You can watch the memorial service for Jane Goodall on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C., in the player above. The service begins at 11 a.m. EST.
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### Remembering Jane Goodall: A Life of Compassion and Discovery
Jane Goodall was a trailblazing scientist who revolutionized the study of wild chimpanzees, revealing their complex emotions, tool use, and social behaviors. She was also a passionate conservationist who founded the Jane Goodall Institute and the Roots & Shoots program, dedicated to wildlife protection, youth empowerment, and environmental advocacy.
Goodall passed away at age 91 on October 1, 2025, leaving behind a legacy of compassion, scientific discovery, and hope for a more harmonious relationship between humans and nature.
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### An Extraordinary Life
Jane Goodall was a pioneer in primatology, a beloved conservationist, and a United Nations Messenger of Peace. On October 1, 2025, she died peacefully in her sleep in Los Angeles, California, while on a speaking tour. She was 91 years old.
On Wednesday, November 12, 2025, her family and friends will gather to honor her at a memorial service at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. You can join the remembrance by watching the live broadcast on YouTube at 11 a.m. Eastern Time.
Despite not having an undergraduate degree, Goodall completed her PhD at Cambridge University in England in 1965. She made her mark as a trailblazer in primate research starting in the early 1960s and, later in life, became a powerful advocate for young people and conservation worldwide.
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### Founding a Legacy of Conservation
In 1977, Goodall founded the Jane Goodall Institute to support research on chimpanzees in Gombe, Tanzania. Over time, the institute expanded to operate diverse conservation projects globally. One of its most notable programs is Roots & Shoots, created to empower young people of all ages to bring about positive changes in their communities.
Jane Goodall is survived by her son, Hugo Eric Louis van Lawick (nicknamed Grub), and her three grandchildren: Merlin, Angel, and Nick.
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### A Dream Come True: Studying Wildlife in Africa
As a child, Goodall dreamed of traveling to Africa to study animals. She often joked that Tarzan had chosen the wrong Jane for his adventures!
To fund her dream, she worked as a waitress until she saved enough money to travel to Africa. In 1957, she set sail for Kenya, where she met the famed anthropologist Louis Leakey, known for his groundbreaking work on early human fossils. Goodall began working as Leakey’s secretary.
Leakey had secured grant money for the study of chimpanzees, believing that observing this species—close relatives to humans—would provide insights into our human ancestors. In 1960, he asked Goodall to travel to Gombe, Tanzania, to undertake this study.
In her own words from a National Geographic documentary, Goodall recalled, “I had no training, no degree. But Louis did not care about academic credentials. What he was looking for was someone with an open mind, with a passion for knowledge, with a love of animals. And with monumental patience.”
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### Groundbreaking Research with Wild Chimpanzees
Before Goodall’s work at Gombe, little was known about wild chimpanzee behavior. She conducted her fieldwork alone—rain or shine—from dawn to dusk, searching for chimpanzees. Early on, the chimps would flee from her presence, but she persisted.
After five months, Goodall experienced a breakthrough. She encountered an adult male chimpanzee, whom she had seen before, but this time he did not run away. This dominant male, whom she named David Graybeard for the distinctive white hair on his chin, gradually gained the trust of others. Soon, the chimpanzees allowed her closer, and she began identifying and naming individuals, including Flo, an older female with a young daughter.
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### Changing Perceptions of Chimpanzees
In the early 1960s, many scientists believed only humans possessed minds and rational thought. But Goodall observed chimpanzees displaying emotions such as joy, sorrow, fear, and jealousy—so much like humans in many ways.
She famously said, “Staring into the eyes of a chimpanzee, I saw a thinking, reasoning personality looking back.”
Goodall documented, for the first time, the use of tools by a non-human species. She observed David Graybeard stripping leaves from twigs and using them to fish termites from their mounds—challenging the longstanding belief that tool use was uniquely human.
She also witnessed chimpanzees eating meat and even male chimps performing dances in the rain.
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### Flo: A Remarkable Chimpanzee Mother
Flo was a prominent figure in Goodall’s studies—the top-ranking female in the community. Goodall became the first person to document chimpanzee mating behavior when she observed Flo mating with multiple males in her community.
Flo gave birth to a son named Flint, providing Goodall a unique opportunity to observe an infant chimpanzee with its mother. Goodall admired Flo for her balanced mothering approach—protective yet not overprotective, affectionate, playful, and supportive, much like the support Goodall had from her own mother.
Tragically, Flo died years later while crossing a stream at about 50 years old. After her death, her adolescent son Flint appeared depressed, stopped eating, and isolated himself. Sadly, Flint passed away about three weeks after Flo’s death.
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### The Dark Side of Chimpanzee Society
Following Flo’s death, the once-unified chimpanzee group fragmented into smaller factions, leading to brutal fights. One faction was killed by another. Goodall reflected, “I thought they were like us but nicer than us. I had no idea of the brutality that they can show.”
She came to understand that war and conflict, previously thought exclusive to humans, have deep roots in our shared primate ancestry.
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### Reflections on Her Work
The research station established by Goodall and her late husband, Arnie van Lawick, remains active in Gombe National Park today.
In a documentary narrated by Goodall, she reflected on the significance of her work:
> “Louis Leakey sent me to Gombe with hope that a better understanding of chimpanzee behavior might provide us with a window on our past. Our study helped to highlight both the similarities between chimpanzees and humans and the ways in which we differ.
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> We are not the only beings with personalities, reasoning power, altruism, and emotions, nor are we the only beings capable of suffering. But our intellect has grown remarkably in complexity since we branched from our ape ancestors around two million years ago.
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> Importantly, only humans have developed sophisticated spoken language—the ability to teach young about things not present, passing down lessons from past successes and mistakes.
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> This intellect comes with responsibility—to protect other life forms whose survival is threatened by humanity’s thoughtless behavior.”
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### Raising Hope in Later Years
In her later years, Goodall traveled extensively—spending up to 300 days a year advocating for conservation, youth empowerment, and world peace.
She believed her greatest mission was to inspire hope during dark times. Her lasting legacy continues to inspire millions through her groundbreaking science, compassion, and advocacy.
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### A Final Message from Jane Goodall
Following her passing, a documentary aired by Netflix celebrated Goodall’s life and legacy, featuring a final message from her. She encouraged all of us to protect our planet and its incredible diversity of life.
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### In Summary
Jane Goodall, pioneering primatologist, dedicated conservationist, and peace advocate, passed away on October 1, 2025, at the age of 91. Her remarkable work changed the way we understand chimpanzees and our connection with the natural world. Her legacy will continue through the organizations she founded, the people she inspired, and the hope she instilled in humanity.
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**Sources & Further Viewing:**
– *Jane Goodall: An Inside Look (Full Documentary) | National Geographic*
– *Remembering Jane* (Netflix Documentary)
https://earthsky.org/human-world/jane-goodall-1934-2025-extraordinary-life-well-lived/