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
Warriors: do not die, just pause.
REP is missed and leaves big shoes
“Here’s to the hands and hearts of the men who come with the dust and are gone with the wind”
Sincerest condolences to his family and Anthony
Condolences to family, and to friends. As a long time reader on this site, I have enjoyed REP’s moderations. He will be missed, RIP. Please pass on a word of thanks for all that he did here.
A great loss. Robert’s initials are very familiar to me from moderated comments over the years. Very sad.
This is a tremendous loss to both his family and this community. You do not always get to know people as well as you would like online but my interactions with him were always professional. Moderation is an unglamorous and tedious job but without it you would have chaos here and I have a deep respect for those who volunteer their time to make a community like this successful. While he would likely want the party to continue, I would suggest it would be easier on his family to have someone else host it at a different location. BTW, Anthony do you know how old he was?
REP will be missed – my thought are with all his family and friends.
That’s terrible news. I’m sorry for his family.
condolences
Sorry to hear this sad news.My sincere condolences to the family and his many friends.He will be deeply missed.RIP Mr Phelan.
Reminds us to live each day at its fullest.
May we all find ways to benefit society as REP did.
Phelan is a good Irish name, so here’s a tribute to departed fathers like Robert from my friends The Elders.
Reblogged this on gottadobetterthanthis and commented:
Reblogging on my site can make no statistical difference, but I can, and I will. I am sorry for this loss. My condolences to all, especially the Phelan family. Thank you Ms. Phelan for letting us know, and thanks to Anthony for posting.
When I lost my father, a short Charlie Peackock song comforted me. It still brings a tear to my eye when I hear it.
It just happened again, I wanted to call you up
I wanted your opinion about something
It’s funny how I valued it so little before
And now that I can’t have it, I value it more
Why didn’t God let me know? I could have had pleaded your case
With Christmas around the corner
He’d have seen it was bad timing and in poor taste
But He didn’t ask me and I didn’t know
It was your time to go
Couldn’t cuss, couldn’t cry, couldn’t crawl
Threw my hands up in the face of it all
So this is what it’s like to be the child
Of a man who’s dead and gone
Well, the next time I see him it will be in a different light
When we look at each other all we’ll see is what’s right
And if I am indeed my father’s crown, I will lay my body down
At the feet of my Savior and I will sing forever
With the perfection my father so desired
Every note in tune, every rhythm flawless
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah!
[Charlie Peacock]
RIP REP
My condoleances. RIP
I too, while not knowing Robert, will miss his periodic comments. It is a sad day, WUWT will feel a bit empty for a while… I am sorry for his family and wish them strength through the coming days
A fine example of Robert at his best:
http://wattsupwiththat.com/2012/06/11/climate-skeptic-instructor-fired-from-oregon-state-university/#comment-1008302
“”[REPLY: Your restraint, undoubtedly in the face of intolerable provocation, is appreciated. -REP]”
This is perhaps the most impressive moderation note I’ve ever seen.
Restraint is the most important human quality.”
How very sad! My sympathies to his family and friends.
Robert Phelan – Yes, many around the world now know he has contributed greatly to the health of this world. Borrowing from that dynamo Benjamin Franklin: ‘…now it’s up to you to keep it.’. Let us continue Robert’s efforts promoting civil, yet spirited, debating and developing of revealed obvious through intricately nuanced ‘truths of nature’ so that we, and our progeny, can better appreciate our worlds. My thanks and appreciation to all connected with this WUWT interweb ‘family’ and especially, at this time, to the Phelan family. Our future has been made more hopeful through Robert Phelan.
My commiseration.
Thanks Anthony for honoring him with the blank band.
Diane, in our struggle to find the truth your father was out in front helping to light the path. May we all be together someday when we achieve our final rest. Blessings to you and your family. Doug Sherman, Vallejo Ca.
Thanks Bob.
We’re winning and part of the reason we are winning is that we’ve stayed out of the mud. REP helped make that happen.
REP had the gifts of wit and grace.
I will miss him.
To his family: I share your sorrow.
My sincere condolences. WUWT is a community, and one I’ve always felt welcome at. They say in sports that the best ref is one you don’t notice, but clearly that doesn’t apply here, as Mr. Phelan was noticed and appreciated by all. WUWT is richer for having known him, and now poorer for losing him.
“Many of you knew him by his signature [REP]”
Indeed so. I marvelled often at the self-control and politeness he displayed when dealing with *some* comments. Condolences to his family and eveyone who knew him.
I am so sorry to hear this.