Andrew Pansini, inventor of the first automatic swimming pool cleaner in 1957, died of natural causes Nov. 4 at his Belvedere home.

His invention came about as a solution to the never ending task of cleaning his own home’s swimming pool. One day he accidentally dropped a garden hose in the pool and saw it swishing back and forth, giving him the idea for an automatic swimming pool cleaner.

Mr. Pansini developed a prototype and soon, a commercial pool cleaner built with a float that traveled along the surface of a swimming pool with an attached hose, which moved with jet propulsion.

His invention will live on forever. If you are interested in purchasing an automatic pool cleaner or need pool cleaning services, contact the technicians of Texas Pool Sharks in McAllen at 956-782-1515.