Women Over 70: Aging Reimagined

“There will be junctions where it will be important for you to ‘just let it happen.’ We ourselves are many people at the same time.”Deanna Berman is an interior architect working with the bones, geometry and structure of 3-dimensional living and working spaces. She believes it is important to connect historic images with contemporary ones and says, “The old and new inform each other. You need to know both worlds.” Most importantly, it is how people wish to live and work in the space. When the architecture already exists, she asks, “What obstacles am I working around, what can I simplify, how can I make the whole thing flow better?” One of the most exciting parts of her work is when people ask her to think differently.This work feels like a constant journey to her which allows her to explore new projects and think differently. At 85 she intends to continue to work for as long as she can. She does not think about her own aging and yet, has modified how she thinks about work to fit who she is now. This is not an easy time we’re living in right now. Nurture yourself, hold on to your spirit.Connect with Deanna:Email: [email protected]

[spp-player]Roxanne Lorch, age 85, from Cary, NC, is a full-time artist with a studio in DurhamNC who exhibits her work in juried shows and wins awards. Roxanne was amongthe first women to work in commercial design and graphics (who was not asecretary) and then in sales. In 2001, Roxanne became one of the original 17members of The Transition Network (TTN) and currently is on the steeringcommittee of TTN-Coast-to-Coast (TTN-C2C), a nation-wide chapter that addressesthe interests of older women in transition. She thinks she “might possibly be theoldest first-time bride in history!” Now widowed, Roxanne resides in an Over 55retirement community where she engages fully with people and activities. She co-founded Thriving in Place (TIP) so neighbors can help neighbors."Women over 70 are still going through transitions and we can still makegood decisions for ourselves."Connect with RoxanneEmail: [email protected]: www.roxannelorch.com

Playwright, director and collaborators for 50 years, Terry and Carolyn fearlessly tackle lesbian and feminist themes. They are thrill-seekers. While Carolyn is married with children, the pair seize every opportunity they can to work together. Terry moved to the San Francisco Bay Area in 1974 and founded Lilith, a women's theater collective, which she led for five years. Carolyn, the engine that pushes 'things to happen' joined her there. In 1981, Terry and Carolyn wrote a play about lesbians from a lesbian’s point of view: Dos Lesbos: A Play By, For and About Perverts. It inspired and was published in Places, Please, 1985, the first anthology of lesbian plays.In January 2008, A Coupla Crackpot Crones premiered in New Mexico. “Terry wrote on LillithTheater.com: The Crones’ feminist sketch comedy and improvisation have graced the New York International Fringe Festival (2012), the Santa Cruz Fringe Festival (2013, Women on the Way Festival and the National Queer Arts Festival, the University of Redlands (CA), and various venues in New York, Oregon, and California. In 2016, the Crones toured Mexico, performing in English and Spanish in Mexico City, Oaxaca, and San Miguel de Allende.” In 2014, they produced a play about Eleanor Roosevelt and her lover, Lorena Hickok, drawing on 2,336 letters Eleanor wrote to Hick. HICK: A Love Story, The Romance of Lorena Hickok and Eleanor Roosevelt won awards at the New York and San Francisco Fringe Festivals. In 2019 Exit Press published One Dyke’s Theater: Selected Plays by Slightly World-Renowned Lesbian Playwright Terry Baum, edited by Carolyn Myers.During the pandemic, Baum and Myers, as Lilith Theater, produced several ZOOM productions: HICK: A Love Story, Divide the Living Child, Immediate Family, and Eve in Therapy. "We have the same values, we laugh a lot and unconditionally support each other."Connect with Terry:Email: [email protected]: www.LilithTheater.comWebsite: www.Terrybaum.blogspot.comBook: One Dyke’s Theater: Selected Plays, 1975-2014 by Terry Baum. Edited by Carolyn Myers Available at Amazon.com

Celina Edelstein lived in New York, was married and had a son. They divorced while their son was young. With a background in chemistry and a love for science, she sought a job in research. Angelo, a research doctor, offered her the opportunity to help him open a research lab. Together they wrote grants, studied molecules that carry cholesterol and cause atherosclerosis and thrombosis and published research papers. He became her professional mentor and they worked together for 44 years. Angelo’s wife died and, some years later, after they closed the lab, Angelo and Celina discovered they cared for each other and eventually lived together for seven years." People live through tragedies - they make a life and create careers." - CelinaCelina is a Holocaust survivor and had worked since 1963. This is a story of resilience, reinvention and a remarkable woman who found a path that filled her with passion, purpose and love.Connect with Celina:Email: [email protected]

Joyce Klowden Porter, 73, has been an actor in 60 films, taught college for 30 years and is a non-fiction author. She recently won several awards for the film, Stairs, and continues to act as roles become available.Joyce’s late husband, Paul, gave her occasion to learn many things in relation to his multiple illnesses. Her book, Mastering Senior Life: Thriving and Surviving, is a testament to her resilience and care-taking. In the book she offers tips on how to enjoy your senior years to the fullest and learn ways to protect your family. Joyce also shares important information relative to Medicare, insurance, mobility devices and so much more. Her creative imagination enables her to think outside ordinary convention and find new ways of coping.Make the most of what you can do while you can do it. - Joyce PorterConnect with Joyce:Linked IN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joyce-porter-901aa12/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100086241203346Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Mastering-Senior-Life-Thriving-Surviving/dp/0999511610Website: http://www.joyceporter.com

Francesca James, age 71, from Ingelwood CA, is a full-time intuitive wellness coach and energy healer. After a life-threatening bout with cancer, Francesca gave up high-stress work as a successful Black woman in white corporate America to connect “more deeply with my inner world.” This journey inspired her book, Resurrecting the Muse: Woman’s Guide to Rising Above Societal Conditioning. These are Francesca's three non-negotiables. #1. "I am unapologetic in my Blackness," which includes teaching white people about unconscious bias and racism in her class on ‘Deconstructing Racism: Moving from Discomfort to Action.' #2: Listen to and trust your intuitive voice. #3: Honor and nourish your body as a temple.Connect with Francesca:email: [email protected]: francesca-james.comBook: Resurrecting the Muse: Woman’s Guide to Rising Above Societal Conditioning

As a voice coach, singer, and songwriter Barbara McAfee’s mission is to ‘midwife’women’s voices. “Tell me your story about your voice” is Barbara’s invitation tohelp aging women break the sounds of silence, express new sounds for healing,and experience singing for the joy of it. Her original music taps into jazz, gospel,and folk roots. In 2007, Barbara founded the Morning Star Singers, a volunteerchoir that sings for people facing illness, end- of -life, depression, or grief. She isthe author of Full Voice: The Art and Practice of Vocal Presence.Connect with BarbaraEmail: [email protected]: https://www.barbaramcafee.com

Edwige Gilbert is French. As founder of New Life Directions, she guides women to reinvent their lives and create fresh starts driven by a purposeful vision. She is passionate about women taking care of their bodies and allowing themselves to feel sexy even as they age. “It is vital that we eliminate stress from our lives and not feel victimized by our age. How are women to age gracefully if age is constantly demeaned?” It comes down to believing in yourselves, in turning stress into success. As a transformation guide she teaches older women to get in touch with their bodies. Edwige asks you to create a vision of who you want to be. What keeps you young is your life purpose, your ability to be excited and interested in keeping your life spark alive, all while experiencing Joie de vivre.Coco Chanel said, “Check yourself in the mirror and take something off.” Dressing is about sophistication and elegance, harmony and balance, finding your personal style. Embellish what you already have. Your appearance should be in sync with who you are. Honor yourself. Allow your mind to create your reality. There is no expiration date on taking care of your health, your body. You can love your body and be sexy as you age. - EdwigeConnect with Edwige:Email: [email protected]: https://www.newlifedirections.com/

Crowned Ms. Senior World 70’s for 2023, Debbie Watts’ mission is to empower women, especially as they age. Debbie’s talents as an author, educator, playwright, songwriter and performer, and producer of film and stage plays prepared her to enter the world stage at age 70. Currently she can be seen at the historical Hermitage Hotel in downtown Nashville where she performs historical interpretations of Nashville suffragists. Through her columns, music, stage plays, stories, and public appearances, Debbie encourages women to create their best possible life in the later decades.Connect with Debbie:Email: [email protected] (seniorworldpageants.com)Cheerleading's Debbie Mathis: Where Are They Now? - Lipscomb University (lipscombsports.com)Debbie Mathis Watts. The Ryman Diaries-Reflections and Recipes (2000, Amazon).Information on how/where to purchase your CDs, incl. Music City’s Lady of the Keys

Connie Kiosse is a complex woman. A deep thinker whose life has taken many twists and turns. A lover of women’s literature and the authors who write them. She is always questioning how to use the artifacts of her past and asks, “Art and words - how do they fit together?”Born of immigrant parents, life was a closed book, until at 18, Connie broke free and the world began to open up. She wrote her 1st story in high school and titled it Trapped. Once she tasted the freedom of life, Connie fell in love with writing, travel, culture, books and the women’s movement. Always trying to understand who she was and where she belonged, Connie started many types of groups, her favorite being reading groups and discussion groups with women who, like her, liked to do a deep dive into understanding life.We never get over people who touch us - it’s a connection we never lose. - Connie KiosseCONNECT WITH CONNIE:Email: [email protected] Group: Women Aging With Wisdom & Grace discussion group which meets at Women & Children First Bookstore. Contact Connie if interested.

Anne fell in love with nature as a young girl spending summerson her grandparents’ farm in north Georgia. Often alone with“nothing to do,” she read books and made friends with theinsects, plants, snakes, and trees. After several decades as anenvironmental justice advocate at the national level, Anne‘retired’ in 2007 to serve as a full-time volunteer. She uses herpolitical savvy to promote clean energy and to protest againstfossil fuels and plastics. Anne’s passion for growing organicgardens and planting trees is in honor of her granddaughter andall children. Her bumper sticker reads, “One generation plants thetree, the next generation sits under it.”I feel a deep moral responsibility to speak on behalf ofspecies who have no voice, that most humans cannot hear. - Anne WhiteConnect with Anne:Email: [email protected]

A true Renaissance woman, Kathryn Grody is an actor, playwright and activist. She wanted to act since childhood. While born in Los Angeles, she recognized that living there was a cosmic error and never felt at home until she moved to New York City.Well-known in regional theater, on and off-Broadway and, most recently for her 1-woman show, The Unexpected 3rd, a Work in Progress, she is the recipient of numerous awards. Kathryn always tries to see the humor in life. And, she doesn’t buy into stereotypes, recognizing that neither the past nor the future are real. She cautions not to miss the present. She is thoughtful about her own aging. Having had her children in her late 30’s, Kathryn never thought about aging until she bent down to pick her grandchild up from the floor. "As theater artists we can help people look at what is hard to see, or affirm what has been unseen." Connect with Kathryn:Email: [email protected]: https://www.instagram.com/p/Ci-XojJr1oU/

Karen Egoff realized at a young age that she has extra gifts. She didn’t know what to do with the energy she felt from others until she became a young woman. Through practice, Karen has learned to manifest healing energy and help relieve aches, pains and chronic conditions in those she works with. She believes in natural, spiritual lifestyles, especially yoga and meditation. Older people benefit from these practices. They tend to hold emotion within their bodies, especially in the joints. Aches and pains should not be ignored and can be healed. Karen works with crystals and earth elements that are crucial to our bodies’ well being. Other modalities include Reiki and Craniosacral therapy.“Yoga helps you through trauma and is life-transforming. Breathing opens up your nervous systems and improves sleep.” - Karen EgoffKaren helps others experience self-care through her online workshops, yoga classes and meditation circles.Connect with Karen:Website: https://mysoulbalance.com/What’s App: https://call.whatsapp.com/voice/dlgNff5y6XO41as11oKwloLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/search/results/all/?fetchDeterministicClustersOnly=false&heroEntityKey=urn%3Ali%3Afsd_profile%3AACoAAAZH4NcBpymWEqDmbJy5WHqoFM9Ucg3TfS4&keywords=karen%20egoff&origin=RICH_QUERY_TYPEAHEAD_HISTORY&position=0&searchId=8f8f7911-cc2c-42cb-bcd7-c828aaa01980&sid=Z9g

Sara Paretsky is a lifelong reader of crime fiction. She developed her social conscience early on, realizing that women were so often represented in negative ways, and so often invisible. Years later when she began to write crime stories herself, she turned the tables on how women are depicted through her well-known series of books featuring V.I. Warshawski, a tough, intelligent private detective from Chicago.Among her readership are many women who insist on their right to speech and to take up space in a room. V.I. resonates with women readers, allowing them to find their own voices and feel valued and respected. From Sara’s first book, Indemnity Only, to her most recent novel, Overboard, V.I. Warshawski has relentlessly fought for social justice.The bottom line is that Sara hates to see anyone suffering. Overboard is about for-profit nursing homes and the extremes some will go to for the money and power they can bring. Sara wants to entertain readers yet raise issues of white-collar crime which, inevitably, carries with it political overtones. Prone to depression, what keeps Sara going isn’t some pollyannaish approach to life. She wakes up each morning, gets out of bed, puts one foot in front of the other and believes the day will follow. You might find her singing as she writes today. “Singing lessons, she says, are like meditation. You can’t think about anything else while singing”. " The core issue for me is abortion rights and the right of women to make their own decisions." - Sara ParetskyCONNECT WITH SARA:https://saraparetsky.com/

Dr. Robin H. Miller is a general internist and integrative medicine expert who founded and directs Triune Integrative Medicine in Medford, Oregon. Dr. Miller came close to quitting medicine altogether until, several decades ago, she completed a fellowship in integrative medicine at the University of Arizona with Dr. Andrew Weil. She has written multiple medical books, including Healed! Health and Wellness for the 21st Century, with David Kahn. Dr. Miller has been an advocate for women’s health throughout her career, including supporting victims of domestic violence. Her books for women include: The Smart Woman’s Guide to Mid-life and Beyond (with Janet Horn) and, most recently, Invisible or Invincible: Your Choice. Dr. Miller is also a producer and multi-media expert bringing health advice to the larger public.Connect with Dr. Miller:Email: [email protected]: https://www.facebook.com/DocRobinMillerBooks: (available on Amazon or through Triune Integrative Medicine)Healed! Health & Wellness for the 21st Century: Wisdom, secrets, & fun straight from the leading edge (with D. Kahn), 2017.Invisible or Invincible: Your choice. 2022.The Smart Woman’s Guide to Mid-Life and Beyond: A no nonsense approach to staying healthy after 50 (with J. Horn). 2007.Google: Robin H. Miller Health Smart Tips (Sharecare.com; RealAge.com; Lifescript.com)

Bold and vivacious herself, Diane’s 2nd book: Too Young to Be Old: How to Stay Vibrant, Visible, and Forever in Blue Jeans: 25 Secrets from TV's Jean Queen shows women how to face life with unfailing optimism and be risk-averse. As she reached her 60’s, Diane found there were no jeans in the marketplace that fit her well. She created her own brand and took them on the Home Shopping Network. One hour later, she sold 5,000 pairs of jeans. The DG2 brand of jeans are a favorite of women everywhere.5 years ago, Diane experienced breast cancer. The experience changed her and she began to ask, “What does my visual story say? She believes you set the dial on your own visibility meter and you decide if your dial setting changes as you get older.Connect with Diane:Website: https://DianeGilman.comDiane’s Books:Too Young to Be Old: How to Stay Vibrant, Visible, and Forever in Blue Jeans: 25 Secrets from TV's Jean Queen Good Jeans: 10 Simple Truths about Feeling Great, Staying Sexy & Aging Agelessly

Helen Shiller, age 75, was a six-term alderperson in Chicago’s poor and oppressed communitieswhere she advocated for radical changes to police misconduct, poverty, and racism. Starting inthe early 1970s, Helen’s activism took a page from the Black Panther Party’s 10 Point Program.Fifty years later she concluded her book---Daring to Struggle, Daring to Win: Five Decades ofResistance in Chicago’s Uptown Community—with the Party’s 10 Point Guide to Action. Uponleaving the City Council, Helen teamed up with her lawyer son to create the West Side Centerfor Justice. She loves this stage of her life and finds great joy in metal welding.Connect with Helen:Email: [email protected]: Daring to Struggle, Daring to Win: Five Decades of Resistance in Chicago’s UptownCommunity (2022). See www.womenover70.com > Books By Women.

Joyce Feustel earned three degrees: BS in English Education, MS in Health Education and MA in Health Services Administration.While pregnant with her first child, she was elected to the County Board of Supervisors. After her daughter was born in December 1980, she remained on the county board but resigned from being executive director of a mental health advocacy organization to focus on being a Mom."I love people Connecting through conversation is the best way to understand how to help." - Joyce Fuestel The most consistent thing throughout her life is that Joyce Feustel loves to talk. Joyce spent 17-years in sales. She’s become deeply involved with Facebook and LinkedIn and on those sites feels able to use all of her talents. She interacts comfortably with Millennials, Gen Xers and Baby Boomers. Since 2013, she has spent full-time with her business, Boomers’ Social Media Tutor. Joyce rarely thought about her own aging until recently her knee started bothering her. Oh yes, she also has momentary memory lapses. Other than that she is part Millennial, part Boomer. She loves to work, contribute and be involved. CONNECT WITH JOYCE:Personal: [email protected]: [email protected]: https://boomerssocialmediatutor.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joycefeustel-socialmediatrainer/

Kimbeth Judge has been writing her entire life. At age 4 she was already fascinated by adult behavior. Understanding human nature has preoccupied her ever since.Putting words to paper enables her to make sense of what she thinks she sees. Her mother encouraged her to use her imagination, her father to stay level headed. As a result, her books include a certain playful pragmatism. Her first book, Mothers and Others is a compilation of short, amusing life stories. Her novel, the Flipside, a struggle between romance and reality.When Kimbeth became a widow, she realized she had no idea how to be in this life on her own. Quite naturally, she began writing about her experience. While her 3 grieving children and their families were supportive of her, she recognized the need to learn her new widowed type of survival from other widows. She invited several to participate in what became a book project. Some wrote individual chapters that are now integral to Kimbeth’s latest book: Becoming A Widow, An Anthology of Journeys from 2 to 1. It will be launched on Amazon January 28. Imagining what you're going to do next is stabilizing.CONNECT WITH KIMBETH:Website:Email: [email protected]: Mothers and Others The Flip Side Becoming a Widow: An Anthology of Journeys from 2 to 1

Dynamic duo, Opal Lee, 96 and her granddaughter, Dione Sims, 54 are relentless in their fight for freedom. Opal’s activism started as a home school counselor in South Fort Worth, TX. Opal believed that “access to information and resources is what helps us do better” and she fought hard for all children to be educated and fed.Opal joined the movement, started by the late Dr. Ronald Meyers in 1999, to influence the United States government to make Juneteenth a national holiday. She had worked since the 70's to make sure Fort Worth celebrated Juneteenth. In 2007, Opal started a local Juneteenth museum. In 2014, Dione Sims, joined her grandmother in the pursuit of freedom through her nonprofit, Unity Unlimited. She manages the local and national Juneteenth campaigns and Opal’s urban farming project. Dione believes in the power of Juneteenth to bring people together to talk about the real issues facing our country. On June 17, 2021, Opal Lee saw the fulfillment of one of her dreams. Flanked on all sides by congressional and community leaders, she witnessed President Joe Biden sign the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act, the bill that made celebrating freedom from slavery a law. Opal has received three honorary doctorates. She was named 2021 Texan of the Year by the Dallas Morning News editorial board, the 2021 Unsung Hero of the Pandemic, Fort Worth 2022 Person of the Year and most recently was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. She currently serves as the honorary chair and major fundraiser for the future National Juneteenth Museum. “Working together is how we get things done. Our differences aren’t made to separate us.” Opal LeeConnect with Opal and Dione:Unity Unlimited: [email protected]

Catherine Johns found her way to an early career in broadcasting. She thought she went to college to become a nurse. There was this guy in her dormitory……how many stories started out that way in the ‘60s? “You have an amazing voice. You should be on the radio”. So she auditioned for the campus radio station and was hired. She started in smaller markets and ended up in Chicago, anchoring the news at WLS. Catherine learned from some of the best in the business: Larry Lujack and Fred Winston. By the time the station changed to a talk format, she was hosting her own show.Catherine became very interested in speaking and soon transitioned to become a trainer in communication. She discovered she loved it, but had to overcome being worried about how she looked . She felt challenged by people looking back at her. Years later, Catherine’s expertise is in working with clients to help them gain more confidence when speaking. The many skills she’s developed throughout her career make her a successful and knowledgeable speaker. People believe you have to be an extrovert to shine. Introverts can shine, too, with a softer energy. You can be like the sun or be like the moon. - Catherine JohnsEmail: [email protected]: Show Up & Shine: Simple Steps to Boost your Confidencehttps://www.amazon.com/Show-Up-Shine-Confidence-Charisma/dp/0989618706/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2SW1LOCSB71FU&keywords=show+up+and+shine&qid=1672848562&sprefix=show+up+and+shine%2Caps%2C96&sr=8-1Speaker: https://www.catherinejohns.com/book-me-to-speak/

Dr. Susan Weininger, age 78, is professor emerita of art historyat Roosevelt University, Chicago, where she was Chair of theDepartment of History, Art History and Philosophy.She concentrates on art from the first half of the 20 th century,delving deeply into the lives of artists in order to betterunderstand their work. For example, Susan is an expert on thelife and art of Gertrude Abercrombie whose work she curated fora museum and published a catalogue and later published a book.Currently she is working on a book of a private collection and iscreating a retrospective for artist Don Baum. Susan notes that“not everyone can keep doing what they love doing; I am blessedto keep my mind alert on this track.” As a lifelong educator,Susan connects with younger people as a docent with the IllinoisHolocaust Museum.By studying the lives of specific artists I can better understand their art.-Susan WeiningerConnect with Susan Weininger:[email protected] Abercrombie, 2018, Gertrude Abercrombie, Susan Weininger — KARMA (karmakarma.org)

Eileen Joyce Donovan has been a writer throughout her life. It was not until she had been an adult for many years that she began to pursue writing seriously. Until then, she never felt her stories were “good enough”. It was her late husband who encouraged her to submit them for publication. At heart, Eileen adores historical research, especially on an idea that captures her imagination. She notes, “You have to be fascinated by the subject to do a good job on it”. This approach allowed her to almost publish her 1st book. She had the contract but the publisher did not bring it to fruition. The affirmation, however, gave her the impetus to keep moving forward. Eileen believes in joining, or starting your own writers’ groups. They elevate her writing when others read her drafts and offer feedback. And by reading others’ books and reviewing them she continues to hone her craft. She is now a successful author. Previous books include Promises, winner of the 2019 Marie M Irvine Award for Literary Excellence. It will be reissued in September 2023. And, A Lady Newspaperman's Dilemma, about a young woman, Alex, who more than anything wants to be a journalist for a major metropolitan newspaper. A field dominated by men. Her newest book, The Campbell Sisters, is scheduled for a March 2023 release. CONNECT WITH EILEEN:Email: Eileen Joyce [email protected] BooksA Lady Newspaperman's Dilemmahttps://www.amazon.com/Lady-Newspapermans-Dilemma-Eileen-Donovan/dp/195490715X/ref=sr_1_1?crid=IAYD2UQR62L9&keywords=eileen+joyce+donovan&qid=1672202593&sprefix=Eileen+Joyce+D%2Caps%2C287&sr=8-1The Campbell Sistershttps://www.amazon.com/Campbell-Sisters-Eileen-Joyce-Donovan-ebook/dp/B0BN2DV45Q/ref=sr_1_2?crid=IAYD2UQR62L9&keywords=eileen+joyce+donovan&qid=1672202593&sprefix=Eileen+Joyce+D%2Caps%2C287&sr=8-2

Claudia Cooley: Doing What She Loves Ignited Her SuccessClaudia Cooley lives in Southern California with her husband of 61 years, one of the many ‘balcony people’ in her life who believed in her ability to make an impact. Self-taught, forward thinking and willing to put herself in uncomfortable positions, Claudia has grabbed at opportunity her entire life. She believes we are here to make a difference in the world. As a certified wellness coach she knows it’s important to live life in balance. And age is not stopping her. Claudia says she still has a lot to contribute. Her 4 books, image consulting practice and ‘stay at home beaver mom attitude’ prove she’s not leaving this train ride anytime soon.When opportunity comes your way, say YES, lean in and grab it.CONNECT WITH CLAUDIA:Email: [email protected]: https://www.linkedin.com › claudia-cooley-85719323Books:Ignite for SuccessRev up for SuccessIgnite for SuccessIgnite Your Health

Sonia Ancoli-Israel, Ph.D. is a Professor Emeritus and Professor of Research in the Department of Psychiatry and the Center of Circadian Biology at the University of California San Diego (UCSD) School of Medicine. Her expertise is in the field of sleep disorders and circadian rhythms. She has sound advice for aging adults who experience a wide variety of sleep patterns. Dr. Ancoli-Israel is emphatic that health plays an important role in how well we sleep. You might also enjoy Sonia’s travels. Links below. CONNECT WITH SONIA:Email: [email protected] follow Sonia’s travels and see her photos go to:www.journeyswithsonia.comInstagram: journeyswithsonia

Sara Zeff Geber, PhD, considers the years beyond 65 as the ‘bonus years.’ As a nationally recognized leader in planning for aging and retirement, in 2013 Sara began pursuing solo aging with a passion. The baby boomers--some 15 million--who do not have children and/or are single, Sara says, “are living without a safety net and a script for their future.” Sara offers guidance and hope in her 2018 book, Essential Retirement Planning for Solo Agers: A retirement and aging roadmap for single and childless adults.” She addresses key topics such as preparing for the future, enjoying life, investigating where to live, and planning for end-of-life choices. Sara advises that we face the realities of aging and explore all the options as we prepare to live our ‘bonus years’ to the fullest.Connect with Sara:Email: [email protected]: https://sarazeffgeber.com/Essential Retirement Planning for Solo Agers is available on Amazon.

Nora Natof, age 87, now resides in Oak Park, IL, the village that is home to the studio of her grandfather, Frank Lloyd Wright, and many of the homes he designed. The summers Nora spent at Talieslin, her grandfather’s ‘almost’ sustainable community in Wisconsin, influenced her strong advocacy for the environment, the arts, education, and civil rights. Nora highlights her years lobbying against nuclear power plants and co-founding a Montessori school as causes most directly affecting her life. Work enabled Nora to cope with devastating losses through the deaths of family members and divorce after 30 years of marriage. “My nature,” say Nora, “is to keep moving forward. I always feel I can do it.” At age 77, Nora retired from geriatric nursing, a profession which has fed her passion for end-of-life options and planning. Two themes are threaded throughout Nora’s “good, full life”: living in community and nurturing deep spiritual beliefs. I have a very strong belief that you must give back to the society you live in. -Nora NatofConnect with Nora:[email protected]

As a marriage and family therapist in private practice for more than 4 decades, Sally Strosahl (LCPC) has heard countless stories from couples about distresses in their relationship as they move into retirement and get older. She felt called to write Loving Your Marriage in Retirement: Keep the Music Playing (2018). Sally offers an authentic and reassuring voice for couples who face a myriad of changes during this critical phase in their long-term relationship. Connect with [email protected], S. (2018). Loving Your Marriage in Retirement: Keep the Music Playing. In the Round Publishing.

Dr. Janice Hooker-Fortman, relationship coach, is a former Chicago Public School educator, motivational speaker, and producer and host of “The Mother/Daughter Relationship Show. and Relationship Matters tv. She is an award-winning author, relationship communication coach, a 50+ model, and was crowned Ms. Senior Illinois America 2022. Dr. Jan believes that communication is the foundation for all relationships, both personal and professional. Her mission is to improve the quality of relationships between adult daughters and their mothers through the use of effective communication. She was selected as the female entrepreneur to watch by Woman Entrepreneur Magazine and is on the cover of the February 2022 issue of Courageous Woman Magazine. Her articles appear in Global Achievers Magazine and Woman Entrepreneur Magazine. She was also recognized by Age Options for her outstanding volunteer service to older adults. “My relationship with my mother was difficult - I learned to listen in a way that was helpful.” - Dr. Janice Hooker-FortmanConnect with Jan: Email: [email protected] and [email protected] Office: 1-887-667-7325Text: 773-443-2058Podcast: https://www.facebook.com/RelationshipMattersTVShowPodcast: https://winwinwomen.tv/show/the-mother-daughter-relationship-showBook: "The Secrets To How Not To Throw Mama From The Train" Hardback and Ebook available on Amazon.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/RelationshipMattersTVShowhttps://e360tv.com/https://www.jd3tv.com/Producer/Host, The Mother/Daughter Relationship Showhttps://winwinwomen.tv/show/the-mother-daughter-relationship-showWebsite: www.drjanicespeaks.com

Alice Matzkin is an internationally known artist whose works fearlessly depict women aging. Alice has 2 paintings in the National Portrait Gallery of the Smithsonian and has appeared on Oprah. Her portrait of Chelsea hung in the White House during the Clinton administration, and she is recognized in Marquis Who's Who of American Art. She, and her husband, Richard, a sculptor and award winning author, share a precious love that provides a powerful foundation for their art. Together they authored THE ART OF AGING:Celebrating the Authentic Aging Self where they explore the experience of aging through their paintings, sculptures and writings. " Every age has its own beauty inside and out. Our body is our vehicle of transportation, abode to our senses , and home to our mind and spirit. We are ageless beings and a true miracle of the universe. Young or old, we have the ability to create beauty and contribute to the world" - Alice MatzkinConnect with Alice:Email: [email protected]: https://www.facebook.com/authorsartistsandlovers Book: THE ART OF AGING: Celebrating the Authentic Aging Self (available at Amazon.com)Website and blog: thematzkins.com

In her third career, Sally Duplantier, gerontologist and healthspan educator, founded her mission-driven company, Zing, to help older adults live as long as possible without chronic disease and disability. Through Zing, Sally offers Wellness Wednesdays, free educational webinars featuring experts on relevant topics. She is guest faculty with the Be Well program at Stanford University. Sally has added a research component to her mission--toincrease diversity in clinical trials for Alzheimer’s patients.Connect with Sally:Email: [email protected]: https://myzinglife.com/

Annie Korzen’s career dreams finally came true in her 80’s. Atage 83, she is a TikTok sensation with young fans who love herwit and wisdom about living life as an older woman. Annie bringsher talents as an actress, writer, storyteller, and teacher toTikTok and other performance venues as she speaks about life’sserious moments. She also takes on ageism for underestimatingand underappreciating what older women have to offer. For thefirst time in her life, Annie is being told that she is beautiful, and shewears her age as a badge of honor.Some people are overnight successes, and some people,like me, just have to keep doing it wrong until they get it right.Now I’m in my third act. -Annie KorzenConnect with Annie KorzenWebsite: www.AnnieKorzen.comEmail: [email protected]://www.tiktok.com/discover/Annie-Korzen?lang=en

As a queer, biracial woman, Jacqueline Boyd, BA, BS, CGCM, has advocated for her community by offering services that address specific care needs. She is especially interested in how to provide people with continuing care in their homes. Her company, The-Care-Plan, guides anyone over age 18 to plan and coordinate care needs.Jacqueline’s cool and service-oriented demeanor shows in everything she says. When she talks about quality of life it is evident that it comes from a place deep within her heart. She asks, “What is the role of comfort in care? In only 30 minutes, you will walk away with a wealth of information.Connect with Jacqueline:Email: [email protected]: https://the-care-plan.comOffice: 877-6WE-PLAN

Mary Isabel Azrael, age 78, from Baltimore MD, is a poet, editor, and teacher. She is the author of four books of poems, and in her 60s, wrote the libretto for an opera, Lost Childhood, which has been performed in Los Angeles, New York, and Tel Aviv Israel. Mary Isabel is publisher and co-editor of Passager Books and Passager, a national literary journal featuring the work of writers aged 50 and older. When Mary Isabel’s husband left after 40 years of marriage, a collection of poems written during the following years resulted in a book, The House No House (2017). Mary Isabel collaborates on artistic projects with her life partner of 10+ years, John P. Wise, an abstract artist and designer. Ageism still exists in the arts. More than ever, we need the voices of older writers whose life experience offers much that's essential to our survival. - Mary Isabel AzraelConnect with Mary Isabel:Email [email protected]://www.passagerbooks.comhttps://www.dogbonearts.com

Bett Martinez has experienced more death-defying accidents than most in her lifetime.An auto accident at 33, and again, later in life caused 2 serious head injuries, badly smashed broken legs and ongoing auto-immune issues. But Bett, who began to advocate for others early on, only dug in harder to find the answers that would help her walk again and manage the pain. Bett’s advocacy has taken many paths. She believes our society would do best if children of different ethnicities could learn to co-exist. Thus began years of working to bring Jewish and Arab children together.As a veteran health care insurance agent, specializing in Medicare and long-term care protection, her interest in preparing for death has grown as she ages. She would like it if it were a requirement for all people to create a thumb drive video that expresses their end of life wishes. She asks: “If you knew the date of your death, what actions would you take?”Staying up to date and helping others keeps my brain straight – straight as can be given my age and complex health history. - Bett martinezResearch has led her to adopt Qigong, Tai Chi, acupuncture and herbs as a way to maintain her own hard won fitness. And now, she is turning her attention to advocating for relief for Alzheimer patients.Bett finds answers through her unique combination of perseverance, research and purpose. Connect with Bett:Email: [email protected]: http://possiblesociety.org/programs.html Bett’s website: bettmartinez.comSoaking Retreat: Therma Qi-2024 at Palma Hot Springs, Ikaria Islands, south of Greece. Contact Bett directly for informationhttps://www.visitikaria.gr/en/useful/news/ikaria-has-the-secret-of-longevity#.Yzsdu3bMKUk Author: We’ll Face That When We Have To…P.S. It’s Later Than You Think! The Case for Long Term Care Protection http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00UCGCXMK

As a young adult, Joby Kennedy became fascinated with how different people cope with trauma. This led her into a clinical psychology career during which she worked with adults, some families and school children. She refers to herself as a generalist, serving in many settings with a wide variety of clients.8 years ago, Joby retired. She thought music might be her way forward until she inadvertently set her childhood accordion on fire. Joby believes (as did Jung) that “synchronicity is a meaningful experience”. Still she craved music and soon was invited to sing in a local chorus.“I get busy, then there’s a lull. I wonder what will happen next? Something always presents itself to me. If not, I will go and find it.” - Josephine "Joby" KennedyIt is painting, however, that has her heart singing. She is currently working on a presentation entitled “One Heart, Many Paths”. Combining music and her own art, she inspires engagement by asking people to share the paths of their hearts.And, she loves to dance.CONNECT: Email: [email protected] Art America: Josephine Joby Kennedy@FineArtAmerica

Originally from the West Indies, Cynthia Barnett, Ph.D., from Norwalk CT,retired at age 59 to pursue the question--Why Are There So Few Women in theSciences? Cynthia became CEO and founder of a non-profit program--AmazingGirls Science-- whose goal is to ignite the spark in girls for STEAM (science,technology, art, engineering and math). As a STEAM champion, Cynthia won theInaugural AARP Purpose Award and the Community Innovation and LeadershipAward for the Connecticut Technology Council. At age 79, Dr. Barnett says she“leads a vibrant, purpose-driven life” with many new initiatives underway,including intergenerational programs and robotics. She lives her life as a “thankyou.”We need to catch girls at a young age to bring them into the sciences. - Cynthia Barnett PhDConnect with Cynthiawebsite: www.amazinggirlsscience.comEmail: [email protected]

Susan Reed, PhD, age 70, has led a life of social-political actionsince her teens. She campaigned for McGovern and later forObama; interned with the Chicago Women’s Liberation Union;protested the Vietnam War; worked on social policy for equities inaging and health; and continues to teach adult college studentsabout ways to be civically engaged. Susan is a person who feels“responsible for problems” facing our city (Chicago) and country.She finds other people to be activists with her--for example, theGirlfriend Group, because “for me, political activism is social;social action can be fun.” On the home front, Susan continues tolearn how best to support her two adult daughters and, with herhusband, plan for how to ‘age in place.’" My goal is to help people be active citizens, especiallyduring really difficult times." Connect with Susan:[email protected]

Born in Poland, Sara​ Levinson, 75,​ migrated to the United States in 1963 when she was 16. She traveled by ocean liner to Montreal and later moved to Chicago. She practices an open-ended thought process and has learned to go for any opportunity that comes her way.As a young mother raising children, Sara picked up a Nikon camera that she had used earlier and began photographing images while her children were at school. She realized her skills needed upgrading and began attending workshops and taking courses on her own. Her specialty is portraits and as her children grew, she became more and more serious about her craft, learning how to process, develop and print her film. In the beginning, it was strictly black & white. She ​soon moved to color and digital photography and ​continues to edit and manage all aspects of the creative process.Save the easiest places to travel for when you get older so you will never have to stop having amazing experiences. - Sara LevinsonSara takes exotic trips to unknown remote locations. She uses her lens to witness diverse spiritual ceremonies and customs. She has also been touched by the plight of discarded widows. Especially moved by their circumstances, she plans to return so she can hug every woman she meets, a forbidden action in many areas.A new project is called Beauty Past Its Prime and Sara is currently working out just how to bring it to fruition.

Diane Deaderick DeMartra, a professional who has worked in corporations, non-profits, and higher education, devotes her passions and talents to “enlighten,educate, and empower inner-city teen girls and young women, especially teenand young, single mothers at risk of continuing the intergenerational cycle ofpoverty and complex trauma that are rampant among women and children in theBlack community.” This is the mission of Just For You Girlfriend, the nonprofitorganization that Diane founded in 2017 and continues to lead. Having lived herpre-teen and teen years in ‘the projects’ in Chicago, Diane understands theenvironment where, without access to resources and support, many people “liveand die like they did in the projects--in abject poverty.” In 2022, Diane wrote abook to pass on crucial life lessons and wonderful witticisms learned from herown momma--Momma Wit: Words of wisdom, encouragement, inspiration, andlove. Diane lives each day with energy, enjoyment, and gratitude. "Connect with DianeEmail: [email protected]: https://www.justforyougirlfriend.orgBook: Momma Wit (available on website)

Amy Temperley’s passion centers on Active Aging--helping olderadults stay social, active, and engaged. As a life coach andconsultant, and entrepreneurial business owner, Amy focuses onhelping 60+ adults find their passion and continue to live, laugh andlearn. Amy is co-founder and CEO of Aging Is Cool and mostrecently, co-founder of A Mighty Good Time. She and her colleaguesfollow trends in areas such as technology (e.g., augmented reality)and brain health as they create more opportunities for older adults toengage fully in life.Connect with Amy:[email protected]://www.agingiscool.com

Betty Grebenschikoff, age 92 ½ , continues to speak out about the horrors of the Holocaust and her experiences as a refugee without a passport: from Germany to China to Australia and, finally, to the United States where she gained citizenship. At age 9, Betty was separated from her beloved friend, Ana Maria Wahrenberg, only to be reunited after 82 years--like “finding the end of the rainbow.” On a weekly basis, Betty (in Florida) and Ana Maria (in Chile) talk about their childhood, similar paths taken, commitment to telling their stories, and the joys of family and friends. As a long-time refugee, Betty learned to adapt to everyday hardships with the support of “family around me. We were the lucky ones who got through it.” Betty advises: “don’t take anything for granted, never travel without a passport, and appreciate that home is not a place-- it is a feeling of belonging with family.”There are very few of us left who can talk about the Holocaust; the lives of individuals,not just the numbers, have to be remembered. - Betty GrebenschikoffConnect with Betty:Website: www.bettygrebenschikoff.comMemoir: Once My Name Was Sara (1992), Original Seven Publishing Co.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hfkDAk2IRPI. The New Reality: The Untold Story of How 2Best Friends Separated by the Nazis Reunited After 82 Years.https://www.holocaustedu.org/survivor-testimonies/in-my-own-words-with-betty-grebenshikoff/ Interviewed by daughter, Jennifer, Special Kristallnacht CommemorationProgramhttps://www.idcfl.org/betty-grebenschikoff-international (International Diplomatic Core ofFlorida)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TK6WrOrL3j4 [Shanghai Ghetto, Part I]

The Upgrade is a gateway for the best years of our livesFor years, women have been told by society to dread the second half of life, with no support available beyond expensive ointments and procedures promising to reverse the signs of aging. But thanks to Dr. Louann Brizendine’s latest book: The Upgrade: How the Female Brain Gets Stronger and Better in Midlife and Beyond, that’s all about to change. Dr. Brizendine, bestselling author of The Female Brain and The Male Brain, Lynne and Marc Benioff Endowed Chair in Clinical Psychiatry at the University of California, San Francisco and founder of UCSF’s Women’s Mood and Hormone Clinic. delivers actionable, science-backed steps for preserving brain health. A Stanford Study affirms that people get happier with each decade of their lives up until their 90s. With compassionate and ongoing self-care we become more available to ourselves and others who need us. Diet, exercise, sleep and mindset all aid cognitive health. Dr. Brizendine shares intimate stories in a lively and upbeat way that emphasizes there is nothing selfish about paying attention to our bodies in order to be the best we can be. The Upgrade is a gateway for the best years of our lives - Dr Louann BrizendineThe Upgrade is the time of life where things get better. As your hormones change, the fluctuations that make things feel stressful float away and a new clarity takes hold. The hormone swings that helped you through childbearing and rearing are no longer needed. Your body chemistry adjusts to bring you calm, directness, and focus. You have time to focus on yourself again.

Why is grief so complicated and why does grieving take such a long time,possibly never ending? In The Grieving Brain (2022), renowned grief expert,neuroscientist, and psychologist, Mary-Frances O’Connor, PhD, offers newperspectives on understanding love, loss, and learning. Complicated grief sets inwhen we cannot move into the natural healing process. Our brains need tolearn how to process grief and grieving, to deal with the paradox of our lovedone who feels here, yet physically is not here. Dr. O’Connor offers hope for howwe can learn how to navigate loss with more ease and grace.Connect with Mary-Frances O’Connor:Website: www.maryfrancesoconnor.com/bookBook: The Grieving Brain: The Surprising Science of How We Learn from Loveand Loss (2022)YouTube. There are several. Eg.,https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLh1F41RsM85 Things You Should Know About GriefKatie Couric MediaLearning from Grief and Loss (Video) PurposeCastTwitter: @doctormfoFaceBook: @maryfrancesoInstagram: @doctormfoconnorLinkedIn: Mary-Frances O’Connor

Donna Chacko, MD, practiced medicine for 40 years, first as a radiation oncologistand later, after retraining in her 50’s, as a family medicine doctor. While servingpeople faced with poverty and homelessness, she learned that health involves farmore than the absence of disease. Donna’s professional experiences and her ownemotional suffering during a difficult first marriage led her to create Serenity andHealth, offering programs and blogs that teach us all the things we can do to haveabundant health. She also wrote a spiritual memoir (2021), Pilgrimage: A Doctor’sHealing Journey, which is both memoir and instruction on being stewards of ourown health. Donna is at a new transition point which involves decisions aboutwriting a second book and living with her soon-to-be-retired second husband. I came to believe that people who have ‘a faith’ can use it to gain anabundance of health. - Donna Chacko MDConnect with Donna:email: [email protected]: www.serenityandhealth.comPilgrimage: A Doctor’s Healing Journey (2021). Luminare. (Amazon; Barnes & Noble).

Before abortion was legalized by the US Supreme Court in 1973 (Roe v Wade), aChicago-based group of over 100 women--known as Jane--provided counselingand illegal abortions for 11,000 women (1969-1973). Rev. & Dr. Patricia Novick,age 75, was one of the original Janes. Patricia and founder Heather Booth areamong those featured in the illuminating film The Janes. In her conversation withWomen Over 70, Patricia dispels the public’s misconceptions about the Janes--who they were and who they served. Patricia situates the single issue of abortionrights in the larger context of social issues concerning justice, choice, privacy,autonomy, and personal freedom. Now, 50 years later, the Janes have reunited,and Patricia shares new information and ideas about ways to contribute to thegroundswell of activism. As older women, Patricia believes it is our job to be rolemodels for younger generations of activists.Living in a democratic, pluralistic society means that humans have theright to make their own decisions about their bodies and their lives. - Dr. Rev. Patricia NovickConnect:[email protected] P. Novick episode #025; Heather Booth episode #039The Janes (the film). On HBO and streaming on HBOMax.Planned Parenthood Action Fund ([email protected])Chicago Abortion Fund (chicagoabortionfund.org)

Nancy Watson’s entrepreneurial spirit has led her on different paths, always toward nurturing other people. Her 8-year long career as a teacher in disadvantaged neighborhoods in Chicago in the 1970s was interrupted by a 2-year stint as the contented owner of an antiques store. Cooking became Nancy’s outlet for dealing with the demands of teaching, leading eventually to a large-scale catering business that she owned for 25 years. At age 60, feeling like she was aging out of that industry, Nancy opened a B&B in Southwest Michigan where she enjoyed connecting more closely with her clients. Now Nancy can be found on Florida’s gulf coast where she lives happily with her third husband, David, engaging in cultural and social events, being physically active, and still offering her gift of food. I love nurturing others, whether through teaching, antiquing, catering, lodging, or volunteering. - Nancy Watson Connect with Nancy:[email protected] grew up in Highland Park, IL #SitDownAmerica

Pauline Boss, PhD. - The Myth of Closure: Ambiguous Loss in a Time of Pandemic and Change.

Karen Kalish’s career included school teacher, consumer advocate, business owner, and on-air TV reporter. She became a serial social entrepreneur and believes that to whom much is given, much is required. “Partners and collaborators are what make it work. No one nonprofit can do “it” alone and doing things alone is the weakest form of leadership”, she says. In this way the missions of the three nonprofits she created, all of which are still running today, had to do with academic achievement in low performing schools, race relations and discrimination. - Karen Kalish I don’t let grass grow under my feet. I have a growth mindset. I’m not retired, I’m reWired and have a next chapter. At a Renaissance Weekend, Karen sat on a panel that asked, “Can You be Happy As You Age?”, and shares her answers in this episode. Philanthropy is where Karen’s interest lies today. She discusses what we need to think about when donating money to organizations. Her legacy? “Here lies Karen under the only stone she left unturned!” Connect with Karen:Email: [email protected]: https://KarenKalish.com"Today’s interview with Karen Kalish was – like so many others – fantastic. I remember her from her reporting days here in Chicago in mid-late ‘70s. What a dynamo. I start many days with a podcast and this one really knocked my socks off. Great choice." - Jill Stewart

At age 97, Joan Harmsen still thrives on helping others make life more meaningful and fun. As a young war bride, Joan traded the paradise-like environment of southern Australia for the hard realities of farm life in Minnesota. To alleviate disappointment and depression, Joan brought fun to her hard-working community--teaching tap dancing, championing girls’ athletic activities, and acting in community theatre. Joan’s husband died soon after they retired to Oregon. She adjusted to widowhood by earning a college degree at age 59 and teaching school for ten years. After being single for many years, Joan married at age 79 to a man 10 years older. Before he died at age 103, they had a marvelous time traveling to 4 continents. Joan continues her lifelong commitment to exercise regularly, eat healthy food, read and study. She pledges to “never give up,” and to “use whatever energy I have left for the purpose of doing good on this earth.”You can adjust to any life challenge if you inject a little fun into it. - Joan HarmsenContact Joan:[email protected]