Director

Zoo directors are responsible for supervising all aspects of zoo management. Areas of focus usually include managing park operations, creating budgets, implementing policies, hiring management staff, sourcing additional funding, and overseeing the development of the facility.

Dr. George Rabb

Photo courtesy of Chicago Zoological Society/Brookfield Zoo.

Interview | Director

Louis DiSabato

Louis DiSabato starting working at the Columbus Zoo at the age of 15 cleaning bathrooms and parking cars. After serving in the Korean War, he returned to Ohio and was immediately offered a job as mammal curator for the Columbus Zoo.Watch the full Interview

Interview | Director

Lee Simmons

As a veterinarian, Dr. Simmons has had a varied career. In 1963 he landed his first zoo job as curator of mammals at the Columbus Ohio Zoo.Watch the full Interview

In Memoriam

Apr 20, 1930 - Oct 11, 2022

Interview | Director

Lawrence Curtis

Lawrence started his international career in 1946 as an assistant curator at the Dallas Aquarium and finished as director of the National Zoological Park in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in 2001. Watch the full Interview

In Memoriam

Jan 1, 1933 - Oct 21, 2016

Interview | Director

Robert Bean Jr.

Although he originally started his career as an animal keeper, he learned how to manage from the ground up as a curator, assistant director, and finally director. Fun fact: the AZA Bean Award is named after his grandfather. Watch the full Interview

In Memoriam

Feb 19, 1934 - Jun 14, 2022

Interview | Director

Edward Maruska

Ed’s formative years started with a job at Chicago’s Lincoln Park zoo (1955) as an animal keeper and head of the Children’s Zoo.Watch the full Interview

In Memoriam

Jan 19, 1939 - Jan 11, 2019

Interview | Director

Gary K. Clarke

Gary Clarke had a number of firsts in his career. He was Topeka Zoos' first director and served in that position for 26 years. In 1971 Gary became the association's first president.Watch the full Interview

In Memoriam

Mar 23, 1930 - Jul 27, 2017

Interview | Director

George Rabb

Despite running Brookfield Zoo, one of the Chicago area's top tourist attractions, for decades and even living in a house on zoo grounds, George Rabb was probably better known in the international zoo and conservation communities than he was locally.Watch the full Interview

In Memoriam

Nov 3, 1926 - Jul 27, 2025

Interview | Director

William P. Braker

Bill began working for the Shedd Aquarium by going on fish collecting trips in 1950. He was later hired as a ‘tank’ man taking daily care of the fish.Watch the full Interview

In Memoriam

Feb 24, 1921 - Dec 22, 2021

Interview | Director

Lester E. Fisher

Dr. Lester E. Fisher was hired as Lincoln Park zoo’s first veterinarian in 1947 working under the directorship of the famous Marlin Perkins. Perkins became a friend and the two worked well together. Each respecting the others talents and role.Watch the full Interview

In Memoriam

Mar 28, 1905 - Jun 14, 1986

Interview | Director

Marlin Perkins

Perkins was the host of Zoo Parade, a television program that originated from the Lincoln Park Zoo on NBC station WNBQ-TV (now WMAQ-TV) when he was the director there. As a result of his work on Zoo Parade Perkins was offered the job in 1963 for which most North Americans remember him: host of the nature show Wild Kingdom.Watch the full Interview

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