MovieChat Forums > Gorillas in the Mist: The Story of Dian Fossey (1988) Discussion > I met Dian Fossey

I met Dian Fossey

posted 15 years ago by bufster3
10 replies | jump to latest

I was lucky enough to have had the great honor of meeting Dian Fossey when I was a kid back around 1982 or 1983 I guess.

I assume she was lecturing around the U.S. and she came to speak at the Cranbrook school. She did a book signing afterward and she was so kind to me and took time to really talk with everyone. She had her leg in a cast because a gorilla had bitten her. I had saved up money from my allowance to donate to her Digit Fund and she was so gracious and touched over such a small amount of money. She was thoughtful enough to write me a hand written thank you note when she returned to Africa. She had a really gentle, feminine side that people didn't get to see on tv shows about her. I found her nicer than she was portrayed in the movie.

[–] netshopper-2 15 years ago

Interesting post. From the film, it made it look like she never left Rwanda.

[–] delmonte21 15 years ago

here's some footage of her:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UpjQx2xjy-Y

[–] tanster-1 14 years ago

Cool story.

[–] randbanks 14 years ago

My brother and I were also lucky enough to meet her in the summer of 1980. We had gone on a trip to Rwanda and visited the Virunga Mountains where we saw numerous groups of gorillas. When we were sitting at the Kigali International Airport I noticed Dian Fossey sitting near us. We talked to her for a while and then sat next to her on the flight all the way back to New York City. We were up for 25 hours but it didn't matter to us after having the opportunity to meet this extraordinary woman.

Never go against a Sicilian when death is on the line

[–] bufster3 13 years ago

Wow! What an incredible experience you had! Thank you so very much for sharing your story.

Did you also find her to be a lot softer and warmer than she was portrayed in the film?

[–] 13 years ago

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[–] bufster3 13 years ago

Well I assure you that the story is true. It's not like I am the only person who met her that night. It was at the Cranbrook School in Bloomfield Hills, MI. It must have been part of a national book tour that she was doing.

I had said in the original post that I believed it was in the fall of 1982 or 1983. It had to have been in 1983, though, because it was when she had published Gorillas In The Mist and I bought a copy there.

And yes, I feel very lucky and honored to have met her. I was also touched that she took the time to write me a thank you note. Sadly, my note was stolen by a maid we had who robbed us blind. Dr. Fossey also had autographed a copy of Gorillas In The Mist for me but someone borrowed it from me and never returned it. I am still upset about losing those souvenirs of our brief meeting.

What a great soul she was, well is, as I believe the soul is eternal. A brilliant and courageous woman. What a tragedy how her life ended and that there is still some question as to who really murdered her. I know that two former assistants were found guilty but some people believe that those are not the real killers. Whoever did it did so out of greed. If it was a poacher then that it about greed. Poachers tend not to be impoverished, desperate people but, rather brutal, greedy people. If it was those two Americans then it was greed for her research. I just can't believe they would murder her so brutally to take her research. That just does not seem like enough of a motive. I don't know, whoever did it and whatever the motive, it was just sickening.

[–] 13 years ago

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[–] ryanoconnor-1 12 years ago

Unfortunately greed and the desire for profit at all costs is one of the most dangerous forces out there. Look at how corrupt Wall Street and the American financial sector has become and how it destroyed the lives of millions of Americans in 2008.

When capitalism is taken to its extreme degree, this is the result.

Btw, thank-you for sharing your story of Dian Fossey. : )

[–] bufster3 12 years ago

I agree with you 100 about greed (and about Wall Street too).

Such a tragic loss of a great woman who only wanted to protect the gorillas. And to not have justice served or answers as to who really killed her. I don't know, so sad.