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# Long-time business owner passes away
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/long-time-business-owner-passes-away/
- Published: 2007-12-15T16:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-24T04:25:02.000Z
- Author: Melody Hanatani
- Tags: Business, Pier, #archive-import

“We had a positive dialogue about the issues that we’ve each thought faced the community,” Zane said. “There’s no question in my mind he always gave me a good ear and a good discussion.”

Santa Monica Mayor Herb Katz met Gabriel in the early 1970s when the two were on opposite ends of a proposal to build an island and hotel off the Santa Monica Pier.

“Bob was for it and I was against it and we’ve been friends ever since,” Katz said on Friday. “(Gabriel) got himself involved in all kinds of issues and whatever it was, whether you agreed or disagreed, he was a total gentleman at all times.”

Gabriel was widely seen as a mentor to the business community. In 1954, the successful business owner took over the insurance company, which has been independently owned and operated since 1936.

Eddie Guerboian, the president of Readers Fine Jewelers, met Gabriel in 1967\. The two became good friends over the years and Gabriel served as a father figure to Guerboian, helping the jewelry store owner with advice on running the business.

“He was a pillar of the community,” Guerboian said on Friday. “He was a pillar for me in my personal life.”

Gabriel is survived by his wife Louise, children Gabriel Potter, Robert A. Gabriel and Sharyl Gabriel Sydlik, and three grandchildren.

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on December 15, 2007.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/121507.pdf?ref=smdp.com)