1922-2003

Inventor. Born in the Bronx to Swiss immigrant parents, studied mechanical engineering, but left school before taking his degree, and opened a small machine shop to produce war supplies for the Allies. In 1948 he designed the first aerosol valve which could be cheaply mass produced. With two partners he founded the Precision Valve Corporation, which became the world leader in the design and production of aerosol valves, and set up plants in a number of foreign countries. He was also a member of President Nixon's kitchen cabinet, an unofficial circle of friends and advisers, who also included evangelist Billy Graham, and Florida banker "Bebe" Rebozo.