash. She couldn’t do this work alone so invited others to help. Women 64-84 joined in. It led Susan to be named Climate Resilience Hero by the Red Cross. If you align yourself with the force that governs, you know how to age.Susan believes in this work. Although she has written books on the history of science and psychology, and books about turtles for children, it is her sense of wonder and how it changes a person that unites her varied interests. She is happiest exploring Wonderlands and encouraging others to join her.  Although she is widely seen as creating the next generation of conservationists, she is more focused on fostering enchantment wherever it is found. Susan is, herself, the embodiment of wonder.CONNECT WITH SUSAN:Website: OLAUG-MA.COMBooks: The Turtle Sisters series and A Guide to the Best Ponds on Cape Cod AND the Best Ways of Preserving Them may be found on her personal website: theturtlesisters.com  Email: [email protected] Reimagined Symposium Celebrating Who We Are as We AgeSat Oct 19, 2024 [8:00] AM – [6:00] PMPlymouth Place, 60526https://www.tickettailor.com/events/womenover70/1255769

Karen Ross, 76, is a champion who keeps reinventing herself. Self-confident, curious and proactive, Karen never stops finding new ways to stay involved, support herself and others, and meet interesting people.She thought she would be a musician and entered college intending to major in music. However, Broadway show music is what interested her and classical music was what the college preferred she study. It didn’t take long for Karen to move on and several years and careers later found herself hosting a radio show. When that show ended she moved to South Carolina. "Curiosity leads me to keep engaging in new topics, career choices, and environments."A change in formats sent her back to Chicago where she decided to hire a coach to help her find what was next. The coach noticed that she was always desirous to be of service and, so, suggested she become a coach.Soon after starting her practice, Karen discovered hypnosis, believing it could help her patients find deep relaxation and access to their subconscious minds, while eradicating chronic pain, sleep issues and major loss. She continues to this day working with clients who benefit from hypnosis and personal coaching. Karen pays close attention to her health, doing a daily practice called Aging Backwards. She walks all over the city and listens for her inner ageist to consciously reject the notion that she is old.CONNECT WITH KAREN:Email:   [email protected]:   https://karenrossnow.com/Meet with her at:  https://karenrossnow.com/schedule/           Watch my 60-second video:https://karenrossnow.com/schedule/           https://womenover70.com/symposium/https://linktr.ee/womenover70

Elderwerks’ dynamic CEO and Founder, Jennifer Prell, understands older adults. She believes elders deserve respect and loving care. She gets worked up when talking about how difficult it often is for older people, no matter their income level, to find proper housing as they age. Adult children reach out because a parent is declining. That parent does not always recognize there is a problem and that makes it extremely difficult to help them make the transition to safer housing. Jennifer and her team are trained to ask the questions that will guide them in determining the correct paths to take.  Jennifer started a 2nd business called Safe Moves for Seniors so that she could work with income-restricted older people. Through this business they write grants and raise funds to aid older adults in downsizing and moving with dignity.  Their knowledge seems never-ending in all the ways to find proper housing for their clients as they age. Connect with Jennifer:Email: [email protected]: www.Elderwerks.orgWebsite: www.safemovesforseniors.org

The hardest part of getting older is the realization that some dreams are never going to be realized. Some situations are not going to change. Jackie Greenbaum, however realistic she remains, has lived her life as though dreams are meant to be followed. Discouraged from a career in law at a young age, Jackie pursued teaching, only to find it unsatisfying for the world in which she wanted to live. Soon after leaving the field of education, Jackie immersed herself in becoming a legal secretary, then a paralegal and combined those two to work in business development and human resources. A dynamic, successful rainmaker was her mentor and her career proved both satisfying and rewarding."There are close friends to be had in every setting when meaning and purpose drive your life."After retiring, Jackie and her husband moved to an over 55 community. Using all the skills she practiced while working, Jackie soon became deeply involved on the WOW board and developed strong friendships within the community.Jackie takes advantage of every minute because…….you just never know.Womenover70.comAging Reimagined Symposium Celebrating Who We Are as We AgeSat Oct 19, 2024 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM Plymouth Place, 60526https://www.tickettailor.com/events/womenover70/1255769

If we are looking for what we enjoy doing, then, logically, we’re going to be good at it. Joyful thoughts spiral upward. We are on this planet to love and be loved, to be truly authentic.Gail Sussman Miller, Inspired Choice.com, believes how we think, and communicate, is a key issue for leaders of organizations. She helps them manage difficult conversations, to listen not only to respond, but to understand. You can be kind and honest. She helps people see how they need to change to achieve their desired outcomes. An expert coach, focusing on communication, Gail has been serving clients since 2001. By integrating her beliefs into her coaching, she invites her clients to see through different lenses. "It’s about the spirit and energy you bring to the conversation, rather than specific words."As you listen hear her thoughts on:Wild Fit - a program based on anthropological nutrition and behavioral psychology for optimum health. Gail has integrated this knowledge and food choices as a lifestyle and finds it works for her on both a physical and spiritual level.Archetypes, based on the work of Robert Moore and Douglas Gillette and Carolyn Myss include our protective human ego (Victim, Saboteur, Wounded child, Prostitute - all fear-driven behaviors) and our Spirit, Higher Self, love driven behaviors. (Lover, Sovereign, Warrior, Magician - ways in which we deepen the truth of who we are.A Course in Miracles – helps us shift from a thought system based on fear to one based on loveHeadspace App - powerful meditation and mind training to keep joy present in our livesTears - your body’s response to hearing what is true for you. Gail celebrates life through spirituality, gratitude and rituals. 

Wendy Green, founder and host of Hey, Boomer,! knows about personal transformation first-hand and coaches women to “live the meaningful, purposeful life they want to live.” Wendy left the world of corporate training to focus on women’s experiences of growing older—as a coach, podcaster, show host, and blogger. Podcast guests, along with members of Boomer Banter, talk about a range of topics such as family dynamics, gray divorce, changing relationships, feeling old, and the vital value of female friendships.  I still feel inside the younger parts of me. - Wendy GreenConnect with WendyEmail: [email protected]: https://heyboomer.biz

Sally Jean Fox’s 2023 book, Meeting the Muse After Midlife: A Journey to Meaning, Creativity, and Joy, tells her story of finding joy in being creative after 50, as she explored gardening, clowning, improv theatre, storytelling, and singing. Always keen on writing, Sally took up painting at age 69 and exhibited 30 paintings three years later. Although Sally now sees herself as an artist, she emphasizes that creativity is not just about producing art; rather, the “most creative thing we can do is design our lives, every day, to be engaging, expansive, and full of learning. As the head of Engaging Presence, Sally also coaches professionals to design their lives around what matters most to them and to share their stories.Connect with SallyEmail: [email protected]: Engaging Presence—Shaping Stories That Matterhttps://www.engagingpresence.comBook: Meeting the Muse After Midlifehttps://www.engagingpresence.com/book/

Cheri Boublis is Senior Director for Hospitality Services at Plymouth Place in LaGrange Park, Illinois, a model for active community living. Cheri collaborates with the leadership, residents, vendors, and the larger community to offer wide-ranging services for adults who choose a vibrant lifestyle. Choice is the guiding concept for most everything at Plymouth Place—design of living space, travel, dining, cultural programs, the arts, wellness, and more. Cheri says she is of the age that she could live at Plymouth Place, and she looks forward to doing so when she is ready for that transition.Plymouth Place is the premium sponsor and host site for Women Over 70’s first, in-person Symposium on October 19, 2024. Connect with CheriEmail: [email protected]: Plymouth Place | Senior Living in La Grange Park, IL

Joy has always been a part of Beverly Pimsleur's life. Her extended family in Louisville KY loved to be together, to dance, sing and have fun.She recognized the importance of language from a young  age and started learning French in high school. She met her husband, a French professor, on a blind date in her twenties and changed her plans about living in France in order to marry him, anticipating they would someday live there together — which theydid. She became fluent in 4 different languages and believes in the importance of teaching English as a 2nd language.Paul was the creator of the Pimsleur Language Program. When he died at 48, Beverly, alone with two young children, returned to New York and, with a colleague of her late husband, continued to develop the business. Simon & Schuster eventually purchased the company. Life with her 2nd husband, Peter, was quite different. They moved to Nice for 12 years, where he died of a genetic disease. Beverly turned to tango as a release for her grief and dance became an obsession. With her children married, she traveled the world, dancing until she was 82. Her passions are multi-faceted and include cooking, traveling, writing and publishing. "I'm afraid I’m not going to have enough time for all the things I want to do."

As an educational leader and mentor, Dr. Helen Benjamin tells stories aboutgrowing up in the segregated South, living and working in two worlds—Blackand White, and helping younger Black professionals navigate their CEO rolesin community colleges. In semi-retirement, Helen leads HSV Consulting, Inc,works with “dozens of colleges, boards, and CEOs to advance student-centered organizational and leadership improvement,” and continues writingto preserve African American history. Helen finds that at age 74 she is in“the best place I’ve ever been in my life—smarter, wiser, thriftier, and morerelaxed.”No one can tell the story of our lived experience better thanwe can.Connect with HelenEmail: [email protected] by Helen:● How We Got Over-Growing Up in the Segregated South: A Collection ofNarratives● The Chocolate Truth: An Anthology of Perspectives from CommunityCollege CEOs

Do you want to share housing but find the transition scary? We often live in shared housing when we are single: college, roommates in camp, at conferences, during our early careers. Living with housemates as we age is no different. Annamarie Pluhar, 70, is a well-spoken advocate for shared housing and offers valuable ways of thinking to simplify the process. After receiving her Masters in Divinity, then working in a corporation, facilitating large groups, Annamarie started a non-profit to promote the importance of shared housing. She consults with organizations, housing professionals, the aging network and local officials who are seeking to develop shared housing in their communities. The twin crises of high housing costs and an increase in social isolation combine to render cooperative living arrangements an excellent solution.  "Housemates are not the same as roommates."By providing education, advocacy, and model development she empowers individuals to choose, create and sustain shared housing. She envisions a world in which sharing housing is a commonly accepted living arrangement and individuals feel happy, safe and at peace with home-mates.One idea—a building for seniors with 4 bedroom suites for 3 people. The extra suite might be for guests or caretakers. Everyone shares the kitchen and living space.Last summer (2023) Annamarie lost her partner of 23 years and is currently renovating her home to make it more comfortable for sharing. She lives in southern Vermont.Connect with Annamarie:Book: Sharing Housing: A Guidebook for Finding and Keeping Good HousematesWebsite: sharinghousing.comEmail:  [email protected]

Mary Mitchell, age 74, sheds light on aging and ageism in her occasional column for the Chicago Sun Times, Starting Over. Mary ‘started over’ five years ago when she switched her journalistic authority on race relations in Chicago to concentrate on matters of growing older. She advocates that longevity is a blessing and aging offers an opportunity to do well atsomething else. Mary’s guiding tenets are always equity and fairness when dealing with social isms. When we are equitable and fair, Mary says, “we are doing the best we can.”" I give people platforms to tell their own stories, share their wisdom, and increase awareness of social justice issues."Connect with MaryEmail: [email protected]://chicago.suntimes.com/starting-over

Ann Anderson Evans, age 82, lives in Vermont. She is a writer, linguist, and former professor. Her first memoir, Daring to Date Again (2014), which tells the story of what happened after she started dating at 62, won multiple prizes. Her sequel The Sweet Pain of Being Alive: A Memoir of Love and Death (Jan. 2024), narrates her attempt to find out why, after 13 happily married years, her husband killed himself. Her questions about his gender dsyphoria and suicide remain largely unanswered. Ann tries to heed the wisdom of the Buddhist saying, “You can’t change the past, the future hasn’t happened yet, so pay close attention to today.” The questions and answers have continued to unfold. Through contemplation about loss, aging, and evolving, I realize every day is an adventure; we must be willing to deal with whatever comes.Connect with AnnEmail: [email protected]: https://annandersonevans.com

Susan Gangsei, a classically trained tapestry artist from Minneapolis, MN, uses her talent to create images of women aging. Her recent series, The Sacred Journey of Aging, features the “beauty, strength, and wisdom of older women.” Susan treats viewers to her tapestries that represent different passages of growing older—feeling invisible, making mischief, putting the pieces back together, reimagining how to live with a health condition, and recognizing the paradoxes of life. Susan will exhibit selected pieces at the Women Over 70-Aging Reimagined Symposium, October 19,2024, in the Chicago area.Connect with SusanEmail: [email protected] Website: https://www.susangansei.com

Visionary and disrupter, Jacynth Bassett, is an award-winning, highly sought after consultant and expert in the anti-ageism/ age-inclusive & positive movement. At only 31, she is widely recognized as a leading pioneer and voice, awarded ‘Anti-Ageist Activist’ of 2023, at the inaugural Advantages Of Age Awards 2023. and named one of Evening Standard’s 22 Londoners Changing the World.She is the Founder & CEO of the award-winning global campaign, consultancy & community Ageism Is Never In Style®, and of The Bias Cut – the first age-inclusive independent fashion online boutique.Her whole inspiration came from her Mum; Jacynth witnessed how she was being treated differently, largely due to her age. Jacynth became an activist and consciously began to use her platform to support other people. She was determined to make an impact. She studied law at Cambridge, and after graduating she conducted thorough research and started a blog to spark conversation and develop a community and following. In the last 1-2 years she is heartened to see how many people are joining the movement. Her manifesto has 5 principles, beginning with aging as you wish. It’s your choice.Connect with Jacynth:Email: [email protected]: The Bias CutInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/jacynthbassett“I’m heartened to see how many young people are taking up the battle to end ageism.” - Jacynth BassettConnect with Jacynth:Email: [email protected]: The Bias CutInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/jacynthbassett

LIfe is a constant adventure for Michele Kurlander, 79. She lives in Chicago, yet her heart is in France. A fluent francophile, Michelle spends much of her life traveling between Chicago and Paris. There she has met dear friends who live all across the world. When she becomes interested in an artist, an author, a performer, Michele’s obsession with art and music icons takes over and she devotes that period of her life to understanding all she can about the person. Spending years reading and discussing all 7 volumes of Proust is a perfect example. Sometimes that means traveling across the world to meet them, attending their concerts, involving friends in the obsession with her. She is also obsessed with her family.No stranger to challenge, Michele reinvented herself to make every moment count. Through it all she has maintained her love of writing and literature. And, continues to practice law while, somehow, she making it all work. Michelle will tell you, “There is no resemblance today to who I once was.”"Nobody promises you anything in life, except this minute."CONNECT WITH MICHELEEmail: [email protected]: https://www.kurlanderlaw.com/

Dr. Pamela Meyer is a prolific author, international consultant and keynote speaker, and college teacher whose areas of focus are leadership agility, organizational change, and adult learning.  In her most recent book, Staying in the Game: Leading and Learning with Agility for a Dynamic Future, Pamela draws on her experiences as an amateur, gold medalist ski racer and on extensive interviews with older ski racers who keep coming back. Staying in the game is an apt metaphor for women who strive to remain innovative in their later decades. Pamela identifies play, purpose, passion, and pleasure as key elements of innovative living. And she discusses four interconnected dynamics of staying in the game that are applicable to professional and personal contexts and that are particularly relevant to women as we age: meaningful identity; community; learning; and commitment. Connect with PamelaContact Page: https://pamela-meyer.com/pamela-meyer-contact/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pamelameyerphd/Website: https://pamela-meyer.comSelected Books by PamelaStaying in the Game: Leading and Learning with Agility for a Dynamic Future.The Agility Shift: Creating Agile and Effective Leaders, Teams, and Organizations

Sheila Solomon’s career in mass media arts spans 50 years. She was among the first African American women to work in the newsrooms of regional and national newspapers. Sheila became a dedicated advocate for affirmative action—bringing people of color into the news business and reporting on race issues in professions outside of journalism. While working as a journalist, Sheila was diagnosed with a very rare, incurable illness that is still being managed. She was allowed to work from home for six months, a unique arrangement in those times. Currently, Sheila volunteers her leadership expertise as Co-Founder/Vice Chair of the Board for Journalism Funding Partners and as President of the City Bureau Board of Directors. She is a proud legacy member of the oldest African American sorority in the United States.Connect with SheilaEmail: [email protected]

As the founder of AGEIST Magazine and Super Ager podcast, David Stewart is a passionate champion of the modern 50+ lifestyle. While interviewing David is a departure from interviewing women 70-110+, we feel that what he has to say contributes to our mission of aging reimagined.Women are the ones who are changing things. Men never experienced ageism, while women experienced sexism throughout their careers and understood ageism as a form of discrimination.Super Ager podcast focuses on how we age and live optimally for who we are. We’re all different. The podcast brings on people who have resources for those in this age group. Ageist Magazine is a natural progression from David’s previous work in magazines, with advertising. This mag is for people over 50 and to offer options for peoples’ current lifestyles. We have a poverty of imagination. The magazine helps overcome this.His work is gender neutral. He talks about functional age, not biological. He wants to know, “What can you do?” How can you be as strong as possible? As useful as possible? How are you engaging? Be in touch with yourself. Be centered with who you are. Email:  [email protected]: AGEIST.com

When Sandy Gordon retired at 70, from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, Rosemont, Illinois as Director of Public Relations, a colleague gave her a toast. It said in part: “Sandy has the kind of talent that startles people.  Really.  Her co-workers and colleagues often sit around wondering how she comes up with her ideas.  Ideas that seem to just sort of float out of her brain.  It’s as though Sandy can produce life from a primordial soup that for everyone else is just a bowl full of amino acids.  Sandy has that magic.”Sandy began her career as a special education teacher and immediately became an advocate for people with disabilities. Learning that then President Hubert Humphrey’s grandchild had Down Syndrome, she found a way to approach him and urged him to do something for ‘handicapped’ people. He hired her on the spot to work as Executive Director of Friends of the Handicapped for the Humphrey/Muskie campaign."Getting recognition is less important than getting the job done" - Sandy GordonAll of Sandy’s jobs have come about in similar fashion starting with the National Easter Seal Society. With no background in communication, public relations or HR, she uses her talents and skills to find her way. Her colleague goes on to say “It would be enough to comment on Sandy’s talent and imagination, but that is actually the smaller part of her whole person.  The bigger part is her heart and her humor.  Sandy has the type of personality that makes everyone around her better.  Happier.  Funnier.  Brighter.  Smarter.  She just makes the day better.  Her energy and spirit is irrepressible.”   CONNECT WITH SANDY:Email: Sandy [email protected]

Coleen T. Murphy, Ph.D is Director, Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics,  James A. Elkins, Jr. Professor in the Life Sciences, Department of Molecular Biology, and LSI Genomics, Princeton University. She is also Director, Paul F. Glenn Center for Aging Research at Princeton and Director of Simons Collaboration on Plasticity and the Aging Brain. As a researcher, Coleen studies aging and the quantitation of “quality of life with age,” including the decline of cognitive and reproductive capacities with age. She is author of How We Age: The Science of Longevity. It is surprisingly readable and understandable. Coleen has had her own lab since 2005. She finds society’s obsession with nutrition and dieting limiting for her research and has, instead, questioned what else can we do to preserve our health and cognitive aging. She has won numerous awards for her research including being named a Pew Scholar. Coleen was awarded the New Innovator, Transformative R01, and two Pioneer awards from the NIH Director’s office. Effective research stems from knowing the right questions to ask. Coleen MurphyConnect with Coleen:Email: [email protected]: http://www.molbio1.princeton.edu/labs/murphy/ ORCID: 0000-0002-8257-984XBook: How We Age: The Science of Longevity(AddLink)

Dr. Tracey Gendron is an internationally recognized gerontologist with almost 30 years of experience as a grant-funded researcher. She speaks to audiences globally about the real world impact of age bias. She is determined to change people’s negative views about aging. “Ageism, she says, is complicated - more nuanced than most people think it is. Anytime we discriminate against a person based on age, it is ageism. And, since we are all aging all the time, it can be a younger or older person who is being discriminated against.”Tracey serves as Chair for the Virginia Commonwealth University Department of Gerontology, and as Director for the Virginia Center on Aging.As a child, her grandparents were an important part of her life and she believes that influenced her decision to enter gerontology. “Aging is beautiful, aging is living”, she says.  We shouldn’t talk about it as older people, aging is what everyone is doing.External and internal ageism are equally discriminatory.  Internally, if we have dread about getting older, it affects us physically, mentally, and socially. Internalized ageism is a risk factor for suicidal ideation among older people And younger people who have dread of aging, and carry that with them, are more likely to have a cardiovascular event.Dr. Gendron has a master’s degree in gerontology and psychology and a Ph.D in developmental psychology." Aging is Living. Think about how we can continue growing through all stages of our life." - Dr. Tracey GendronCONNECT WITH TRACYEmail: [email protected]: TraceyGendron.comBook: Ageism Unmasked: Exploring Bias and How to End It1)- "will most likely have a cardiovascular event" - please change to are more likely to have a cardiovascular event.2) "there is a higher rate of suicide in older people who fear aging" - please change to "internalized ageism is a risk factor for suicidal ideation among older people"

Carol Stitzer, 80, lives life in the moment. All you have to do is listen to her and you immediately understand that she is positive, talented, energetic and happy. From early childhood education to development professional, fundraiser, artist and volunteer, Carol never lacks for the next big thing. She fine-tuned her skills at the Center for American Archeology and learned early on that planning travel for the Board of Directors offered her unique opportunities to tag along. This applied to her work at the Chicago History Museum,The Admiral at the Lake, and Lyric Opera of Chicago. Along the way, she developed her own unique opportunity: her vision for producing art. Never satisfied to be ordinary, Carol thinks outside the box and is an asset to all who come in contact with her. Still teaching family workshops at Lill Street Art Center, she makes time to volunteer as a participant in other’s art and personal projects, fundraise for The Boulevard (a respite care facility for Chicago’s ill and injured homeless) and spend quality time with her husband of 43 years.I live very much in the moment, always asking Why Not? - Carol StitzerEMAIL:  [email protected]: https://carolstitzer.wixsite.com/mysite

A life of social service requires a deep commitment to reaching out, helping out and finding those paths that have meaning to you. Throughout Nancy Hanson’s entire life, she has been doing just that. Following in the footsteps of her mother, Nancy knows no other way of being.Early on, she joined the League of Women Voters and in each of the cities in which she lived, when she and her husband moved multiple times, Nancy found causes she could learn about, study  and advocate for through the League. Growing up in the 60s, Nancy believes her story is no different from others in her generation. They were the transitional generation that blazed the trail for women to come.“Social work embodies advocacy - helping the underserved is how I live my life.” - Nancy HansonNancy remains active . She volunteers for the Boulevard, a shelter for unhoused people who have been hospitalized and have nowhere to go when they leave the hospital; has created a community garden so the Boulevard can cut costs and serve residents healthy meals;  used her social work experience to change public policy and fights for civil rights and climate change.She recognizes how lucky she is to have health insurance that covers serious illness. "I could be right there with all these people I advocate for.  Stereotypes wash away and disappear." CONNECT WITH NANCY:Email: [email protected] Boulevard of ChicagoChicago League of Women Voters: https://www.lwvchicago.org/

Catherine (Kate) Saccany was born to run. She took up jogging and ran barefoot for her first 30 months because there were no running shoes for women. A career banker, Kate joined LaSalle Bank. Coincidentally, LaSalle sponsored the Chicago marathon. She bought her first pair of running shoes, qualified for the marathon and has not stopped since. Yes, long covid has cramped her style. And, she is now 72. Kate believes it's never too late to become a runner. With the proper coaching and the right pair of shoes, anyone can learn. There is now a group for marathon runners over 100.QUOTE: Just getting here is a privilege not to take lightly or abuse.Kate’s interests are wide and varied. From ham radio to learning Spanish, her drive and perseverance are inspiring to all who know her.CONNECT WITH KATE:Email: [email protected]

Joy, love, compassion - the foundation of Eme’s life and her stories. Eme McAnam was a singer-songwriter who charted in the top 100 in Country Music. Her career has taken many turns: Singer/songwriter, novelist, art photographer.Her newest novel, Freefalling: A Novel of Senior Romance, is based on a topic she knows well from her 91/2 years serving at an assisted living facility. Lewy Body Dementia is the central theme. Seniors, she says, are “us”. She wants her legacy to be seen as understanding that no matter what comes down our path, it is our job to find joy.Change and loss is part of life. She saw people who were very sad. Eme reflects, “By the time you’re in your nineties you’ve lost a lot of people close to you. How do we keep a sense of self amid our losses? If something is not working it’s our responsibility to change it. Let’s live this life. We are not done. If we struggle with how to love ourselves, it’s not too late. Even in the most troubled story lines in the book, by the time you get to the end of the story, compassion can be found.”She is a big fan of all the sensual ways of staying alive. Eme is working on two more books  I’m tired of hearing that people get invisible. They are visible if you keep your eyes open. - Eme McAnamConnect with Eme:Email: [email protected] Website: emespirit.com Book: Freefalling: A Novel of Senior Romance

Educational equity, intercultural communication, and teacher education are the threads of Dr. Gretchen Wilbur’s 30+-year career as an educational leader. Upon retiring from DePaul University in 2019, Gretchen traded an urban lifestyle in Chicago for the rural mountains in Jamaica where she lives with the Maroon people. As the only resident who is White, female, and highly educated, Gretchen is adapting to living in a culture that tests many of her western world views, including identity, community, relationships, land, money, and time. Her love of the Maroon people inspired Gretchen to apply her organizational and artistic skills in creating the Respecting Culture & Earth Foundation which uses a self-determining approach to advance cultural arts and environmental sustainability for economic independence. Gretchen is working on a book about her deepening understanding of and respect for the Maroon culture. She and her life partner, Oral, share a vibrant home in which they host a commercial bar and guest rooms. Members of the Women Over 70 community have an open invitation.Quote: I live permanently in Accompong Town in the mountains of Jamaica because I fell in love with the Maroon people, lifestyle, and land.- Gretchen WilburConnect with Gretchen WilburEmail: [email protected]: What’s App, +1-876-359-7093Respecting Culture & Earth Foundation What We Do — OneFamily, OneLove, OneEarth (respectingcultureandearth.org)O & G Guesthouse Microsoft Bing Travel - O G Guesthouse

[spp-player]Carol Marin, age 75, is an award-winning television and print journalist renowned for her nearly 50 years of investigative stories on politics, public corruption, and organized crime. In 2016, Carol co-founded and directs DePaul University’s Center for Journalism Integrity and Excellence where she teaches a two-quarter long course in Advanced Reporting for graduate students “ready to jump into the profession.” Ethical problem-solving is a cornerstone of the Center, guided by key principles such as “no great story is worth doing damage to a human being.” The social impact of Carol’s work asan investigative journalist is legendary. Her multitude of awards and recognitions include three Peabody’s, two national Emmys, the Gracie Award, and the George Polk Award in Journalism. Carol has two books in the planning stages and enjoys a rich personal life with family and friends, cooking, travel, and horses.Connect with CarolEmail: [email protected] for Journalism Integrity & Excellence | Centers & Initiatives | About | College of Communication| DePaul University, Chicago

Sex educator, Joan Price, is the voice for ‘ageless sexuality.’ In her books, webinars, presentations, newsletter, and blog, Joan talks frankly about spicy and satisfying sex for seniors, whether partnered or solo. She is the first to address sex and grief in her recent book, Sex After Grief: Navigating Your Sexuality After Losing Your Beloved. Joan advises that sexuality is always a journey, regardless of age and circumstance. She encourages older adults to see themselves as sexual beings and to care for their sexual health. "Sexual pleasures have no expiration date." - Joan PriceConnect with JoanEmail: [email protected]: https://www.joanprice.comBooks by Joan Better Than I Ever Expected: Straight Talk About Sex After Sixty Naked At Our Age: Talking Out Loud About Senior Sex Sex After Grief: Navigating Your Sexuality After Losing Your BelovedThe Ultimate Guide to Sex After 50: How to Maintain—or Regain—a Spicy, Satisfying Sex LifeBlog: Blog: https://joanprice.com/blog. Of special interest, “Solo Sex for Seniors: (January 2024): https://joanprice.com/2024/01/solo-sex-for-seniors.html

We love all our interviews. However, meeting Betty Werrenrath in person, and interviewing her in her apartment at the Presbyterian Homes in Evanston, IL was a unique experience that we would not have traded. Betty is inspiring, positive, upbeat and interesting. She was born January 28, 1914 in Harrisburg, PA. The daughter of a progressive preacher’s kid, she says, “I had to act decently because he was so well-known”."“Be more interested in others than you are in yourself. Listen.” - Betty WerrenrathAn athlete, she played field hockey, soccer, lacrosse, tennis and golf in high school and college. With a full athletic scholarship that included a job in the alumni office, she graduated from Wells College with a degree in art history in 1935.  Betty and Reinald married in 1937 and remained married for 82 years. They have three children. They moved to Presbyterian Homes in Evanston in 1998. Reinald had a stroke at age 103 and passed away in 2019.Betty's multiple passions and drive for advocacy have stayed undiminished throughout her life. When she sees changes that need to be made she takes action. In addition to church and community volunteer efforts, after Reinald retired they collaborated on over 100-16mm educational films distributed nationwide, staying for weeks in eight different countries to research and film. In the Presbyterian Homes, Betty enthusiastically pursues new friendships and activities. 

Patti Temple Rocks has had a long, successful, and immensely rewarding career in marketing and communications and still she is not done. Her work and her articles and books have been written about in major publications such as Fast Company, Forbes, The Wall Street Journal. Inc.Patti started her career at Dow Chemical in 1981. It was not until many years later that she became obsessed with making sure that age inclusivity is on every company’s D,E&I agenda and that everyone gets to end their career when and how they want to – not when ageist stereotypes say they should. Author of I’m Not Done: It’s Time to Talk About Ageism in the Workplace, she wrote a second edition of the book called, I’m STILL Not Done because she is not, and ageism unfortunately, is still widespread.Every workforce should mirror the population at large.- Patti Temple RocksConnect with Patti:Website: https://www.pattitemplerocks.com/Book: https://www.pattitemplerocks.com/im-still-not-doneLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pattitemplerocks/Email: [email protected]

Dr. Susan Mazer is a full-time performing jazz harpist and former President, Co-founder, and CEO of Healing HealthCare Systems, producers of The C.A.R.E. Channel, the only evidence-based, 24-hour relaxation channel for patient television. Now in its 30th year, C.A.R.E. is being broadcasted in over 1,100 hospitals nationally and internationally including Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Australia, The Netherlands, Hong Kong, and many other locations. The discipline of health care led her to study how we can help patients heal faster. The answer is music.  And this led her to create The C.A.R.E channel and, recently, C.A.R.E VRx™ which extends the reach of C.A.R.E., providing a healing virtual environment for pain relief, reduction of anxiety, and increased comfort, through access to stunning natural spaces and places in the virtual world.Dr. Mazer is a national and international speaker and in 2019 was the keynote speaker at the 2019 Virtual Reality in Healthcare Conference in Dublin, Ireland. Her publications and presentations focus on the patient environment. She is also a blogger for The Huffington Post and has her own blog.  She is a Fellow of the Center for Social Innovation at The Fielding Graduate University.Connect with Susan:Website:Book Chapter: “Applied Virtual Reality in Healthcare: Case Studies and Perspectives"Book: Patient Privacy: When it MattersBlogger: Huffington Post; blog at www.susanmazer.com

When nearing 50 years of age and recently widowed, Judy sold everything,bought an around-the-world airline ticket, and set off alone on a year-longjourney without a planned itinerary. “The outer journey serves as acontainer” for Judy’s inner “struggle to find her way as a sober, single,independent woman.” A master teacher and published author of fiction,poetry, and nonfiction, Judy’s journey led to her first published memoir,When Your Heart Says Go: My Year of Traveling Beyond Loss and Loneliness(October 2023)."My year-long around-the-world travel adventure became an innerjourney to knowing myself."Connect with Judyemail: [email protected]: https://judyreeveswriter.comSelection of Judy’s books:When Your Heart Says Go (2023)Wild Women, Wild Voices: Writing from Your Authentic Wildness (2015)A Writer’s Book of Days: A Spirited Companion and Lively Muse for theWriting Life (2010)

Through Top Sixty Over Sixty, Helen writes articles and speaks at conferences to encourage a reframed narrative of aging, one that reflects the age realities of the 21st century. She emphasizes the need for a longevity focus, encourages an entrepreneurial mindset, and cautions against internalized ageism which undermines the potential of older adults. Top Sixty Over Sixty also provides programs and courses for older adults as well as businesses and companies to help everyone benefit from our aging demographic.Connect with Helen:Email: [email protected]: https://www.linkedin.com/in/helen-hirsh-spence-a029a010/Website: https://www.topsixtyoversixty.com

Janis Clark Johnston is a family psychologist, speaker, and author of several books, most recently Transforming Retirement: Rewire and Grow Your Legacy. When she experienced 9/11, Janis says, she became more sensitive to other’s pain and loss. Planning rituals to honor the person you lost helps you to grow during the grieving process. Keeping a gratitude journal, for example, is a process that is creative by nature and becomes a daily ritual. Janis believes that recognizing the difference between a ‘Growth Mindset’ and a ‘Fixed Mindset’ helps us to understand our own personalities. Life is better if we are more flexible. And when we can develop grit, purpose and passion, with energy as the driver, we are able to live in the present moment, which is the only time we have to make something happen. Our personalities are plastic, not plaster.  Living is a gift - this being alive in the present moment. When that’s your daily approach, everything flows from there. Attitude is really important in life.Janis applies her beliefs to her own aging. Exercise, meditation, gardening and learning something new every day form the basis of her self-care routine. Society needs to re-identify aging. It applies to everyone at every age. Janis finds life challenging and invigorating. She loves learning. It’s a wonderful way to age. There are always new things to learn. She has recently written a picture book that deals with bullying.Connect with Janis Clark Johnston, Ed.D.Author: Transforming Retirement: Rewire and Grow Your LegacyMidlife Maze: A Map to Recovery and Rediscovery after LossIt Takes a Child to Raise a Parent: Stories of Evolving Child & Parent DevelopmentWebsite: https://janisjohnston.comBlog: https://janis-johnston.com

Emily Clionsky, MD, and Mitchell Clionsky, PhD, are a physician and neuropsychologist couple who have cared for their own parents with dementia, created a test used by doctors to measure cognitive function, and treated more than 25,000 patients with cognitive impairment. They partner at a private practice, Clionsky Neuro Systems, Inc., based in Springfield, Massachusetts.  They are frequent public speakers, podcast guests, and workshop presenters for general and professional audiences.In their recent book, Dementia Prevention: Using Your Head to Save Your Brain, published earlier this year by John Hopkins Press,  they combine the most current scientific findings about Alzheimer's disease and other dementias with their experience to present a practical guide that empowers you to improve your brain's future. The authors guide you through a science-based tour of dementia, including how your brain works and how its function is affected by everything from blood circulation and blood pressure to sugar levels, medications, vision, and hearing. Dr. Emily explains: “So many people who came to my practice, above the age of 55, were having major problems in how they were thinking. I decided to do a 2nd residency concentrating on dementia. They have a full clinic. Mitch does neurological testing. I do comprehensive medical evaluations, which give me a full picture of how that person is thinking. Treatment is incredibly complex. The sooner you start, the more you have to work with.” “Eight out of 10 of us are worried about getting dementia. And that's because most of us don't know that half of the dementia cases can be prevented." Connect with Drs. Emily & Mitchell Clionsky:Book: Dementia Prevention: Using Your Head to Save Your BrainContact: [email protected]

Diane Slezak is CEO of Age Options, a nonprofit advocacy organizationshe has been involved with since 1976. Age Options caters to older adultsand those who care for them with resources and service options so olderadults can live their lives to the fullest. The explosive demographic of baby-boomers has sparked pressing issues, including home-delivered meals,awareness of scams, suitable housing, and assistance for caregivers. Inaddition to her executive duties, Diane advocates for State and Federallegislation to provide timely funding for benefits and services for olderadults. December 20, 2023 marks Diane’s 47 th year with Age Options.Connect with DianeEmail: [email protected]: https://www.ageoptions.org