Get To Know Suzi Egli Hanna, Jack Hanna’s Wife

Suzi Egli Hanna is a well-known public figure in her own right. She is most widely recognized as the wife of Jack Bushnell Hanna, who is a retired American zookeeper and former director emeritus of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium.

He is also known for the shows Wild Countdown or Into The Wild.

Suzi Egli Hanna has been a dedicated advocate of animal welfare throughout her life, appearing at numerous charity events to support causes that benefit animals.

Together with her husband, they have been an influential force in shaping the zoo landscape across the United States.

We did some research to get to know more about Suzi Egli Hanna and here’s what we came up with

Suzi Egli Hanna Bio

Born: 20th July 1947, Wyckoff, New Jersey, United States

Birth name: Suzi Egli

Nationality: American

Parents: N/A

Known for: being Jack Hanna’s wife + wildlife conservationist.

Marital Status: Married

Children: three daughters – Kathleen Hanna, Julie Hanna and Suzanne Hanna

Suzi Egli Age: 76 as of 2023.

Education: Muskingum College

Occupation: Wildlife conservationist and media personality

Net Worth: N/A

Suzi Egli Hanna Early Life

Suzi Egli was born on 20th July 1947 in Wyckoff, New Jersey, United States.

We didn’t find any information regarding who her parents were or whether she has any siblings.

Suzi Egli Hanna Education

We came across information that mentioned Suzi Egli Hanna studied Physical Education and Health at Muskingum University.

That’s the only mention we came across concerning her educational background.

Suzi Egli Hanna Career

Suzi Egli Hanna has had a very remarkable career as a wildlife conservationist alongside her husband Jack Hanna.

When asked in an interview by Colombus Monthy about the accomplishments she was most proud this, this is what she had to say:

And Rwanda is really in our heart now. The people of Rwanda really are family. That goes back to the ’90s, when Charlene Gentry was a gorilla keeper at the zoo and she went to Jack to tell him about the importance of saving the dwindling population of mountain gorillas in Rwanda. That’s when Partners In Conservation was started. It’s amazing to see the impact that has had.

And then just probably one last thing about gorillas, I think probably for Jack and me, one of the biggest moments in our life, was transitioning the zoo’s gorillas out of their cages. You saw these magnificent animals among concrete and steel bars and you think, Oh my gosh, they’ve never been on grass. So Jack went to Mr. [John] McConnell at Worthington Industries, and dear Mr. McConnell said, “Yes, we will help you.” They turned an old elephant exhibit into an exhibit for the gorillas. And for those gorillas to come out and walk on grass for the first time — I even get chills now, when I think about it.

Suzi Egli Hanna Marriage & Family Life

Jack Hanna and Suzi Egli met while attending Muskingum College in New Concord, Ohio.

At the time, Suzi captained the college’s cheerleading squad and according to Jack, she was “the cutest girl in French”.

In his memoir Jungle Jack: My Wild Life, Hanna describes Suzi as “the girl of my life.” 

His pet donkey at the time is what helped them grow closer finally leading to their romance.

He revealed that:

“I kept her going with my stories about my donkey, and we became fast friends.” 

They got married in their senior year and graduated in 1968.

They have been blessed with three daughters – Kathleen Hanna, Julie Hanna and Suzanne Hanna.

Their daughter Julie Hanna has been facing life-long challenges from her childhood leukaemia.

Jack and Suzi Hanna have a summer home in Montana.

Suzi Egli Hanna’s Husband Diagnosed With Dementia

Suzi Egli Hanna husband Jack Hanna was diagnosed with Dementia in 2021. 

As a result, he retired from public life and as the head of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium

Here is a letter they shared with the public on Twitter on 7th April 2021.

Part of it reads:

Our Mom – Suzi – had been by his side for 53 years in every corner of the world. She continues to be his rock (and ours, too). We have great respect and admiration for Mom as we move through not only this difficult time with Dad, but also Julie’s continued life-long challenges from her childhood leukaemia, as she is currently recovering from major surgery.

While dad’s health has deteriorated quickly, we can assure you that his great sense of humor continue to shine through. And yes – he still wears his khakis at home.

Note: Dementia is a condition characterized by progressive or persistent loss of intellectual functioning, especially with impairment of memory and abstract thinking and often comes with personality change resulting from organic disease of the brain.

Suzi Egli Hanna Personal Life

Suzi Egli Hanna and her husband are a remarkable power couple whose dedication to wildlife conservation has been an inspiration to many. 

Through their tireless efforts, they have made a lasting impact on the planet that will be felt for generations to come, and in the process bring joy to their family.

Despite the demands of public life, they have also managed to keep much of their family life private and cherish their time together as a family. 

It is this balance between living in the public eye and respecting their own lives that makes them such an admirable couple.

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