Whitehall Route UPS Driver Embraces Early Retirement

He’s the friendly face you see most days as your many Amazon packages and whatnot are delivered right to your door, but as of October 6, Sean Byrnes will be resting and relaxing in retirement.

Whitehall/Cardwell UPS route driver for the last five years, Byrnes is ready to take it easy after 29 years with the package delivery giant.

A career with UPS wasn’t his intention when he applied to be a Christmas driver in 1993, but almost three decades later, he’s happy with where UPS led him.

“It provided for my family and turned into a career I wasn’t expecting,” Byrnes said, adding he was pursued for management and even served as a shop steward, representing his union for eleven years.

“I really took pride in helping others, helping them learn their contracts. I was able to bridge the gap between the Teamsters and the employee.”

While Byrnes admits he will miss his route and the people, he also admits it's time to take some time for himself, and his health specifically. Besides dealing with MS for the last 25 years, a bout with COVID pneumonia in 2021, and a severe shoulder injury, Byrnes was diagnosed earlier this year with prostate cancer; though, with his attitude, you would never know it. Earlier this year he went through five and half weeks of radiation treatments and continued to work through it all.

“I’m looking forward to focusing on my health and myself and my family,” he said, adding that he’s looking forward to being “Mr. Mom” at home for once and also enjoying his first Christmas not working in 29 years. “I’m ready for it!”