Peter G. Gavankar was born, January 21, 1938, in Kolhapur, India, a city located in the southwest corner of Maharashtra. He passed away Jan. 22, 2012, after a brief battle with cancer. He arrived in the United States in 1960 with only eight dollars, one suit and a scholarship to study electrical engineering at the Milwaukee School of Engineering. After graduating in 1963, he moved to Joliet, Ill., where he founded Rockdale Controls Inc., the company he ran for 42 years. Peter’s innovations at Rockdale were numerous, including developing the controls for soft-serve ice cream machines, Mr. Coffee and a “classified” item for NASA’s Gemini project. Peter was artistic, as well as innovative. In 1983, he produced an Indian/Latin fusion album with his childhood friend and Bollywood composer, R.D. Burman. Peter was proud to be a U.S. citizen and often called his birth in India a geographical error. On the 50th anniversary of his arrival, he was honored by the U.S. Senate by having a flag fly over the U.S. Capitol. Peter achieved the American Dream and called his two daughters, Sonya Gavankar-McKay (Malcolm) and Janina Gavankar, his best inventions. In addition to his daughters, he is survived by his mother Susheela Gavankar; his wife of 40 years, Mohra Shahane Gavankar; brother Raja Gavankar (Monica) and sisters Kirti Rege (Promod); Nilu Gavankar and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. In regard to services, a private commitment ceremony has already been conducted. An opportunity to visit with the family will take place on Saturday, January 28, 2012, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. in the Caterpillar Room at the Joliet Area Historical Museum, 204 N. Ottawa Street, Joliet, IL. 60432.