**Judy Collins Inspires at Women Over 70: Aging Reimagined Symposium**
A talk and performance earlier this month by iconic folk singer and poet Judy Collins at the *Women Over 70: Aging Reimagined Symposium* at Plymouth Place Senior Living in La Grange Park offered more than just entertainment—it was inspiring, audience members said.
Collins, 86, spoke for a full hour, after which she signed copies of her first book of poetry, *Sometimes it’s Heaven: Poems of Love, Loss, and Redemption*. She opened her talk by leading the audience in a spirited rendition of “Clouds (Both Sides Now),” the Joni Mitchell composition she recorded in 1968. Her version, the first recorded of the song, reached No. 8 on the U.S. pop charts and won her a 1969 Grammy for Best Folk Performance.
“I’m just delighted to be here. Actually I’m delighted to be anywhere,” Collins quipped, drawing laughter from the crowd.
During her presentation, Collins spoke candidly about recent personal loss, noting that her husband, Louis, died last December on his 89th birthday. The first poem she read was “The Girl That I Was,” a reflective piece on her early life, in which she wrote:
> “The girl that I was had the courage to live fast and wild.
> She tore into life with nerve… she took chances… heart wasn’t broken by grief.”
She continued by sharing selections from her poetry while recounting her journey through the worlds of music and publishing.
Born in Seattle, Collins moved with her family to Denver when her blind singer and pianist father took a job in Denver radio in 1949. Initially studying classical piano, she later became interested in folk music. She joined the vibrant folk scene in New York City in the early 1960s and soon launched a career that would include 21 albums and 14 charted singles. Alongside “Clouds,” one of her most famous recordings is Steven Sondheim’s Broadway ballad “Send in the Clowns.”
Collins also spoke about the remarkable people she met along the way, including Jim Henson of Muppets fame, Elton John, Leonard Cohen, and Don McLean. She did not shy away from discussing the challenges she faced, including battles with alcoholism, tuberculosis, and a growth on her vocal cords that threatened her career.
When asked by an audience member about her inspiration to record her own compositions, Collins credited Leonard Cohen, the Canadian poet, songwriter, and performer.
“When I met Leonard, he hesitantly played his composition ‘Suzanne’ and wondered if it was even a song,” Collins recalled. “I said, Leonard, this is a song and I’m recording it tomorrow.” After the song became a hit, Cohen told her, “I don’t understand why you’re not writing your own songs.”
Summing up her approach to her work, Collins emphasized the importance of self-satisfaction:
> “That’s really the way you have to look at it. If I like it, it was a success.”
The day-long symposium featured other activities as well, including a book signing by author Barbara Spaulding and breakout sessions on topics such as Demystifying Cannabis, Sacred Aging, Golden Threads of Storytelling, and Intimacy, Pleasure, and Sex.
Plymouth Place CEO Jay Biere expressed his satisfaction with the event’s turnout of 150 people.
> “I think it’s great,” he said. “We’re honored to have the women over 70. For us, it’s a targeted audience.”
Audience members responded warmly to Collins’s talk. Carolyn Torkelson, a doctor and co-author of *Beyond Menopause: New Pathways to Holistic Health*, shared how Collins’s stories prompted personal reflection.
> “I thought she was just wonderful. She tells so many stories about the past and the people she connected with that reflected on my life. The last story about Leonard Cohen and how his work influenced her made me think, I’m going to write a poem about this or that.”
Susanne Dumbleton admired the way Collins blended music, story, history, and personality in her presentation.
> “The quality of her voice and her capacity to engage with the audience—I found it one of the most engaging hours I’ve spent in a long time.”
*Hank Beckman is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.*
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/10/21/judy-collins-aging-reimagined-lagrange-park/