Women Over 70: Aging Reimagined

For the last 32 years, Louise reinvented herself many times. After her husband died when she was 44, she realized she had never lived on her own. Two big questions arose: “Why am I here?”. “What am I supposed to do with my life?”. Through coursework, metaphysics and hypnotherapy, she slowly found her way. Always the extrovert, she learned to tone down her enthusiasm and take time to listen. Today she helps baby boomers who experience loss - of careers, of soulmates, and illness. Louise has had many titles in her life: Queen of Networking, Candy Lady, Lady Farmer. The one she cherishes most is Lady Lou, the Baby Boomer Babe. If she could, she would tell every younger person, “Be more awake - be aware of the possibilities.”The future is wide open. I’m excited there are still so many discoveries to make and so many new ways to help people. - Louise DeweyConnect with Louise:Email: TexasLadyLou1@gmail.comText:    281-406-1092

Susan Stall, Ph.D. CREATIVE HOUSING OPTIONS for the MISSING MIDDLEIn 1985, sociologist and activist Dr. Susan Stall designed and taught a college course entitled Gender and the Built Environment: Redesigning the American Dream. Since then, her scholarship and activism have expanded to innovations in housing that center on affordability, design, and the capacity for community building. She highlights the ‘missing middle’--those who are neither poor nor rich-- whose housing needs tend to be ignored. Susan describes ‘age-friendly living’ options such as co-housing, cooperative housing, shared housing, and accessory dwelling units.  stallsusan@gmail.orgwww.oakparkcohousing.org

Elaine Soloway writes “because it’s therapeutic for me and can be helpful to others.” Although her stories are deeply personal, Elaine considers the themes to be universal. She tackles, for example, ageism, care giving, joint replacement, pet friends; housing options; Jewishness; solo living. She is proud of her adult children’s production of the TV series, Transparent--a fictional portrayal based on their family life--for shining a realistic and positive light on transgender. Currently, Elaine is writing opinion pieces along with hosting two book groups: unrecognized history of racism and Jewish Women Writers. Foregoing embarrassment, Elaine is learning to swim, speak Spanish, and play piano--aspirations from long ago. And she proudly owns her age--83." None of my secrets are so different from anyone else’s." - Elaine Soloway Contact Information:elainesoloway@gmail.comhttps://www.facebook.com/elainesolowaywww.elainesoloway.com  see Elaine’s writing--Books, available for purchase at Women & Children First Bookstore; and AmazonOp-edsBlogs

Jill Stewart honed her talents in public relations and writing for more than 20 years as founder and head of her own PR firm that was committed to “issues that matter.” She and her teams were there in the early stages of the AIDS epidemic and the end-of-life options movement. Most recently, Jill and her husband teamed up to produce a three-part series, Hidden History: Understanding the Origins of Racial Inequity. In her second career as communications faculty at DePaul University, Jill has approached teaching professional writing as an essential skill for communications students to level the playing field in their career advancement. Turning 70 has gotten Jill’s attention – to being even more intentional about using her time, energy and resources in ways that suit her best. "Throughout my communications career, I have been drawn to promoting social causes." - Jill O’Mahony StewartContact Information:Email: jill@stewcommltd.comTwitter: @jillostewart YouTube: Hidden History – Understanding the Origins of Racial Inequity. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78PmjkSEpnw

Growing up with a schizophrenic mother, experiencing violence most of her young life, and surviving breast cancer all contribute to Lin’s mantra: Resilience | Decisiveness | Courage. 25 different careers, first corporate and then entrepreneurial, made Lin unstoppable. And, today, she continues to be a trailblazer. “People fight change. I am always willing to pivot and change.” - Lin O'NeillLin pays tribute to her grandmother, the wisest woman she knew in her life. This woman saved her and helped her build the skills necessary to overcome her upbringing. Listening to Lin’s story of personal and professional accomplishment is a testimonial to women’s journeys.CONNECT WITH LIN:Email: Lin@ONeill.enterprisesURL: https://oneill.enterprises

Frances “Poppy” Northcutt gained national fame as the first and only woman in NASA’s mission control room working on the Apollo Program.  Poppy and her team designed the Return-to-Earth trajectory that took the Apollo 8 crew around the Moon and back to Earth. She worked on missions 10-13 and helped retrieve the Apollo 13 astronauts after their mid-flight disaster. After cuts in the space program, Poppy continued her advocacy for women’s rights as a felony prosecutor in a domestic violence unit. Now in semi-retirement, Poppy’s advocacy is focused on reproductive justice, as the attorney for Jane’s Due Process, providing legal services to pregnant teen-age girls. She holds leadership positions with NOW, nationally and in the state of Texas.I’ve always been involved with something that has to do with an equal state for women.  - Frances "Poppy" NorthcuttEmail: poppynor@gmail.comTwitter: @poppy_northcutthttps://now.org/wp-content/poppy_northcutt.mp4  49 years after the passing of Roe-vs Wade.

Martha Holstein passed away on November 24, 2021. We are releasing her episode to honor Martha's lasting contributions to women aging.Dr. Holstein, a vocal advocate for women aging, speaks both to individuals and the larger politic. She urges women to own their age—if you are old, acknowledge it. Live by your norms, not those for people far younger: Intergenerational conversations are important. Dr. Holstein raises awareness of how differentials concerning race, class, religion, and sexual identity affect the problems we encounter and the choices available for how we age and live. Individual solutions are insufficient; political-systemic answers are needed to remedy ills around aging, especially aging women. If we don’t accept and respect our age, how will we identify those problems associated with being old and work toward resolving them?The personal is political–ageism and social disparities inhibit women from making meaningful choices of how to live well while aging. – Martha Holstein, Ph.D.Watch: Martha Holstein: Own Your AgeContact Information:Mbholstein360@gmail.comHolstein, M. (2015). Women in Late Life: Critical Perspectives on Gender and Age. Rowman & Littlefield.Connect with Gail and Catherine:Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/Wo70AgingReimaginedInstagram: WomenOver70Website:https://womenover70.comEmail: info@womenover70.comShow: Women Over 70 – Aging ReimaginedListen on: Apple Play, Stitcher,Please rate our show and subscribe wherever you listen. This is how we grow.

Talking with Bindy Bitterman is full of laughter and humor. She recently published her first children’s book, Skiddley, Diddley, Skat, a beautifully illustrated limerick and has returned to frequently writing limericks to the delight of all who know her. Even as a full time business woman, owning and running an antique store in Evanston IL, Bindy was successful because her customers knew they would feel better after shopping there. As she gets ready to turn 91, Bindy is grateful for finding a retirement community that adores her sense of play. Never bored, never at a lack for friendship and fun, she thrives on living, playing and creating. "I can’t figure out how I got to be 90. It seems my sense of humor and play have developed since I’ve retired and moved to a retirement community." - Bindy Bittermanhttps://video.wttw.com/video/childrens-author-bindy-bitterman-writing-limericks-aufkbw/Connect with Bindy:Website: BindysVerses.comEmail: Bindy@eurekaevanston.comBook: Skiddley Diddley Skat - Children’s BookAvailable at (temporarily out of stock until early February, 2022) :  Unabridged Book Store, Lake ViewBooked, EvanstonBook Stall, WinnetkaBook Cellar, ChicagoTown House Books, St. CharlesSee Bindy’s interview on Chicago TonightEmail: Bindy@eurekaevanston.com

Sandra Whitmore, age 73 from Brevard NC, couldn’t wait to grow up so she could travel--to 33 countries, 17 Caribbean islands, and on 45 cruises (and still counting). Twenty years ago, she was new to community theatre, working her way from stage manager to lead roles. After Sandra was widowed at age 68, she pursued online dating and married date #17, Steve, in October 2021. This commitment required private lessons in ballroom dancing.  Bored during the pandemic, Sandra pursued two ventures which required extensive new learning. She has written over 70 travel blogs under the moniker, Silver Voyager. In February 2021, she launched a YouTube channel, Sandy Over 70. “Getting in front of the camera is like being on stage and I love it!” Her next adventure is moving with Steve to a continuing care retirement community in North Carolina, after returning from their dance cruise.  If I can imagine it, I can make it happen. - Sandra WhitmoreContact InformationEmail: sanwhitrn@yahoo.comYouTube: YouTube.com/c/SandyOver70Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SandyOver70

At every stage and turning point in her life,  Marcia Whitney-Schenck asks herself, “What could I do? How might I think about this?” Each of her undertakings is underlined by a creative spirit that, she believes, is the essence of all humanity. Witty, direct and compelling, Marcia shares stories from her youth, a 9-month stay in Northern Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, and life as she experiences it today.Writer and multimedia artist, Marcia began her career as a journalist and worked in public relations. She founded a magazine, Christianity & The Arts and was its editor for 8 years. All of her work calls upon the spiritual, including her novel, Tryptych. Today her art centers on finding the humanity in ancient figures and reinterpreting them visually to be accessible in our modern lives. Recently, Marcia has tiptoed into the subject of dementia through her art and has also created a philosophy of life she names H.E.A.L.  "The written word and visual arts help us maintain our enthusiasm despite the pain of humanity." -  Marcia Whitney-SchenckConnect with Marcia:Email: marciawhitney-schenck@gmail.comWebsite: marciawhitney-schenck.comHer Book: Triptych - available on Amazon.