WATERBURY, Conn. - Davis Rawal, founder of Rawal Devices Inc., passed away July 21. He was 85. The company manufactures and distributes a refrigeration control that was invented and patented by Rawal. "His development of the APR Control has resulted in a new technology in the application of enhanced hot gas bypass controls," the company said.

"Davis viewed life as an adventure to be enjoyed, and he lived accordingly," said his son, Richard Rawal.

Rawal enlisted in the Marines in 1938 and was injured while serving in Cuba. Upon discharge, he became a radio officer in the Merchant Marines. He served on the PQ convoys to Murmansk, Russia, and later in the Pacific and Mediterranean. He was aboard the SS Oklahoma when it became one of the last victims of a German torpedo in the Atlantic, and he survived 17 days in a life raft, said his son. When he was rescued, Rawal found out that the war was over.

He met and married Phyllis Davidson of Boston in 1952. They settled in Waterbury, where Rawal was active in community activities such as the Waterbury Symphony and youth and adult ice hockey at his skating rink, Iceland Arena.

Rawal is survived by his son Richard, daughter Claudia Morris, and granddaughter Amelia Morris.

In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that donations be made to Israel's national emergency medical service, Magen David Adom (www.afmda.org), or to Animals for Life (www.animalsforlifect.org).

Publication date: 08/14/2006