Fluidra North America is saddened to share the news of the passing of Andrew A. Pansini Jr., former President of Jandy Industries and a pioneering force in the pool and spa industry. Andy, known for his vision, leadership and entrepreneurial spirit, played a defining role in shaping the Jandy brand and the advancement of pool technology.
The son of Jandy founder and the world’s first-ever automatic pool cleaner inventor, Andrew L. Pansini, Andy Jr. joined the company in the early 1970s and quickly made his mark. Under his leadership, Jandy expanded beyond cleaners to include groundbreaking innovations like the Jandy valve, pool controllers and waterfalls. At the time, Vance Gillette was leading Sales and Marketing at Jandy, and together, they turned the company into one of the most recognized and respected brands in the industry.
Among Andy’s greatest contributions was his vision for automation. By 1995, Jandy led the market with its Ji Series controllers, but Andy saw the opportunity for something greater: a fully integrated system to control the complete pool environment. He made the bold decision to replace Jandy’s best-selling controller with an entirely new platform.
Dave Nibler, now VP General Manager of Commercial Pool at Fluidra North America, was asked to lead that development and recalls:
“Andy told me he was prepared to make a major investment in the project—something that was no small commitment for our company at the time. I reminded him we already had the industry’s leading controller. Without hesitation, he said, ‘If we don’t, one of our competitors will.”
That product became the AquaLink RS, launched in 1996. Nearly 30 years later, it remains the leading pool automation system — an enduring testament to Andy’s foresight.
Andy was also a storyteller, authoring Fathers of Invention in 2017 to document the Pansini family’s entrepreneurial legacy. He continued to reflect on leadership, growth and innovation in subsequent works.
Today, the Jandy brand is a cornerstone of Fluidra’s portfolio, following Zodiac’s acquisition of Jandy and the 2018 merger with Fluidra. Andy’s legacy lives on in the products we build and the innovations we pursue.
We extend our deepest sympathies to the Pansini family and our sincere gratitude for Andy’s enduring contributions. His leadership helped shape the foundation of modern pool technology, and his impact will continue to resonate across our industry for years to come.
