No, Jane Goodall wasn’t ill prior to her passing. On October 1, 2025, while on a speaking tour in California, she died quietly from natural causes. Her funeral was calm, unrushed, and distinctly dignified. She continued to edit notes and get ready for a lecture on climate resilience and youth activism at UCLA until the night before she passed away. As evidence that her commitment to purpose never wavered, Goodall’s longtime assistant, Mary Lewis, revealed that she had been working on her laptop until late at night.
Her death was confirmed by the Jane Goodall Institute, which said that she passed away “while continuing her lifelong mission to protect the planet” from natural causes. According to those closest to her, she was simply poised and prepared for the next phase, not ill or exhausted. Her death marked a quiet lull in a life that had flown with relentless cadence for over nine decades.
| Category | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Dame Valerie Jane Morris Goodall |
| Born | April 3, 1934, London, England |
| Died | October 1, 2025, Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Age at Death | 91 |
| Cause of Death | Natural causes |
| Education | Ph.D. in Ethology, University of Cambridge |
| Occupation | Primatologist, Ethologist, Conservationist |
| Known For | Groundbreaking chimpanzee research in Tanzania |
| Founded | The Jane Goodall Institute (1977), Roots & Shoots (1991) |
| Awards | Kyoto Prize (1990), Templeton Prize (2021), Presidential Medal of Freedom (2025) |
| Spouses | Hugo van Lawick (m.1964–div.1974), Derek Bryceson (m.1975–d.1980) |
| Children | One son, Hugo Eric Louis van Lawick |
| Reference | Was Jane Goodall Sick or Simply Tireless? |
Jane was renowned for her endurance. She traveled nearly 300 days a year, even at the age of 91, to give lectures, coach young activists, and record her Hopecast podcast. Given her age, her resilience was especially impressive, and friends frequently made fun of her for “outrunning her own schedule.” She credited her “refusal to be bored,” a mostly plant-based diet, and daily walking for her good health.
She possessed a great deal of emotional strength in addition to physical strength. She frequently discussed the link between optimism and longevity in interviews, stating that “hope keeps the heart young.” Even strangers were able to trust and admire her because of her unusually calm energy, according to her coworkers.
Goodall suffered from severe illness earlier in her career, but she wasn’t sick before she passed away. She experienced weeks of fever and fatigue during research in Tanzania in the 1960s, most likely from malaria. Other than her will to live, there were no doctors in the area, no appropriate medication, and no relief. That event turned into a pivotal moment in her life. She once remarked, “It taught me how strong the human spirit can be when led by purpose.”
In her last months, Goodall frequently talked about the value of acting even when time seems to be running out, according to her assistant. Lewis revealed, “She didn’t slow down even though she knew her days were numbered.” “She claimed she didn’t have time to slow down because it meant losing momentum.”
The impact of Jane Goodall went well beyond science. Long-held beliefs that humans are unique were disproved when she discovered that chimpanzees used tools, had emotions, and displayed sophisticated social behavior. Bold, sympathetic, and profoundly human, the research was especially groundbreaking. Her techniques, which included giving the chimps names instead of numbers, were praised for their profound connection after first drawing criticism.
Her studies in Gombe Stream National Park revolutionized human perceptions of animals by remarkably clearly bridging the gap between science and empathy. It was spiritual as well as scientific. She frequently reminded audiences that “every creature matters” in her quiet yet impactful speeches. That way of thinking struck a chord all over the world, impacting ethical research, conservation movements, and public compassion for animals.
Her death caused a stir in the environmental community. Prince Harry referred to her as “a guiding light for purposeful living,” and Leonardo DiCaprio called her “a true hero for the planet.” She was described as “a woman who redefined grace through action” by Maria Shriver. She “carried hope like oxygen and shared it with everyone around her,” according to chef José Andrés, who recalled her caring personality.
Her extraordinary fortitude became emblematic. Goodall carried on working, writing, and traveling during a period when many leaders withdraw into introspection. “Meaningful work keeps the body alive,” she thought. Her dedication, especially during her 80s and 90s, was incredibly successful in motivating younger generations by serving as a real-life example of purpose.
Since its founding in 1991, her youth program, Roots & Shoots, has empowered youth in over 60 countries to take action on humanitarian and environmental issues. Though it is based on education rather than protest, its goal is remarkably similar to that of Greta Thunberg’s climate movement. Jane once referred to it as “hope in motion,” highlighting the fact that even tiny deeds of kindness can have a huge impact when they are multiplied.
Her personal routines also demonstrated mindfulness and balance. She described her daily meditation as “listening to the rhythm of life,” and she frequently did so while sitting under a tree or close to a window. Even when she was silent, friends said she exuded peace. Her philosophy was straightforward but impactful: every choice has an impact and all lives are interconnected.
After her passing, there were undoubtedly rumors that she had concealed a disease, such as Alzheimer’s or fatigue, but her family and team vehemently refuted them. Even though she was getting older, her mind was still very sharp. Her humor was delightfully dry, and her memory was sharp, according to those who knew her in her last months.
Her tenacity made many think of other cultural icons who led meaningful lives well into old age—people like Maya Angelou and David Attenborough, whose passion seemed to keep them going. Like them, Goodall’s legacy is determined by the extent of her influence rather than the number of years she lived.
She said, “Every day, you make a difference,” while staring straight into the camera in her last video message, which was posted a few days before she passed away. What sort of difference will it be, is the question. As though passing a torch she knew would remain burning, her tone was composed yet authoritative.
Was Jane Goodall ill? No. Even though her body was finally at rest, her spirit and purpose were still very much alive. Her passing was not a conclusion; rather, it was a logical progression of her message, which is that every act of compassion, every gesture of understanding, and every epiphany has the power to change life itself. She lived with remarkable conviction, and even in her death, she served as a reminder to humanity that hope is a duty that must be carried forward, not just an emotion.
