Dear Friends, Colleagues, and Fellow Admirers,
It is with a heavy heart that I pen this tribute to the extraordinary Dr. Jane Goodall, who left us on October 1, 2025, at the age of 91. As a writer who has spent countless hours weaving tales of humanity’s complex dance with the natural world—stories rooted in history’s shadows and the unyielding quest for redemption—I find myself profoundly moved by the loss of this beacon of compassion and discovery. Jane was not just a primatologist; she was a legend in her field, a revolutionary whose gentle gaze into the eyes of chimpanzees unlocked truths about our shared humanity that reshaped science and stirred souls worldwide.
From her groundbreaking work in Gombe Stream National Park, where she revealed the intricate social lives, tool-making ingenuity, and emotional depths of our closest relatives, to her tireless advocacy through the Jane Goodall Institute and Roots & Shoots program, Jane embodied the essence of empathy in action. She traversed the globe nearly 300 days a year, even in her later decades, championing conservation, animal rights, and environmental stewardship with an unwavering spirit that inspired generations. Her voice, soft yet resolute, reminded us that every creature—human or otherwise—deserves dignity, and that our planet’s fate is intertwined with our choices.
Jane, thank you—from the depths of my being—for your tireless efforts. Thank you for showing us that science can be infused with love, that observation can lead to profound change, and that one person’s passion can ignite a global movement. You taught us to listen to the whispers of the wild, to fight for the voiceless, and to hold onto hope even in the face of daunting challenges like habitat loss and climate crisis. Your legacy is etched not only in the annals of ethology but in the hearts of millions who now carry your torch.
You will be missed, dear Jane—missed in the forests you protected, in the classrooms you enlightened, and in the quiet moments when we reflect on what it means to be truly alive. Yet, in that missing, we find resolve: to honor you by continuing the work you so beautifully began. Rest in peace, legend. Your light endures.
With deepest gratitude and sorrow,
S. Vincent Anthony
Author of The Unending March: A Soul’s Reckoning
