Jeff Swanagan who was the former executive director and president of Georgia Aquarium and had become the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium’s executive director by leaving the Atlanta last year, has died on Sunday evening. It looks like he got a heart attack. Jeff was 51. He collapsed in his home at uptown Columbus.

Jeff was a creative thinker, an advocate of wildlife and an instructor. He had a mantra which was “Touch the heart to teach the mind”. Officials of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium said in an official statement on Monday morning that the community of zoo is weeping over the great loss of their beloved friend, leader and colleague and sends their condolences to Jeff’s family.

In 2002 Jeff was hired to develop the Aquarium of Georgia. By getting a job as zookeeper in 1980 at Columbus Zoo, he actually started his career and from 1982 to 1987 was the director of education for Ohio facility. In 1998 he moved to Tampa to get a job in Florida Aquarium and before this he had worked at Zoo Atlanta for around 11 years.

Bernie Marcus who is a founder of the Georgia Aquarium said on this Monday morning, Jeff really took my dream of Georgia Aquarium and he was the most essential part of my team. Chief operating officer and president of the Georgia Aquarium Mr. Anthony Godfrey issued an official statement on Monday morning, we have a family of staff at Georgia Aquarium and Jeff Swanagan has left this family who really cared for him.

Jeff Swanagan

Jeff Swanagan

Jeff Swanagan