On Wednesday, October 1, 2025, the world lost one of its most cherished voices for animals and the environment. Jane Goodall, the pioneering primatologist and UN Messenger of Peace, passed away at the age of 91 in California while on a lecture tour. According to the Jane Goodall Institute, she died of natural causes. Her passing leaves behind not just a legacy of groundbreaking science, but also an enduring movement for compassion toward animals and the planet.
Was Jane Goodall Married?
Jane Goodall’s personal life was as layered as her career. She was married twice. Her first marriage, in 1964, was to Dutch wildlife photographer Hugo van Lawick, whose stunning images of Africa introduced her research to the wider world. Together, they welcomed their only child, Hugo Eric Louis, known affectionately as “Grub.” The couple divorced in 1974.
In 1975, she married Derek Bryceson, the director of Tanzania’s national parks. Sadly, their union was cut short when Bryceson died of cancer in 1980. Goodall never remarried, choosing instead to devote her life to conservation, advocacy, and education.
From Bournemouth to Gombe
Born Valerie Jane Morris-Goodall in London on April 3, 1934, she showed an early fascination with animals. Her childhood toy — a stuffed chimpanzee named Jubilee — became the emblem of a dream she would later live out.
In 1957, she traveled to Kenya, where a meeting with famed paleoanthropologist Louis Leakey changed her life forever. Leakey recognized her natural observational skills and sent her to Gombe, Tanzania, in 1960 to study wild chimpanzees. What she discovered there transformed science: chimps using tools, forming complex societies, and displaying strikingly human emotions.
Despite not holding a university degree at the time, Goodall’s work earned her a spot in Cambridge’s PhD program, where she earned her doctorate in ethology in 1966. Her empathetic approach, once criticized, is now celebrated as revolutionary.
A Global Legacy of Conservation
In 1977, she founded the Jane Goodall Institute, now active in more than 30 countries. Its Roots & Shoots program has empowered generations of young leaders to take action for animals, people, and the environment. Her efforts also led to initiatives like the Tchimpounga Chimpanzee Rehabilitation Center and widespread reforestation projects across Africa.
Goodall was a prolific writer, a tireless lecturer, and a fearless activist. Her life’s mission extended beyond chimpanzees to a broader advocacy for sustainability, human rights, and peace.
Honors and Recognition
Throughout her life, Goodall received countless awards, including:
- United Nations Messenger of Peace
- Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire
- U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom
- French Legion of Honor
- Kyoto Prize
- Benjamin Franklin Medal
These honors reflected not only her scientific contributions but also her unwavering fight for a better, more compassionate world.
Jane Goodall’s Net Worth
At the time of her passing, Jane Goodall’s estimated net worth was around $5 million — largely tied to her books, lectures, and the global reach of her institute.
An Enduring Voice for the Earth
Jane Goodall’s passing marks the end of an era, but her voice will continue to echo in classrooms, forests, and hearts around the world. She taught us that every individual matters, every action counts, and together we can change the world.
