I received this communications a short while ago. It is with the greatest sadness that I must announce this.
Diane Phelan
Message: Dear Anthony and the WUWT moderators:
I am the daughter of Robert Phelan and I unfortunately have some bad news to pass on. My father passed away suddenly last night from what we believe to be a heart attack. I know you had a party planned on the 18th. I would hate to say it’s cancelled because knowing my father, he would want the celebration to continue, but I’m hoping we could have a conversation first.
…
I’m so sorry to have to bring this news to you. He spoke of you often and with much respect and admiration.
Bob was the nicest and most helpful individual you could ever want to meet. I had met him twice, at two Heartland conferences, and we spoke over the phone often. He was tireless and dedicated to helping us all here, he was very helpful to me, and we’ve all lost a dear friend. Many of you knew him by his signature [REP].
I can tell you this was like a kick in the stomach for me. I loved Bob like a brother. He was always quick with a laugh and easy to talk with. He was fair, and honest, and good. My last communications with him was yesterday morning, and as usual, it was a message to help me with something about WUWT, passing along an important comment that I might otherwise have missed due to the volume.
I spoke with Diane Phelan his daughter, today, and I have conveyed my deepest sympathy to her and to the family. Details on funeral or other arrangements are obviously uncertain right now, and I will pass them along on this thread as I have them. I’ll also post a photo and official obituary when I have them.
As for the WUWT East Coaster’s picnic planned at Bob’s house on the 18th, – I don’t know at this point. One day at a time.
Bob was a lecturer at Eastern Connecticut State University in Sociology, Anthropology & Social Work. He understood people well, which is what made him such a great asset as a lead moderator at WUWT. To say he will be missed here, is an understatement.
The header of WUWT goes to a black band now, to honor and mourn his passing.
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UPDATE: A site for donations to help cover funeral costs will be made available in a day or two. I’ll announce that here when it is ready. – Anthony
UPDATE2: 8/11/12 6:30PM PST
The wake is this Wed, August 15th from 4-8p at the Cody-White Funeral Home (right off the Milford MetroNorth stop) 107 Broad St., Milford, CT 06460.
The funeral is this Thurs., August 16th at 10:30 am at St. Mary’s Church, 70 Gulf St. Milford, CT. The interment will be at St Mary’s Cemetery immediately following.
Full obituary here
The link to the memorial fund site set up is:
http://www.giveforward.com/therobertphelanmemorialfund
There’s lot of new pictures of Bob there. Please take a moment to look and consider helping.
The Phelan family asked me if I would ask your to donate to the memorial fund in lieu of flowers. I am happy to do so, especially after learning of this below.
I received this update from his daughter Diane Phelan, when I inquired where Bob was when he was stricken:
To answer your question, my father was found at his study desk, where we often found him asleep! He had very likely fallen asleep moderating the blog, or doing some related research.
…
As I probably mentioned to you, he most likely didn’t feel it and it was quick and peaceful for him, something I am grateful for and it’s what he would have wanted.
Thank you for any considerations you can offer. I have made a significant contribution myself. – Anthony
My deepest condolences to Anthony and to Bob’s family, I was looking forward to meeting everyone on the 18th.
@Mike Lorrey – unsure on the status of that at this point, will advise – Anthony
I never know what to say at times like this. Condolences.
Dan
Deepest condolences to his family and friends – RIP Robert Phelan.
Someone who gives their time to pursue the truth for a better world walks with the greats. REP will be amongst good company – “The ideals which have lighted my way, and time after time have given me new courage to face life cheerfully, have been Kindness, Beauty, and Truth…” Albert Einstein.
From an Australian who sends condolences to REP’s family and friends.
One of the attributes that keep bringing me back to WUWT is the fair and thoughtful moderation of the comments. I knew that there were a group helping Anthony with this momentous task but did not know who the initials belonged to in most cases. It is really sad for me to learn more about this helpful fair minded person having passed away. I am thankful that he contributed as he did. I am sure that history will applaud the contribution that this blog has had to rational debate on the internet – long may it continue!
Robert Phelan will be listed up there with those that made it possible.
Just sent my donation. On June 13th, I lost my father to lung cancer, which metastasized to his bones and eventually his brain. It was incredibly difficult to go through. I fondly remember the kindness of others in that time of my life, so it is the least I can do to donate. I wish I could help more.
I notice none of the prominent warmist denizens have offered anything on this thread. On another thread, “LazyTeenager” just called us all “schizophrenic” so I’ve given him a week time out to think about his humanity. If the situation were reversed, I think Bob would do the same, but maybe not have been so curt. I’m pretty upset right now, so let this be a warning to anyone who wants to act like children and hurl insults this week. My tolerance level for this sort of stuff is subzero right now. When things settle down, I’ll do my best to be more tolerant.
May I suggest a time of silence on the blog in REP’s memory?
Anthony Watts says:
August 11, 2012 at 7:02 pm
I notice none of the prominent warmist denizens have offered anything on this thread. On another thread, “LazyTeenager” just called us all “schizophrenic” so I’ve given him a week time out to think about his humanity. If the situation were reversed, I think Bob would do the same, but maybe not have been so curt. I’m pretty upset right now, so let this be a warning to anyone who wants to act like children and hurl insults this week. My tolerance level for this sort of stuff is subzero right now.
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A good example is never bad to follow.
Wherever we go when we go, none of us will be the first to get there. I’m sure he’s in good company. Meanwhile here in the physical realm, REPs interactions have definitely influenced me and he will echo through me to others and through all of us to the end of time. Rest in piece Robert Phelan and thank you for each and every instance of your contributions to our universe.
@ur momisugly Diane Phelan: I am so sorry for your loss. Thanks for notifying us at WUWT.
It is said that the best legacy a man can leave his children is a good name. You are blessed. 🙂
Add me to the list of people who didn’t realize REP was a single entity. My condolences to his family and friends.
In my view there is no greater honour than to die in battle!! This is what I feel Robert Phelan was doing. We must be vigilante for the truth as corruption is always at the ready.
“I will see you again, but not yet, …….not yet,….” – Gladiator
REP chided me once- oh, so gently and with a dash of good humor- because I was being rough on trolls. With those knowing words of his, I became less of a flamethrower, (usually) remembering that REP was setting a very high standard and was a living example of a true gentleman, even in anonymity.
Very sad news. Condolences to his family.
I hope it’s not out of place to note that it is “interment”, not “internment”.
IanM
A truly sad occasion. My condolences to the family, who are sadly left to deal with the loss.
My condolences to the family of REP, as well as to his colleagues in this fair and very valuable blog.
As I am older than he was I will share my perspective with the young ones following the blog:
A professor of mine and a good friend, who now at 80 is getting ready to leave this reality in a drawn out and painful way, about 20 years ago said something that has remained vivid in my mind:
When I was young, I would hear of people dying and it was as if I was hearing the sound of battle far ahead. Now they have started falling left and right of me, and I know I am in the front lines.
It is a wide and long front and we, the over sixties, are there.
Very very sad, but his family should be able to feel some comfort in knowing that he not only passed away peacefully, but seems to have done so while doing the work and fighting for the kind of cause he was committed to in his life. We can only hope that when our times come, they come as well.
– Michael
I am sorry to hear this.I often thought how nice he seemed.Condolences to his family,and to you Anthony,you have lost years of friendship with a good man.
Anthony Watts says:
August 11, 2012 at 7:02 pm
How could you think you were intolerant? A month ban for Lazy Teenager would have been appropriate. You owe him nothing. Commenting is a privilege. A very long ban from commenting would have sent a signal that decency matters.
Do tell us how you came to choose Bob to moderate. It would seem that he had disposition you admired. Anything you can share will help us know him better. When time allows, perhaps a post of some of REP’s posts would illustrate what we’ll miss most.
We all appreciate the contributions of the REP family – those must be remembered too for Robert gave freely of time he could have spent with them.
Robert gave us a good example of the higher nature we all possess but may not exercise as much. A volunteer in the service of honest engagement, he ensured there was a space for anyone willing to be reasonably civil to hold forth their views.
Moderation of a blog is largely thankless but Dianne, I want you to know that we are acutely aware of the nature of the father you have lost and to whom you must soon bid your final farewell. We raise our pens in salute to one who was wise with words and a professional judge of robust debate.
It is in times like these that, as one of our front ranks has fallen, another must step into the breach, take up that same sword and wield it with as much finesse. So high was the standard he set to even try will require us to envision him in his celestial glory calling us to action, leading by example.
Let not grief overcome you. May your hearts be serene and calm in the coming days as we celebrate a life dedicated to the upliftment of the human family. Long may his memory linger on our lips.
Sincerely
Crispin
anna v says:
August 11, 2012 at 9:04 pm
> It is a wide and long front and we, the over sixties, are there.
Some of the deaths that bother me the most happen to people my age. It’s a very harsh reminder that overall, only a 50% chance left me alive. So far, there haven’t been too many. Singer Karen Carpenter was one of the first, at age 32. The most recent was astronaut Sally Ride, someone who was high on my list of people I’d like to meet.
Bob was two years older than me, so not only is there the void here, there’s also a new void only an uncomfortably close couple ranks ahead of me.
A fine man doing fine work when he passed. Who could ask for more of a heritage? “May flights of angels guide thee to thy rest.”