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.
###
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
Yes, mods:
typo: internment = imprisonment
interment = burial
May I suggest a time of silence on the blog in REP’s memory?
I am speaking out of turn, perhaps, since I never met Mr. Phelan personally. But what I saw of [REP] on this blog, he was not in favor of silence. Civility seemed to be what he sought, not silence.
Google “whattsupwiththat REP]” to appreciate a fine man leaving a lasting contribution to our lives.
🙁
I know it’s lame, but it’s what I got.
Robert will be missed, possibly by more than even he knew.
Didn’t know him. Never met him. But it was plain to see he was a good and honest man from his even handed moderation. He gave all sides the chance to disagree with civility, and that was a precious thing. RIP REP.
Sincere condolences to Robert Phelan’s family and friends on the loss of a good man.
Obviously, it’s difficult to ‘know’ someone when we only see them in an online moderator sense – but he seems to have been a 100% sound guy. I would anticipate he will be sorely missed by friends and family and I offer my sincere condolences to all of them.
Too young, too soon, sadly. I have never met Bob nor conversed with him, but I feel
some of the atmosphere, flavour, and good will of WUWT is his contribution. And
that is a precious thing, indeed.
My sincere condolences and best wishes to his family, and to those who knew him.
My condolences goes out to the family and friends of Mr. Phelan, I feel for your loss as you would for me.
That he worked as a volunteer, in a noble form of altruism, to contribute to the spread of knowledge and truth for indirectly the well-being of civilization, speaks highly of him and makes his death only all the more a tragedy.
It’s the moderation that sets the tone of a site – from the heavy-handed version, that doesn’t allow any dissent; to ones that have only snark for any visitors or ridicule for any other site; and those that change a comment to make themselves look good.
We saw none of that here.
If [REP] leaves us a legacy, his moderation gave us a site that allowed free and open discussion of both sides, where all visitors and regulars were allowed their say – within reason.
My sympathies to the Phelan family and Anthony, may your future work honour your friend; your past work with him has.
His work here showed he cared about science and the future to the end.
WUWT is still an outstanding leader and always I am aware that though Anthony is a ferocious worker second to none, he has also depended on members of our own “team” who are paid, what, about one thousandth or less that what the warmists earn. Or probably less. REP worked from retirement, like many of us do, because we care, and because this work is important. Yet I also want to see our expertise, as grandparents with serious work to do, passed on before it is lost to death.
I have put up the prayer and request that Robert Phelan’s memorial fund might be used to train others to do what he did with such grace – only, of course, if that seems right to his family. But I have the sneaky suspicion that this is what REP himself – from the other side – might want to see happening.
Condoleances.
Enjoy, The Great Gig in the Sky Mr Phelan [REP] .
Kipling put it much better than I could ever hope to in his poem. “To Wolcott Balestier”.
Here is a link for those who have never read it.
http://www.poetryloverspage.com/poets/kipling/to_wolcott_balestier.html
My sympathies and regards to the Phelan family, and friends. This is very sad news.
My sincere and heartfelt condolences to Robert’s family, friends,and the entire WUWT staff. [RIP REP]
My condolences. Robert’s moderation of this forum and, I suspect, his whole life, was, to quote a better writer than me, “eloquent, insightful and worthy of consideration.”
My condolences as well. I did not know many of the moderators well but I am certain he has responded to my posts in the past.
Poor Uncle REP, very saddened by this. He was good. Very sorry for your loss.
I will try to find time to make a contribution to his fund. Running me into the ground, or trying to lately. Not as large as I would like, unfortunately, as I am feeding and sheltering several un/under employed people having a tough time. Despite those ‘lack of sleep’ posts of mine REP occasionally snipped, I not only talk the talk but walk the politico-economic walks. I didn’t even have any kids of my own. Fires blanks, fortunately. Wife had a couple from previous marriage I helped her with.
Sorry if I made his job more difficult.
Deepest sympathies to all those impacted by REP’s sad and premature loss.
He will be missed, even by many who never knew him personally.
My condolences to his family and friends. May he rest in peace.
Sincere condolences to Robert Phelan’s family and friends.
Jim
Gee that is too bad. That he was a nice guy willing to listen to both sides of an issue even came through in his moderating — and moderating is a tough job to do well.
My condolences to his family and friends. It must be a big loss, and it also must have been a big gift to have known Robert in person.