Sam Taliaferro loses his final battle

Sam Taliaferro, inventor, developer,  entrepreneur community activist, and the man who created Valle Econdido in Boquete, died Wednesday morning, February 17.

He was diagnosed with advanced throat cancer in early 2009, and with his ever optimistic outlook on life, thought he had it beaten and he fought to the end.
During his life Sam developed and patented numerous technologies used by Fortune 100 companies and he built several manufacturing operations to produce the technologies.
At the turn of the century he came up with the idea of creating, a residential resort community in the mountain highlands of Panama that would appeal to those looking for an exotic yet first world lifestyle.

As the project grew it was rated one of the top five best lifestyle values in the world by Fortune Magazine in 2005 and his success was a major factor in Panama’s real estate boom in the years that followed
Sam and his wife Thalia also operated the Valle Escondido resort Golf & Spa in the center of the residential project.
He was respected, even feared by government institutions, for his outspoken views on tourism and development, and how tourist dollars were allocated and spent. He had proved his points many times over.
They have three sons living in Panama and Sam has two daughters by a previous marriage, living in the U.S.
Sam's ashes will be placed in the chapel at Valle Escondido on, February 18 at 2 p.m. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, February 19 at 2:00 p.m. at the Catholic church on main street in Boquete.