Jane Goodall, Who Studied Chimpanzee Behavior to Teach Us All to Cherish Nature, Dies at 91

Jane Goodall, whose pioneering work even someone of my age studied in college, passed away today at 91 as young students gathered in Pasadena, California, to hear her speak at a scheduled appearance. It was one of the more moving scenes I’ve witnessed on television in a long time.

Students were in tears upon learning of her death. “The Chimp Whisperer” was in town as part of her Roots and Shoots program to kick off the planting of 5,000 trees.

Goodall, who began studying chimpanzee behavior in 1960, was a pioneer in the preservation of nature and in a love for biodiversity. She uttered some of the most moving quotations I’ve ever read.

Just last month, in an interview with the Wall Street Journal, she said:, according to today’s edition, “We have a window of time, but it’s not a very big window of time.” That window refers to our opportunity to nurture our natural environment and the species within it rather than losing it all to economic greed.

Here is a quotation of hers that I just read that rang true to my ears as someone who loves the trees and the species those beautiful beings and their environs support:

“For those who have experienced the joy of being alone with nature there is really little need for me to say much more; for those who have not, no words of mine can ever describe the powerful, almost mystical knowledge of beauty and eternity that come, suddenly, and all unexpected.”

HERE IS A COLLECTION OF 25 OF HER MOST ENDEARING QUOTATIONS