Jeff Swanagan

Jeffery Scott Swanagan (October 24, 1957 - June 28, 2009) was an American director of several major aquariums and zoos in the United States, including the Florida Aquarium, Zoo Atlanta, the Georgia Aquarium, and the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. He was the founding executive director and president of the Georgia Aquarium and is credited with much of the aquarium's creation and design.

Early life and education Swanagan and his family moved from Footville, Ohio, to Geneva-on-the-Lake, Ohio, in the early 1970s. The remaining $40 million came from corporations such as Coca-Cola, Home Depot, Georgia-Pacific, AirTran, Southern Companies, SunTrust Bank and AT&T.

Swanagan became the Atlanta institution's founding executive director and president. He helped to develop several major attractions at the Columbus Zoo, including Jungle Jack's Landing and Zoombezi Bay exhibits.

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.

Death Jeffery Scott Swanagan died at his home in Powell, Ohio, on June 28, 2009, at the age of 51. He suffered a possible heart attack while napping on his sofa after an afternoon of gardening.

Bernie Marcus, founder of the Georgia Aquarium wrote, "He will always be remembered as a friend and a creator of the Georgia Aquarium."

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."