An all-over-town volunteer spirit
Another usher working alongside her offered to take a woman's ticket, but the patron declined.
"I want Judy to take my ticket," the woman said, shifting over to Costlow and giving her a hug. The woman called Costlow a "generous host" and said she "takes a lot of pride in what she does for this city and the Lensic."
Costlow, retired from a career with the
It's just one of her many volunteer roles around town.
She's also a longtime ambassador for the
In the past, she has volunteered as a museum docent.
Some of her work is less glamorous. For a couple of dozen years, Costlow has delivered meals to people in need through Kitchen Angels; she also served as president of the nonprofit and was a member of its board.
Other work takes her outside: She often leads hikes with the
And, friends say, she's an SOB.
That is, Costlow is president of a popular cycling club called Seniors on Bikes.
Her whirlwind, all-over-town volunteer spirit has earned Costlow a spot among The New Mexican's 10 Who Made a Difference for 2018.
"Judy gives so much to so many groups, bringing her organizational skills, even temper, humor, patience, love and never-ending smile," said
Costlow was humble about the award. "I don't feel like I make a difference," she said. "Certainly, Santa Fe has made a difference for me, though."
Born in
Inspired by President
After graduating from college, she joined the
In the 1970s, she kind of bumped into
After taking a job at a public school in
The couple were together for decades. Costlow said her husband died in
When she moved to
In the mid-1970s, she co-wrote one of the seminal books on menopause, called Menopause: A Self-Care Manual.
She also organized a series of women's wellness retreats at the Ghost Ranch Education and Retreat Center near Abiquiú over a period of 20 years.
Nowadays, when Costlow takes a break from volunteering to travel, she often brings her own bike or rents one.
In
Costlow was one of several cyclists struck in
Costlow has no memory of the accident. When she regained consciousness, she said, "I really didn't quite grasp what had happened." For a time, she suffered from survivor's guilt.
But others comfort her, and she finds comfort in volunteering.
Recently, a little boy on a school trip at the Lensic stopped in front of her, smiled and exclaimed, "I just love this place."
Costlow smiled back and responded: "Me too."
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(c)2018 The Santa Fe New Mexican (Santa Fe, N.M.)
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