Remembering Jane Goodall
- arniebieber
- Oct 2
- 2 min read
The sad news has come that Dr. Jane Goodall passed away during a US speaking tour in California at the age of 91. She was a hero to so many of us. The first time I met her was at a conference in Warsaw, when I was the Director of the International School of Prague. Even in that brief encounter, her presence, clarity of purpose, and her power and gentleness left a deep impression on me.
Several years later, in December 2016, still during my tenure as ISP Director, our community had the privilege of hosting her during a visit to Prague. I vividly remember picking her up from her hotel and discussing US politics and the environment during the car ride. Upon arriving to the school, on a gray December day, Jane was greeted by singing kindergartners. She thrilled them with her signature chimp greeting. As we entered my office, I instinctively turned on the lights. She gently but firmly scolded me, pointing out that we could sit perfectly well by the window without turning on the lights, and I quickly complied. I remember, as we sat together, her gazing out of the window and remarking on the “poor tree” struggling in the cold.
During that conversation, she wanted to know more about me, and I shared with her that my mother had been a Holocaust survivor. Jane listened intently and then wondered aloud if after we die there is a spirit that connects all of us, even beyond life.
Later, we walked together to the school theater, which was filled to the brim with excited students. She spoke for more than an hour, recounting her journey from being a curious four-year-old working out how chickens lay eggs, to her pioneering work with chimpanzees, and eventually her evolution into a global environmental activist. The theater was completely still, you could have heard a pin drop. When she finished, the entire audience rose to give her a long standing ovation. She paused the applause and asked, “Does that wonderful applause mean that you want to help us make this a better world? I hope so!” Here's a video of that talk to ISP students.
On her next visit to Prague the following year, she and her assistant Tara invited my wife and I to join her in her hotel room for dinner. It was a wonderful evening full of conversation and laughter. Before we left, she recorded a short video greeting for the students in our Roots & Shoots program, thanking them for their involvement.
At the International School of Prague, we displayed a message from Dr. Goodall near the main entrance to greet visitors.
After her visit to the school, I received a letter from Jane which reads in part;
I'd like to think that Jane's powerful yet gentle presence lives on.
Rest in peace Jane. We will miss you.
