Louis DiSabato passed away Saturday, February 14 at the age of 94, according to the San Antonio Zoo.
SAN ANTONIO — The San Antonio Zoo is mourning the death of former director Louis R. DiSabato, a longtime zoological leader credited with helping transform the local zoo into a nationally recognized conservation institution.
DiSabato died Saturday, February 14 at the age of 94, according to the zoo.
He served as director of the San Antonio Zoo from August 1968 until his retirement in May 1994, leading the organization through 25 years of expansion, modernization and conservation initiatives, zoo officials said.
“The Zoo Crew and I are devastated at the passing of Louis DiSabato,” San Antonio Zoo President and CEO Tim Morrow said in a statement released by the zoo. “For me personally, Louis was a mentor, a living history book, a guide, and a friend. His impact will live on at San Antonio Zoo forever.”
According to the zoo, DiSabato helped move the facility away from traditional barred enclosures toward more naturalistic habitats designed to reflect how animals live in the wild, an approach that became a defining feature of modern zoo design.
During his tenure, the zoo also expanded conservation and education programs and grew its national reputation.
Zoo officials said DiSabato played a key role in major milestones, including advancements in gorilla care and southern white rhinoceros conservation. Under his leadership, the zoo welcomed the first southern white rhino born in the Americas in 1972.
DiSabato retired in 1994 after more than two decades leading the San Antonio Zoo. His legacy remains visible across the zoo’s habitats, conservation programs and educational initiatives, according to the organization.
Zoo officials said his family continues to maintain ties to the institution, including his grandson, Joey DiSabato, who serves on the zoo’s board of directors.