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
Got whacked by REP more than once-and deserved it. He will be missed. prayers and
condolences…
All I can say is you have our condolences for your loss. Very sad to hear this.
loss of a funny, but serious, very dedicated gentleman.
My condolences to family and friends, RIP REP.
Robert (REP) Phelan
Fair, considerate, witty
Everything a good moderator needs to be.
Sadly missed.
Terrible news indeed, he will assuredly be missed.
My sincerest condolences to his family, and all his friends.
RIP
Upon recovering from the shock of suddenly losing her father, Diane Phelan worries about inconveniencing others. She is her fathers daughter.
A great loss indeed. I always enjoyed Robert’s short and often amusing moderation comments. Our prayers and sympathy go out to his family and friends. R.I.P., Robert Phelan.
Heartfelt condolences to the Phelan family. He will be missed.
Vale REP, thank you for your contribution towards free speech and the dissemination of truth.
🙁 So sad.
Condolences to family and friends who I hope will soon learn to enjoy memories of the good times more than suffer any regrets.
How awful! Though I was not able to attend the party, I was delighted to discover, via his responses in the ‘invitation’ thread, that he was once a brakeman on the old New Haven Railroad, and I was looking forward to meeting with him at some point and learning more about his railroad experiences. Now I just learned we had some anthropology in our backgrounds, as well.
Sorry as I am to have lost the chance of meeting, I am also dismayed at the loss of his talents on this blog, his always-gentle remonstrances with wayward commenters, always ready with a quip. I can only imagine how devastating this must be for his family. My deepest sympathies to them.
/Mr Lynn
His work as a moderator here was appreciated by all, and it’s invaluable work which has made this place the one for a courteous exchange of viewpoints, that we all enjoy.
RIP Robert, condolences to your family, and may they find some comfort even in the shock of his death, in knowing how greatly valued he was, by so many
Rest in Peace Robert.
My condolences to your family.
Your contribution will be missed.
My Prayers go out to his family; may they be granted “The peace that passeth all understanding”.
Requiesce in pace REP and condolences to his family
Bob Phelan, as REP, was a calm steadying presence here at WUWT. Never snappish, always good-humored. An honorable guy in a heated climate. A rare breed.
Sad
Vale, Bob Phelan. He and his work will be very sadly missed
This is such sad news to learn of the loss of a key member of the community that has formed here. My most sincere condolences to the Phelan family, his local community as well as to the other mods, readers who Bob has assisted, and Mr Watts. So long, REP, rest easy.
We pray that God welcomes Robert into a place of light and peace.
Horrible news. I will miss his polite comments on here, always followed by [REP]. You could tell he was a fair and decent man.
Tears are in my eyes. REP was a wonderful human being. He will be missed.
Wow … a bit of a shocker! Condolences and RIP REP. _Jim
Reblogged this on evilincandescentbulb and commented:
“He is a great average man; one who, to the best thinking, adds a proportion and equality in his faculties, so that men see in him their own dreams and glimpses made available and made to pass for what they are. A great common-sense is his warrant and qualification to be the world’s interpreter. He has reason, as all the philosophic and poetic class have: but he has also what they have not,- this strong solving sense to reconcile his poetry with the appearances of the world, and build a bridge from the streets of cities to the Atlantis. (Emerson)