By Susan Bernat, Sierra Club Maine Conservation Team Volunteer
Dear Friends and Loved Ones,
A message here to reach out to others who, like me, may, with a heavy heart, be mourning the passing of Dame Jane Goodall.
What an extraordinary person she was—a trailblazing primatologist; an apostle for the conservation and caretaking of wildlife; an unrelenting voice for the natural world and the environment at large; an incredible role model for women; and a stalwart humanitarian who strove to give voice to those who could not speak for themselves.
Dr. Goodall was at once confident, determined, and a driving spirit; yet she was also modest, soft-spoken, pragmatic, and willing to open her heart to any individual, in an effort to touch another person’s heart. She saw no daylight between Homo sapiens and all other forms of life, because she simply viewed us all as part of the tapestry of life.
And Dr. Goodall was wise in her belief that we can more readily influence people, and change minds, through storytelling, than through reasoning. She did not bow to any man, but neither did she begrudge males. Rather, she believed—as she had been told by an indigenous tribal member—that men and women must live equally, in balance within a community. And she steadfastly believed, indeed preached, that each and every person can make a difference in this world. She created “Roots and Shoots”, an organization for youth worldwide; and by all accounts, she gave special audience to every child that she met, understanding that each one represented the future of our world.
Jane Goodall quite simply held her own, elegantly, peacefully, no matter the setting in which she found herself. At Georgetown University, In 2009, she delivered a speech that was one of the best I have ever heard. The presentation was, of course, about her beloved chimpanzees, about nature, and about the interconnected role of humans in the natural world.
I felt privileged to meet Dr. Goodall in Berkeley, during one of her book tours several years ago. She displayed grace and patience as several adoring fans, myself among them, approached her following her presentation. I recall that she conceded she was tired. Yet she pressed onward, eager to avoid losing any time in her quest to reach as many people as she could. Indeed, she worked up until the very last day of her life.
I believe we have lost one of the brightest stars in our universe. How best can we honor the life of this exceptional woman? Perhaps we can take solace in the example of her life, taking it as our own role model for the way to live…in harmony with other people, with other species, with the natural world to which we all belong.
May the soul of Valerie Jane Morris-Goodall rest in eternal peace.
Sincerely,
Susan