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BYRNE, John Drennan

BYRNE, John Drennan[1, 2]

Male 1904 - 1989  (84 years)


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  • Name BYRNE, John Drennan 
    Birth 11 Apr 1904  Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [1] 
    Baptism 5 Nov 1904  First Congregational Church, Lincoln and Center Streets, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [3] 
    Gender Male 
    Hobbies Ham Radio as teen and again post-retirement. Clock repair was also an interest and skill! 
    		 wb6duf-john-byrne
    A “QSL” card for John D Byrne. Amateur radio operators would send to one another to confirm a conversation (and send greetings). John collected dozens of these.
    HONO Paul Harris Fellow, Rotary Foundation, May 1974 
    		 john-d-byrne-paul-harris-fellow
    The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International

    John D Byrne
    is hereby named
    A Paul Harris Fellow
    In appreciation of tangible and significant assistance given for the furtherance of better understanding and friendly relations between peoples of the world.

    Date: May, 1974
    Obituary From the Santa Cruz Sentinel, 8 Jan 1989:

    John Drennan Byrne

    Private services will be held for John Drennan Byrne of Santa Cruz, who died Saturday after several months of declining health. He was 84.

    A Santa Cruz native, Mr. Byrne's family has lived in the area for more than 125 years. He was born in a house on Walnut Avenue and attended the original Mission Hill School and Santa Cruz High School.

    After graduation from Stanford University, Mr. Byrne joined the firm his father and uncle had founded, Byrne Bros. Hardware. The business closed in 1967, when the partners retired.

    From 1955 to 1971 Mr. Byrne was a member of the Santa Cruz Library Board, which oversaw the construction of both the main library downtown and the east-side branch.

    For 39 years Mr. Byrne was secretary of the Rotary Club of Santa Cruz. In 1972 he was named a Paul Harris Fellow, one of the highest honors of Rotary International.

    After his retirement, Mr. Byrne participated in the Local History Project at UCSC, identifying and cataloging photographs and other local historical material. He also returned to his hobby of amateur radio. He was a pioneer in amateur radio, using a spark-gap transmitter as a young man, and was a regular participant in the California weather network and the Professional Loafers Net. He also repaired old clocks.

    He is survived by his wife, Vivian E. Byrne of Santa Cruz; his daughter, Catherine B. Boxwell of Sunnyvale; his son, John A. Byrne of Palo Alto; his sisters, Barbara Byrne of Chula Vista, Louise B. Shreve of Menlo Park and Miriam B. Kerr of San Diego; his brother, Gilbert G. Byrne of Redwood City; four grandsons; and a great-grand-aughter.

    Private family services will be held at a later date. Arnold's Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Memorial contributions may be made to the Polio Plus Project through the Rotary Club of Santa Cruz, P.O. Box 497, 950610, or to a favorite charity.  [4] 
    Occupation Byrne Brothers Hardware, Santa Cruz, California. Worked for father and eventually purchased business. 
    Residence 1910  52 Walnut, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [5] 
    Residence 1920  28 Union Street (now 332), Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [6] 
    Residence 1930  Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [7] 
    Residence Feb 1933  396 Mission Street, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [8] 
    Cause of Death Urosepsis (sepsis) + Congestive Cardiac Failure  [9] 
    Burial Jan 1989  IOOF Cemetery, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz Co, CA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Death 7 Jan 1989  Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [1] 
    Person ID I126  Hugh Byrne and Nanette Asimov Lines
    Last Modified 1 Mar 2025 

    Father BYRNE, Walter Charles,   b. 16 Feb 1868, Jackson, Jackson Co, Michigan Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 22 Oct 1940, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California, USA Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 72 years) 
    Mother DRENNAN, Mabel Louise,   b. 21 Feb 1874, 45 Church Street, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, USA Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 15 Sep 1941, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California, USA Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 67 years) 
    Marriage 6 Jun 1899  Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [10, 11, 12, 13] 
    • Samuel Drennan House on Church Street
    Notes 
    • San Francisco Call, June 7, 1899:

      Walter C. Byrne and Miss Mabel Drennan were married this morning at the home of the bride's mother, Mrs. Louisa Drennan.

      The interior of the home presented a beautiful appearance. The back parlor, where the ceremony was solemnized, was decorated with festoons of smilax, woodwardia ferns and the pure white wax lily, which was the only flower used. The main parlor was decorated with sweet peas. The young couple stood in the bay-win-dow and the beautiful Episcopal service was road by Rev. James B. Orr of the First Congregational Church. The bride was gowned in a silk dress of blue— the same one used by her mother at her wedding. Miss Drennan was attended by her sister, Miss Dora Drennan, and Mr. Byrne by Thomas G. McCreary. A wedding breakfast followed the ceremony. The tables had been placed in the lawn under the trees, and in this natural garden spot with the addition of immense clusters of azaleas the breakfast was enjoyed.

      Mrs. Byrne is a native of Santa Cruz and a graduate of the local high school and the State Normal School. For a number of years she has taught in the Santa Cruz schools.

      Mr. Byrne is a member of the firm of Byrne Bros. [13]
    Photos
    Documents
    Family ID F58  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family EBI, Vivian Irene,   b. 19 Nov 1907, Hollister, San Benito, California, USA Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 20 May 1999, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California, USA Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 91 years) 
    Marriage 17 Nov 1929  Stanford Memorial Church, Palo Alto, Santa Clara, California, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [1] 
    		John D Byrne - Vivian Irene Ebi wedding announcment
    Santa Cruz Sentinel Social column
    Children 
     1. BYRNE, John Austin,   b. 21 Feb 1933, Santa Cruz Hospital, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California, USA Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 28 Jan 1993, Nojoqui Falls, Solvang, Santa Barbara, CA Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 59 years)
     2. BYRNE, Catherine
    Photos
    At least one living or private individual is linked to this item - Details withheld.
    Family ID F60  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 15 Mar 2025 

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBirth - 11 Apr 1904 - Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California, USA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsBaptism - 5 Nov 1904 - First Congregational Church, Lincoln and Center Streets, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, USA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - 1910 - 52 Walnut, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, USA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - 1920 - 28 Union Street (now 332), Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, USA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMarriage - 17 Nov 1929 - Stanford Memorial Church, Palo Alto, Santa Clara, California, USA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - 1930 - Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California, USA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - Feb 1933 - 396 Mission Street, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA USA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsBurial - Jan 1989 - IOOF Cemetery, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz Co, CA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDeath - 7 Jan 1989 - Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California, USA Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth 
    Pin Legend  : Address       : Location       : City/Town       : County/Shire       : State/Province       : Country       : Not Set

  • Photos
    At least one living or private individual is linked to this item - Details withheld.

    Documents
    		Closing of Byrne Brothers Hardware
    May 1966
    "Santa Cruz Old Timers Going Out of Business"
    One of Santa Cruz's oldest business firms, Byrne Brothers Hardware, is closing out its books after more than 70 years of continuous operations, it was announced yesterday.
    John Byrne and Roy Mayfield, partners in the store since 1930, said details of the close-out sale will be announced Thursday.
    Byrne Brothers was established in 1894, when two Michigan brothers, George G. and Walter C. Byrne, arrived in Santa Cruz and bought a tinsmith and woodstore. The original location was on Pacific avenue near the present site of Santa Cruz Savings and Loan.
    The business prospered, and in 1905 the firm was moved up the street to its present location at 1531 Pacific ave - 16 Pacific ave in those days. The firm included not only hardware sales, but a plumbing and sheet metal department. The shops behind the store, finally disappeared in 1958, when a city parking lot took over the land.
    Mayfield, a native of Tennessee, has been with Byrne Brother for all his business life, joining the firm in 1916. He and John Byrne bought an interest in the company in 1930, buying out the share of George Byrne. The partners in 1930 were Mayfield, Byrne, and John's father, Walter Byrne, one of the founders. An active partner was Helen Byrne, widow of the other founder, George G. Byrne.
    For more than 50 years, the store has provided free scales for friends and customers dropping in. An old-style beam platform scale was first used, the sort with sliding weights. Later the Toledo dial scales were installed still in use, regularly tested and sealed for accuracy.
    Byrne said neither he nor Mayfield has made plans beyond the closing sale. Once the stock is sold out, they hope to sell the building and site, he said.
    Another old-timer about the store is a pickup truck which Byrne described as "of this generation" -- a 1939 truck with the original paint and lettering on it. The truck is still in regular use.

    Histories
    		Santa Cruz Boy Talks With Hawaii; Pleasures oF Radio
    Santa Cruz Evening News Article, featuring John D Byrne

  • Sources 
    1. [S33] Hugh Byrne Notes, Date of Import: Feb 20, 2005.

    2. [S35] Ancestry.com, California Death Index, 1940-1997, (Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2000), Ancestry.com. California Death Index, 1940-1997. [database online] Provo, UT: Ancestry.com, 2000. Original electronic data: State of California. California Death Index, 1940-1997. Sacramento, CA: State of California Department of Health Services, Center for Health Statistics, 19--.

    3. [S258] Records from First Congregational Church, First Congregational Church of Santa Cruz California Records Index 1852-1975, (1990, Santa Cruz Genealogical Society), Byrne, John Drennan, Baptised 11/5/1904, Parents Mr. & Mrs. W C, Pg. 4, Births.

    4. [S1257] John Drennan byrne.

    5. [S14] Ancestry.com, 1910 United States Federal Census, (Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2006), Online publication - Ancestry.com. 1910 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2006. For details on the contents of the film numbers, visit the following NARA web page: NARA.Original data - United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Thirteenth Census of the United States, 1910. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 19.

    6. [S15] Ancestry.com, 1920 United States Federal Census, (Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2005), Online publication - Ancestry.com. 1920 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2005. For details on the contents of the film numbers, visit the following NARA web page: NARA. Note: Enumeration Districts 819-839 on roll 323 (Chicago City.Original data - United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Fourteenth Census of the United Stat.

    7. [S17] Ancestry.com, 1930 United States Federal Census, (Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2002), Online publication - Ancestry.com. 1930 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2002.Original data - United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Fifteenth Census of the United States, 1930. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1930.T626, 2,667 rolls. Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California, ED 1, roll 215, page , image 248.0.

    8. [S1225] John Drennan Byrne, John Austin Byrne Birth Annoucement.

    9. [S1256] John Drennan Byrne Certificate of Death.

    10. [S258] Records from First Congregational Church, First Congregational Church of Santa Cruz California Records Index 1852-1975, (1990, Santa Cruz Genealogical Society), Byrne, Walter C, Resident S. Cruz, Married 6/6/1899, Drennan, Mabel L, Marriages, P 36.

    11. [S116] Santa Cruz Daily Surf, Jun 6, 1899, pg 4. col. 3.

    12. [S262] Santa Cruz Evening News, Santa Cruz Evening News, Sep 16, 1941, P5 C 3: In this city she was married to Walter C. Byrne. The wedding was at the family home on Church street.

    13. [S536] Byrne-Drennan Nuptials.


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