I don't know if anyone here other than me follows the Sacramento Zoo, but the zoo just released the news that Mary Healy, the zoo's director, died suddenly. They released this news on their Facebook page. I am greatly saddened by this and send condolences to her family and the zoo family.
She really helped an ailing zoo and was on track to help improve it more. She was very active in the AZA, especially in helping raise accreditation standards, so her work benefited the entire zoo community and beyond.
This is the information and obituary released by the zoo:
We are devastated to share that Zoo Director, Mary Healy has passed away. Mary had left port in Ecuador on her way to the Galapagos Islands on Thursday when she suffered a cerebral aneurysm. Later that day she was declared brain dead and then suffered a massive coronary heart attack.
Born in 1953, Mary began her career in the zoo profession as a bird keeper at the Riverbanks Zoo and Garden in South Carolina. Years later, after a stint with a Disney animal park, she made her debut as the Sacramento Zoo Director in December of 1999. Under Mary’s direction, a full-scale veterinary hospital was built at the Sacramento Zoo and renovations for new habitats have been completed for lemurs, Thick-billed Parrots, Giant Anteaters, Ground Hornbills, Burrowing Owls, Yellow-billed Magpies, Tamanduas, giraffes, Red Pandas and North American River Otters.
Throughout that time, Mary dedicated time to serve as Chair of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. She also served on the Accreditation Commission. Mary was the president of the California Association of Zoos and Aquariums and was one of nine international council members for the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Last year, Mary was presented with a Women Who Mean Business award by the Sacramento Business Journal.
Mary Healy was a leader in the community and a passionate advocate for animals. She will be greatly missed by zoo staff, colleagues, supporters and the larger zoo community.
A memorial in Mary’s honor will be held at a later date. Her family has requested that no flowers be sent and donations in her memory be made to the Sacramento Zoological Society.
She really helped an ailing zoo and was on track to help improve it more. She was very active in the AZA, especially in helping raise accreditation standards, so her work benefited the entire zoo community and beyond.
This is the information and obituary released by the zoo:
We are devastated to share that Zoo Director, Mary Healy has passed away. Mary had left port in Ecuador on her way to the Galapagos Islands on Thursday when she suffered a cerebral aneurysm. Later that day she was declared brain dead and then suffered a massive coronary heart attack.
Born in 1953, Mary began her career in the zoo profession as a bird keeper at the Riverbanks Zoo and Garden in South Carolina. Years later, after a stint with a Disney animal park, she made her debut as the Sacramento Zoo Director in December of 1999. Under Mary’s direction, a full-scale veterinary hospital was built at the Sacramento Zoo and renovations for new habitats have been completed for lemurs, Thick-billed Parrots, Giant Anteaters, Ground Hornbills, Burrowing Owls, Yellow-billed Magpies, Tamanduas, giraffes, Red Pandas and North American River Otters.
Throughout that time, Mary dedicated time to serve as Chair of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. She also served on the Accreditation Commission. Mary was the president of the California Association of Zoos and Aquariums and was one of nine international council members for the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Last year, Mary was presented with a Women Who Mean Business award by the Sacramento Business Journal.
Mary Healy was a leader in the community and a passionate advocate for animals. She will be greatly missed by zoo staff, colleagues, supporters and the larger zoo community.
A memorial in Mary’s honor will be held at a later date. Her family has requested that no flowers be sent and donations in her memory be made to the Sacramento Zoological Society.
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