Robert Byrne, 68; Longtime Former Owner of Carpets West

Robert ‘Bob’ William Byrne, a former resident of Pacific Palisades and owner of Carpets West for 37 years, passed away on May 2 at the age of 68.   Born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on December 27, 1942, Bob enjoyed his childhood years playing pond hockey and summering at Sandy Pond. As a young man, he had the ladies waiting in line for the next dance and established friendships that would last throughout his lifetime.   His parents, John and Evelyn Byrne, relocated to Pacific Palisades when Bob was 18. He soon followed, attending Santa Monica City College before enlisting in the U.S. Army in 1963 and serving three years as company clerk in a helicopter division stationed in Nuremburg, Germany.   Upon his return, Bob began working at Heirloom Carpet in Santa Monica. In 1970, he purchased Carpets West on Via de la Paz in the Palisades, which he owned and operated until 2007.   Bob possessed uncanny skills in customer service and was known for treating his customers like longtime friends. He took pride in doing quality work for both new and longtime Palisadians and professionals in the entertainment industry.   Bob’s community activities included annual sponsorship of countless local events, such as the Fourth of July parade, and membership in the Palisades Lions Club and Chamber of Commerce. His daughter attended Corpus Christi School, where his parents were longtime parishioners.   Bob loved to travel, golf and fish. What he loved most was time spent laughing and visiting with close friends and relatives. He will be remembered dearly for his loyalty and generosity and will be greatly missed as the ‘the life of the party.’   He is survived by his daughter, Brenna Shawn Byrne, who lives and works in Sebastopol, California, and by his brother Jack Byrne, Jack’s wife Annabelle and their two sons, Jack and Mike, all of whom reside in and around Lunenburg, Massachusetts.   A gathering will be held in Bob’s honor and memory at his home in Marina del Rey at 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 14.