Columbus Zoo Director Died Sunday

DUBLIN, Ohio—The head of the Columbus Zoo & Aquarium has died.

NBC 4 reported with the FAST FACTS Monday.

A zoo spokeswoman confirmed Executive Director Jeff Swanagan died from an apparent heart attack Sunday evening. 

He was mowing the lawn of his Dublin home at the time of his death. 

Swanagan was 51.

Swanagan was an Ohio native and a graduate of the Ohio State University.

He started his career at the Columbus Zoo in 1979 before leaving for Zoo Atlanta in the 1980s. He also worked at Florida Aquarium.

He returned to Columbus in July of 2008 to assume directorship of the zoo after heading the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta. 

He followed Jerry Borin and Jack Hanna in the leadership role at the zoo. 

One of the high-profile events of his tenure was the recent public participation in the naming of Beco, the zoo’s baby elephant. 

The zoo board was to meet Monday to determine an initial course of action.

Arrangements are pending. 

Swanagan is survived by his wife and seven children and stepchildren.

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