Jeff Swanagan, First Executive Director of Georgia Aquarium, Dies at 51

Atlanta, GA (June 28, 2009) –

Jeff Swanagan passed away in his home in Columbus, Ohio, Sunday, June 28, 2009, at the age of 51. He served as the first employee of the Georgia Aquarium and as Executive Director from 2001 to 2008.

Jeff began his zoo career at the Columbus Zoo in 1980.  He worked as a keeper and educator before leaving in 1987 to become the Deputy Zoo Director at Zoo Atlanta.  In 1998 Jeff became CEO of the Florida Aquarium leaving that job in 2002 to lead the efforts to build and open the world’s largest aquarium, the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta. In 2008, he became the Executive Director of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium.

Jeff left a family of staff here at the Georgia Aquarium, who cared deeply for him. He was a dedicated educator whose passion for making a difference for wild things in wild places was evident through all of his work and leadership. We send our love and respect to his family. This is a great loss for the zoological community.