February 27, 2016 - 09:56 AMT
Philanthropist, inventor Alfred E. Mann dies at 90

Philanthropist Alfred E. Mann, an entrepreneur and inventor whose wide-ranging business endeavors included aerospace, pharmaceuticals, electronic circuitry and biomedical research, has died. He was 90, the Associated Press reports.

His death on Thursday, Feb 25, was announced by MannKind Corp., where Mann served as chairman of the Valencia, California-based company from 2001 to earlier this month.

The son of an immigrant grocer, Mann amassed his fortune through founding a string of companies. His pioneering work included development of the first rechargeable pacemaker and inhalable insulin.

He started out in aerospace, where his firms developed solar cells, semiconductors and other technologies for America's military and space programs.

Photo: NYT