Jeff Swanagan
Jeff Swanagan | |
---|---|
Born | Jeffery Scott Swanagan October 24, 1957 Georgia Institute of Technology (MS) |
Occupation | Executive director |
Employer(s) | Florida Aquarium (1998–2002) Georgia Aquarium (2002–2008) Columbus Zoo and Aquarium (2008–2009) |
Spouse |
Suzy Holley (m. 2005) |
Children | 5 |
Jeffery Scott Swanagan (October 24, 1957 - June 28, 2009) was an American
Early life and education
Swanagan and his family moved from Footville, Ohio, to Geneva-on-the-Lake, Ohio, in the early 1970s.[1] He attended Geneva High School during his junior and senior year and graduated from the school in 1976 lettering in football. Swanagan was a foreign exchange student in France during high school and was fluent in French.[1]
Swanagan attended
Career
Swanagan began his career when he joined the Columbus Zoo as an
Swanagan worked as the deputy director of Zoo Atlanta from 1992 until 1998.[1]
Florida Aquarium
Swanagan departed Zoo Atlanta to serve as the
The Florida Aquarium was constructed with borrowed money amid exaggerated attendance projections, according to the
The city of Tampa took over the ownership of the
Swanagan reacted to the crisis by introducing new exhibits of animal life from outside Florida.
Georgia Aquarium
In 2002,
Marcus, the founder of the
Swanagan became the
In an example of his early work, in 2002 Swanagan and aquarium
The Georgia Aquarium opened in 2005 with Swanagan as its first president and executive director. The aquarium eventually became the state's second most popular tourist attraction, revitalizing parts of downtown Atlanta in the process.[2] Swanagan and the aquarium sustained criticism early in its history when its two original whale sharks died after receiving a chemical bath to eliminate gill parasites.[2]
Swanagan left the Georgia Aquarium for the Columbus Zoo in 2008.
Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
Swanagan joined the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium as executive director in 2008 at the invitation of Jack Hanna, the director emeritus of the Columbus Zoo and a personal friend and mentor.[3] He helped to develop several major attractions at the Columbus Zoo, including Jungle Jack's Landing and Zoombezi Bay exhibits.[5]
Personal life
Swanagan had five children. Shortly after the opening of the Georgia Aquarium in 2005, Swanagan married his second wife, marketing executive Suzy Holley.[2]
Death
Jeffery Scott Swanagan died at his home in Powell, Ohio, on June 28, 2009, at the age of 51.[5] He suffered a possible heart attack while napping on his sofa after an afternoon of gardening.[5]
Bernie Marcus, founder of the Georgia Aquarium wrote, "He will always be remembered as a friend and a creator of the Georgia Aquarium."[2]
Many of the zoo and aquarium world considered Swanagan a great leader and an extraordinary visionary whose mantra was "Touch the heart to teach the mind." [citation needed]
References
- ^ a b c d e Trax Page, Margie (2009-06-29). "Geneva's aquarium expert dies". Star Beacon. Archived from the original on 2013-02-03. Retrieved 2009-07-12.
- ^ Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Archived from the originalon 2011-06-04. Retrieved 2009-07-12.
- ^ Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Archived from the originalon 2009-08-28. Retrieved 2009-07-12.
- ^ St. Petersburg Times. Archived from the originalon 2009-07-02. Retrieved 2009-07-12.
- ^ UPI. Retrieved 2009-07-12.