Gillian was born in New Haven, Connecticut, in 1951, the first child of a US Serviceman and British navy communications officer. They met while serving their countries, and married in NY and settled in Bridgeport CN.

Her dad began working for Westinghouse and quickly climbed the corporate ladder. His job took him and their family around the US, from South Caroline to Massachusetts to Maryland to Pittsburgh. Gillian learned early to appreciate the good things around her and bloom where she was planted.

In 1973 the her Dad was posted to Belgium, and it opened another world of discovery and time for family as his brother was also posted in Belgium at that time, and the cousins enjoyed time to connect.

Returning to the states, Gill started school in Kalamazoo, then switched to Cornell when she was offered a place in their accelerated school of nursing. She roomed with friends in Manhattan and earned her Bachelors and RN in two years.

Her love of travel was perfect when the Visiting nurses association offered her a job in Cleveland upon graduation. She found an apartment in Shaker Heights and worked , and began to sing in her church choir. There was an added bonus when she met another choir member, fell in love with her husband of 47 years, Ed.

They bought a home in Hudson, where they still live, and raised their children. She stresses the need for community, and a certain ferocity to be a woman, bear children, raise a family and work. She and her husband are grateful for all the help they received, from community and family, especially her mother-in- law, while they both worked and took turns going back to school for their Masters degrees.

As for how things have changed for women, Gill is happy to see that attitudes have shifted, although not completely. She knows that our gender, or having children, does not create or define or worth as a person, or our career choices.

Her advice, even in the 21st century, is check on your financial details. When a friend was recently widowed at 90, she discovered that a lifetime of work had left her with no credit history in her name, and all the payment systems they set up were cancelled upon her husband’s death.

After helping her correct the issues, Gill checked her own credit history and was stunned to realize she was in the same boat. Despite the fact that they both worked, and she had paid the bills, she had almost no credit history herself. She has corrected that issue.

Since retirement, Gill has more time for her hobbies of gardening, hiking, yoga, reading, and of course, singing in the choir.

Her Advice: Don’t be afraid to take a risk, and never feel limited by being female.