Remembering Jane

Carissa Welton
Nov 11, 2025
3 min read

Updated: Nov 12, 2025

Jane Goodall will be treasured forever as an English wordsmith.

On Wednesday, October 1st, Dr. Jane Goodall, DBE died peacefully, in the midst of doing what she loved: activating hope for a sustainable future and spreading her message of our inextricable relationship with nature. I was fortunate to have heard her speak just 3 weeks prior to her death, and give her a hug, along with this special gift that she inspired, that I had printed and signed.

Dr. Jane Goodall, 91 years old, holding a book next to Carissa Welton — **Welcoming Dr. Goodall to Detroit, 9/9/25**

Grief and mourning are slow, gradual processes that shift and change over time. We fill the gaps of a person's presence with the warm memories they've left us with; the ones that still make us smile or chuckle. I have spent nearly 20 years now learning from Dr. Jane Goodall; how to live in harmony with all of my neighbors, especially all the non-human ones.

Her incredible observation skills and insight, as well as her curiosity and compassion, have inspired millions of altruistic souls like me around the world for decades. She wasn't only revolutionary, but evolutionary; helping humanity to bridge the gap between our hearts, minds and surroundings.

I was fortunate to help welcome Dr. Jane -- as she's still affectionately referred to in China -- back to Beijing in 2010. Greening the Beige (点废成绿) helped build the giant peace dove -- a concept conceived by the UN Messenger of Peace herself -- out of recycled materials (see below).

The parade float required at least 3 students to operate it, and consisted of:

old bed sheets from the Kerry Hotel, Beijing
old magazines from The Beijinger
3 bamboo poles
chicken wire & paint

Roots & Shoots Beijing was one of the very first environmental organizations to partner with Greening the Beige. Erika Helms, the Director of the Jane Goodall Institute China at that time, was instrumental in guiding my own leadership journey, often sharing lessons she had received directly from Dr. Jane.

Jane Goodall's Roots & Shoots offers excellent mentors and mentorship training. I can't recommend it enough. In 2010, I volunteered as a Roots & Shoots Eco English teacher at Beijing Primary School No. 8. Later, after I had moved to Guangdong Province, I became a Roots & Shoots mentor and celebrated awards for our student projects at Nanshan Chinese International College in 2016, 2017 and 2018.

Nanshan Chinese International College's 1st Roots & Shoots Club Members, 2015

I want to do all I can to carry on her legacy and the urgent message she traveled 200 days a year delivering to Roots & Shoots students around the globe. I first heard her speak on a university campus in Beijing back in 2006. Her hopeful message, full of delightful cheer was a constant.

It is no coincidence that I have dedicated and donated Beneath the Surface and the 3 supplementary "Deep Dive" activity books to the Roots & Shoots Global library of resources. After all, Dr. Jane's writing and work, along with many of the talented people who still work for JGI, inspired, guided and nurtured my own sustainability journey.

Dr. Goodall helped us to understand the interconnection between all life on Earth.

Being involved with Roots & Shoots in so many ways over the last 18 years has given me so many joyful memories. Starting out as event partner, then mentoring student groups and now a passionate advocate, I've had the privilege of meeting and learning from so many talented staff members from the Jane Goodall Institute and young changemakers from Roots & Shoots. I even got to visit the Jane Goodall Institute Uganda and Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary in 2018.

It is truly an honor to be a part of this small but growing world of conservation that the legendary ethologist championed. I am especially thankful for the Steen Foundation's commitment to carrying Dr. Jane's legacy right here at home, where my own roots run deep, in Detroit, Michigan.

Tomorrow, everyone is welcome to join a Livestream of the Memorial Celebration of Life for Dr. Jane Goodall. This virtual celebration for the Celebration of Life service honoring Dr. Jane Goodall will be held at the Washington National Cathedral.

Hosted by the Jane Goodall Institute USA, the private gathering will be officiated by the Rt. Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington, and The Very Rev. Randolph Marshall Hollerith, Dean with special guest tributes.