A visionary American original who changed this country

Don Panoz died last week, aged 83, following a short illness. In a remarkable career which spanned nearly 60 years, Don’s business interests ranged from pharmaceuticals, golf, luxury resorts in the US, Scotland and Australia as well as motor sports, where he became a major and influential figure.

In 1969, Don with his wife Nancy and their five children arrived in Ireland where he established the company that became Élan Corporation, the first ...