gistfile1.scala

  val databaseUrl = "postgresql://some-hostname:5432/db-name"

  Class.forName("my.sql.database.driver.classname")

  class BasicJdbcActor(connFac: () => Connection) extends Actor {
    lazy val conn = connFac()

    override def preRestart(why: Throwable, msg: Option[Any]): Unit = 
      try { conn.close() }
    
    def receive = {
      case anything => throw new Exception("Where's my implementation?")
    }
  }

  def connFac = () => DriverManager.getConnection(databaseUrl)

  def makeMeAnActor(sys: ActorSystem): ActorRef = 
    sys.actorOf(Props(new BasicJdbcActor(connFac)))