Remembering Dr. Jane Goodall — and Mr. H, Her Faithful Companion

Dr. Jane Goodall passed away yesterday at the age of 91. I don’t pretend to know her work in depth, but like so many, I have always felt her presence in the world — steady, gentle, humble. She carried herself with a kind of quiet leadership that made people listen, not because she was loud, but because she was true.

For those who may not know her story, Dr. Goodall was a pioneering primatologist and conservationist whose groundbreaking research with wild chimpanzees in Gombe, Tanzania, transformed our understanding of animals and ourselves. Beyond science, she became a tireless advocate for the environment, peace, and compassion, inspiring generations to protect both nature and humanity.

The photo of Jane Goodall with infant chimp Flint challenged scientific norms and changed our view of the animal kingdom (Credit: Hugo van Lawick)

What has always stayed with me is not just her research or activism, but her relationship with a little stuffed monkey named Mr. H. He wasn’t even a chimpanzee (though people often assumed he was) — he had a tail, a gift from Gary Haun, a blind magician who deeply inspired her with his “indomitable human spirit.” Instead of correcting him when he thought it was a chimp, Dr. Goodall embraced the gift. She named him Mr. H — the “H” standing for Haun — and carried him with her for decades as a symbol of hope and a reminder that nothing is impossible. She often said Mr. H had “been touched by 4 million people” — children, dignitaries, strangers — each one finding something symbolic in that small toy.

To me, that’s powerful. A reminder that symbols matter. That objects carry meaning. In art therapy we call them transitional objects — anchors of comfort, memory, hope. Mr. H wasn’t just a toy; he was a companion, a story, a reminder of friendship and resilience, of believing that even small things can connect us to something larger.

A little stuffed monkey named Mr. H – a symbol of "indomitable human spirit". (Credit: Ophir Sarusi Photography)

Dr. Goodall’s life invites us to live with that same spirit:

• To notice what others overlook.

• To carry hope with humility.

• To let small gestures ripple outward.

She once said, “You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you. What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.”

And also,

“Only if we understand, can we care. Only if we care, we will help. Only if we help, we shall be saved.”

May her gentle spirit guide us to live with the same courage and humility — to make a difference, whether in forests, classrooms, clinics, or the quiet moments of everyday life.

Thank you, Dr. Jane Goodall, for showing us that gentleness is not weakness, and that love can be as strong a force as science or activism. Rest gently.

And I hope Mr. H will also find his peace, wherever his life journey continues to take him.

Ai-generated Digital Oil Painting of Dr. Jane with Mr.H

"The greatest danger to our future is apathy." – Dr. Jane Goodall (1934-2025)