Women Over 70: Aging Reimagined

Lauren Coodley’s 35-year career involved fighting the educational establishment to legitimize Women’s Studies and to teach using feminist pedagogy. She was profoundly successful with female and male students alike. Yet, Lauren was forced to retire from her tenured position at age 60 due to misogyny and ageism, as well as her activist career. Lauren’s work as an historian includes a textbook on California history and a trilogy on the history of Napa Valley. She has spent decades striving to promote Upton Sinclair as a male feminist and strong ally of women’s rights--most recently in her 2013 biography. Lauren’s published poems, The Same River Twice, came out in 2018. Recently, she has written poems about her treatment for ovarian cancer, currently in remission. Lauren reads for us On Losing My Female Organs. “I am outraged about the epidemic of cancer in women,” Lauren says; “and grateful to be alive.” The world is a dangerous place for women and girls.- Lauren Coodley Contact Information Email: lcoodley@hotmail.com Website: laurencoodley.com [see publications: non-fiction history, biography, and poetry] including: Upton Sinclair: California Socialist, Celebrity Intellectual (2013). University of Nebraska Press.   Lost Napa Valley (2021). Arcadia Publishing.

Nancy Hunter loves adventure. As the first Affirmative Action Officer for Harris Bank (now Bank of Montreal), she helped forge a path for women and minorities to rise in the ranks. After a move to First Chicago (now Chase Bank) and 30 years in banking, she opened her own consultancy a year before her husband tragically died by suicide at the age of 59. 4 years later Nancy sold her business and moved to Paris for 6 months. She has traveled to 7 continents, sharing many of her trips with friends and family. Having no children of her own, her god-children, nieces and nephews are an important part of her life. “In this stage, I want to have fun, bring joy to others.” She continues to be relevant, just in a different way. And, be careful, she might just send you a surprise present! “This later stage of life is a gift. It’s attitude that matters.” - Nancy Hunter Connect with Nancy: Email: antarcticcalling@yahoo.com

Marcia Ross, 78, held a deep-seated love of history and Jewish studies. As her children grew she started taking courses at Spertus Institute which led to a master’s degree in Jewish communal service. Working for the Jewish Federation and Spertus Institute, Marcia felt extremely fortunate to be part of the team that built the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C. The skills she acquired in her professional career serve her well in retirement. She has recaptured her love of history by volunteering as a docent for the Chicago Architecture Center. Today she actively leads 7 different tours as she maintains a positive spin on her life that is yet to come. "An important part of living is meeting new people and exploring new relationships." - Marcia Ross Connect with Marcia: Email: mjoyross@yahoo.com Marcia’s Causes: The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Chicago Architecture Center Spertus Institute for Jewish Learning & Leadership Jewish Federation of Chicago  

As the Midwest regional campaign and outreach manager for Compassion & Choices, a national non-profit organization, Amy Sherman advocates for planning for and expanding end-of-life care options and empowering people to take charge of their own journeys. She leads a statewide coalition in Illinois, in partnership with Final Options Illinois and the ACLU of Illinois, and oversees activities in several other Midwestern states. Amy earned a law degree from Northwestern University School of Law. Over her career, she has led national and state policy initiatives and provided technical assistance to government, business and institutions. Earlier in her career, Amy managed emergency services at University of Illinois Hospital and the emergency services house staff program at Cook County Hospital. These experiences led her to develop a passion for patient-centered and compassionate approaches to health care. Contact asherman@compassionandchoices.org Resources www.Compassionandchoices.org https://compassionandchoices.org/end-of-life-planning/ https://compassionandchoices.org/resources/

Patricia Manahan Anderson, age 83, has been children and family-centered her entire adult life. She gave birth to 6 children in 8 years, including her first-born who died from spina bifida at a young age. With an “uncanny appreciation for healthy children,” Pat developed a holistic parenting style that was congruent with the “natural living of farm life.” During 18+ years of child-rearing, Pat earned an advanced degree in nursing through part-time studies and countless hours of self-instruction, including annual conferences of the American Holistic Medical Association. She worked as a psychiatric nurse practitioner for 30 years, until retiring at age 78. Widowed in 2018, Pat is “sustained and entertained” by her 5 adult children, 17 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren, all of whom gather together on numerous occasions. Pat says she is “filled with gratitude” and has “perfected the art of living in the now.” "I am holistic by nature and I do active listening." - Patricia Manahan Anderson Contact: patrmanderson@gmail.com

Margot Wallace is a marketer, academic, author and life-long learner. Starting out, Margot was a writer and creative director for J. Walter Thompson (now JWT), global advertising agency. At age 62, Margot earned a master’s degree from DePaul University and became an assistant professor of marketing at Columbia College Chicago, where she received tenure. Margot pioneered the study of museum branding: she authored four books and presented throughout the United States and abroad. Since retiring at age 75 Margot volunteers with Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Northwestern University where she develops and teaches semester-long courses. Margot’s insatiable curiosity is reflected in her wide- ranging topics--from Frankenstein to Eleanor Roosevelt, from baseball stories to 6,000 year old cities to speeches that changed the world. After becoming a young widow 30 years ago, Margot learned to enjoy living solo-- traveling, dining, and living alone. Her secret to aging well is to “know where you get your energy from and pursue that.” "We are not outliers, or outsiders, but simply ambitious women who happen to be getting older." - Margot Wallace Contact: Email. margotawallace@comcast.net Margot’s Books: Museum Branding: How to Create and Maintain Image, Loyalty and Support (2016/2006) Writing for Museums (2014) [2nd edition in progress] Connect with Gail & Catherine: Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/Wo70AgingReimagined Instagram: WomenOver70 Website:https://womenover70.com Email: info@womenover70.com Show: Women Over 70 – Aging Reimagined Listen on: Apple Podcast, Itunes, Google Play, Spotify, Stitcher,and IHeartRadio Please rate our show and subscribe wherever you listen. This is how we grow and together make a difference..  

Nancy Manahan, Ph.D., age 75, lives an inspired life with her wife, author Becky Bohan, on the Florida coast in an intentional community of 500 women, aptly called Carefree. Life partners for 27 years, Nancy and Becky have published six books between them and co-created a 2020 award-winning documentary film about the Carefree Concert Band. Highlights of Nancy’s journey to Carefree include: joining and leaving the convent; earning a doctorate and teaching community college English, women’s literature, and film studies; traveling in five continents and living on four; and, publishing books to national and international acclaim. Nancy writes about complex taboo issues-- lesbian nuns, lesbian Girl Scouts, and, with Becky, a story of their sister-in-law’s unconventional journey with cancer and her after-death communications. Nancy and Becky co-founded the Minnesota Threshold Network, which advocates for family-directed after-death care and green burial options. Through their philanthropy and energy, they support the environment, arts, education, lesbian feminist organizations, and individual women, including activist writers and filmmakers. In their free time, Nancy and Becky love to walk, read, watch movies, swim, snorkel, play pickleball, and dance. “My wife and I transformed our retirement to our inspirement.” - Nancy Manahan, Ph.D. Contact Information: Email: nanbec@nanbec.com Website: www.nanbec.com 2020 Carefree Lily Film Festival Award for Best Documentary: The Carefree Concert Band [no link] Books: Lesbian Nuns: Breaking Silence, with Rosemary Keefe Curb, original edition 1985, revised edition 2013 On My Honor: Lesbians Reflect on Their Scouting Experience, original edition 1997, revised edition 2021 Living Consciously, Dying Gracefully: A Journey with Cancer and Beyond, with Becky Bohan, 2007   Connect with Gail & Catherine: Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/Wo70AgingReimagined Instagram: WomenOver70 Website:https://womenover70.com Email: info@womenover70.com Show: Women Over 70 – Aging Reimagined Listen on: Apple Podcast, Itunes, Google Play, Spotify, Stitcher,and IHeartRadio Please rate our show and subscribe wherever you listen. This is how we grow and together make a difference...

Meg Forney, age 73, advocates for all things park related in Minneapolis, Mn., “the city inside of a park.” As the oldest elected official in the city, Meg serves as a Commissioner-at-Large with the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board where she is committed to advancing racial and economic equity through various initiatives, for example: increasing access to park land in underserved communities; reclaiming the Mississippi Riverbanks and replanting trees—our best tool for sequestering carbon for climate resiliency. As an avid user of the parks, Meg rows, walks and bikes, most often in communion with other women. Meg has been witness through her vast local, domestic and world travels (all seven continents) to contrasting and similar environments, cultures and people that have given her in-depth perspectives into her own “backyard.”  Meg is grateful to have been accompanied by her husband. "I had strong role models for leading in a civic way." - Megan Forney Contact Information: meg@megforney.org   www.megforneyforparks.org Connect with Gail & Catherine: Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/Wo70AgingReimagined Instagram: WomenOver70 Website:https://womenover70.com Email: info@womenover70.com Show: Women Over 70 – Aging Reimagined Listen on: Apple Podcast, Itunes, Google Play, Spotify, Stitcher,and IHeartRadio Please rate our show and subscribe wherever you listen. This is how we grow and together make a difference...

Description: Teresa Powell, age 72, has always been driven to do something significant with her life. During her pursuit of many interests and causes, Terri developed as a polymath, acquiring experience in the arts, business, education and health care, along with credentials: MPH, MBA, MST and a BA in Music. Terri has a passion for grass roots organizing, e.g., advocating for women’s rights  and campaigning for political candidates. While a “stay-at-home Mom” for 11 years with four children, Terri  engaged in many movements, including the ERA, breastfeeding and home birth. When she returned to graduate school, she pursued studies in end of life options. Prior to retirement in 2017, Terri served in an elected position as Village Clerk of Oak Park, IL, a position she held for 8 years. Now she stays active with volunteer work which includes encouraging younger people to get involved in local government. Having experienced two “health scares”  several years ago, Terri focuses on the many ways she can still enjoy life. My legacy is to leave things a little better than when I started. -Teresa Powell Contact: teresapowellcrl@gmail.com

Master storyteller, Margaret Burk, believes in the power of story, not only to entertain, but to touch the heart, spark the imagination and embolden the spirit. Margaret performs at storytelling venues, senior residences, women's gatherings, and festivals; co-produces and co-hosts storytelling events; and, teaches storytelling. She is former President and presently Treasurer of Storytelling Inc., a national association of storytellers. With degrees in theatre and communications and an earlier career in arts administration, Margaret returned to her love of the spoken word 15 years ago. As a teacher of storytelling, her niche is mostly women, particularly older women. In our later years, life is calling us to record our experiences, to tell our stories, and to pass our history down to the next generations. Contact Information: margaretburk@hotmail.com Website: https://www.margaretburk.com/