Gail Zelitzky

Gail Zelitzky

Hello, I’m Gail – 

My life has been a series of vignettes, each role requiring new skills and learning. In some, I flourished. For others, the learning was too steep and I failed. My role models, the women and men in my life, first came from family. Later, from friends and colleagues. Travel. Continuing education. All endlessly fascinate me. These life experiences frame my values, my career trajectory and my unstoppable resilience. 

Women Over 70, this project, was born out of curiosity. As I watched the people close to me age, I began to wonder: What is different about later life? Is there a difference? In what ways do we change? Do we look backward, or only forward? 

Women’s issues, their challenges and learning curves, are why Catherine and I created Women Over 70-Aging Reimagined. The journey is enlightening and full of wonder at women’s ability to continually recreate themselves. Without consciously realizing where we were going from the start, we have created a movement. 

Women desire to reflect and share their stories. They have a deep-seated need to be seen and heard in their later years. They yearn to make use of their wisdom and maintain vibrancy. This vignette required new skills and learning. Yet, it is a natural progression for me and I am thrilled to share this role with all of you.

Hello, I’m Catherine –

Women Over 70-Aging Reimagined is the dream I didn’t know I had until Gail and I decided to launch our podcast. We tell that story in Episode # 15.

For the 50+ years of my academic career, I have had the great fortune to mentor and teach adult learners, mostly women, and support their dreams for higher learning that makes a difference in their lives and others. I was privileged to listen to riveting stories from diverse women as they faced difficult challenges and met them head-on, with resilience and grace. As I contemplated retirement, I wanted always to be able to listen to women’s stories. Further, I wanted to create pathways for women to hear from and inspire one another. 

Leaving full-time work and turning 70 was the perfect time for me to join Gail in creating our Women Over 70 venture. We focus intentionally on women in the later decades of their lives (70s-100s) because so few forums exist for older women to be heard and seen, to be appreciated and revered for what we know and have to offer.  

I thrive when I can be part of innovative movements. During my academic career, the cause was turning colleges toward adult learners. Now I am committed to advocating for women as we age, a much-needed undertaking for our society. I am delighted to be collaborating with caring and wickedly capable women.

Catherine Marienau

Catherine Marienau

Listen to More Episodes of Women Over 70

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