Police say death of Susan Byrne was accidental
By: Kara Fitzpatrick
Susan Byrne, daughter of former New Jersey Gov. Brendan Byrne, died Tuesday as a result of falling down a flight of stairs at Ricchard’s Shoes, 148 Nassau St.
Police said an investigation revealed that the death was accidental and a result of massive head trauma from falling backwards down the stairs.
"No foul play is suspected," Princeton Borough Police Lt. David Dudeck said. He said the autopsy revealed the death was consistent with a fall. He said Ms. Byrne had a large fracture on her skull and was found an estimated 10 to 12 hours after the fall.
The former governor recalled his daughter as a free-spirited person who enjoyed traveling.
"She loved to travel with me when I was governor, especially to governors’ conferences," he said. "I remember once we were in Washington, D.C. and had our picture taken together. It appeared on the front page of The Washington Post."
Ms. Byrne, an artistic photographer, made her living primarily as a commercial photographer for local real estate companies.
The former governor said his daughter was friendly and developed friendships easily. "She was very good friends with the governor of New Mexico," he recalled, adding that when that governor became ambassador to Argentina, she went to visit him and stayed in the embassy for a month.
Although Ms. Byrne didn’t graduate college, "she was a very smart girl," her father said. Although she was the only one of the former governor’s children who didn’t graduate from college, "She could have with great distinction," he said
Ms. Byrne’s obituary appears in the obituary section of this Web site.