In Memoriam | In the News
Washington National Cathedral will host a memorial service for world-renowned ethologist and conservationist Dr. Jane Goodall, DBE, on November 12, 2025, at 11:00 am Eastern Time. The service will be available via livestream for the public to watch online.
Dr. Goodall’s groundbreaking research with wild chimpanzees transformed our understanding of human nature and the animal world. Her 1960 observation that chimpanzees use tools, a behavior previously thought to be uniquely human, is often called the moment that “redefined humankind.” Her decades of research at Gombe National Park, supported in part by 17 Leakey Foundation grants, revealed chimpanzees’ complex social lives, including strong mother-infant bonds, meat-eating and hunting, primitive warfare, altruism, and compassion.
Beyond her scientific contributions, Dr. Goodall became a tireless advocate for conservation and youth empowerment. In 1977, she founded the Jane Goodall Institute, which has grown into a global network of 26 chapters. Her youth program, Roots & Shoots, began in 1990 on the porch of her home in Tanzania with a dozen young people and is now active in more than 75 countries. As a UN Messenger of Peace since 2002, she inspired millions to take action for animals, people, and the environment.
“Dr. Goodall exemplified human compassion, love, and kindness,” said Anna Rathmann, Executive Director of the Jane Goodall Institute USA. “She possessed a lively sense of humor, a genuine, demonstrated empathy towards others, and she felt responsibility to advocate for animals, people, and the environment.”
The memorial service will be by invitation only, with security measures in place. Additional tributes and memorial services will take place around the world in the coming months.
Click here to watch the November 12 livestream.
