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
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A sad day !
Very sad news. My condolences to his family and friends. We will miss him here at WUWT too in this on line family.
Condolences to this family and friend..
and all those touched by his presence.
A fair and true soul.
The testament to his skill and professionalism is that he did what is too often a thankless task, while largely remaining invisible to the masses … which is even more true with a topic with many partisan positions and opinions.
A community such as WUWT cannot survive, let alone thrive, without a steady, reasoned, hand on the tiller – and it is clear Robert was such a man.
I would hope the many comments here offer some comfort to his friends and family – that he was one who made a difference – a positive influence – in this world.
Gosh, I didn’t even realize “REP” was one individual’s initials. I am glad he was able to contribute so much to a good cause, and thankful as well. I wish the best to everyone who knew him personally. He no doubt had a positive effect on many lives if he was even a fraction as fair and dedicated “out there” as he was here.
I had not met Robert in person but have spoken to him on the phone many times. His concern for doing the right thing and making sure he was meticulous was unending.
We live in an unusual time of friendships forged via online forums.
It was the catalyst of online personalities that caused me to take the leap and meet Steve McIntyre, Anthony Watts, Steven Mosher, Willis Eschenbach, and others in person. I have been to South America with people I have met online (not dating services), at other boards. It has definitely been a privilege to have engaged and worked with Robert. I wish I could have added him to the list of those online personas that eventually came to my real life.
Unmoderated shock and sorrow, even though we all die at some point. At least, he died an accomplished man, leaving behind a stunningly beautiful afterlife — a transition not all of us will be lucky to make. Diane, be good to yourself.
We will all miss him.
I pray for Gods arms to uphold and surround his family and friends at this time.
Jams Bull
Very sad. Condolences and blessings to his family.
Condolences, like many I hadn’t had an identity to ‘REP’ as only one person till now, he will be missed…
It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we should thank God that such men lived. – George S, Patton.
and, imho, totally appropriate here. the world is a better place for him having been here, and we were all lucky to have interacted with him.
may his family and friends find solace in the knowledge that his life made a difference,
My wife passed similarly less than three weeks ago, she left copies of the following poem for her wake,
“Death is nothing at all
I have only slipped away into the next room
I am I and you are you
Whatever we were to each other
That we are still
Call me by my old familiar name
Speak to me in the easy way you always used
Put no difference into your tone
Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow
Laugh as we always laughed
At the little jokes we always enjoyed together
Play, smile, think of me, pray for me
Let my name be ever the household word that it always was
Let it be spoken without effort
Without the ghost of a shadow in it
Life means all that it ever meant
It is the same as it ever was
There is absolute unbroken continuity
What is death but a negligible accident?
Why should I be out of mind
Because I am out of sight?
I am waiting for you for an interval
Somewhere very near
Just around the corner
All is well.
Nothing is past; nothing is lost
One brief moment and all will be as it was before
How we shall laugh at the trouble of parting when we meet again!
Canon Henry Scott-Holland ”
The family celebrated her life at the Wake and until 5am. There was more laughter than tears.
That has supported me, I am sure he is still with you Diane, God Bless.
RIP [REP] ;(
Not many years ago the word Blog had not entered the English language. The concept of an internet moderator did not exist. It is a new profession, [even though it is often performed for free], with a role similar to that of editors or sub-editors in the printed press. REP was one of those who set the standard for this new profession, a standard that should be aspired to and held up as an example.
What does a moderator do? He moderates. It is at once a simple word, yet also a skill that does not come easily to many. Moderation is an attribute, a state of mind which speaks to the quality of the [often anonymous] human behind the initials. A human who is not seeking public recognition, reward, or congratulation for their efforts, and has the temper to not become inflamed by the opinions of others. When compared to REP, many moderators across the web appear to not even understand the word, and often appear to know virtually nothing about the subject content of the matter being discussed. They are merely censors, often with the mind of a village provost, destined for the greater obscurity awaiting them.
Because he worked on Watts Up With That, one of the most frequented web-sites, REP leaves behind a world wide legacy and reputation. Indeed, he was one of those partly responsible for the popularity of WUWT, and the world is better place for having people like him.
“IN the midst of life, we are in death”. My condolences to all.
My condolences to the friends and family of Robert.
Dear Dianne,
Thank you for writing and sharing the pleasure of knowing your father, a true friend and colleague to many dotted over this globe. It is so sad to hear this news of your father.
I never knew Bob, other than REP. Now I know know him to be a father, a great brother, scholar and friend cherished by many of the WUWT bloggers. And what teasing we tried of him as we type from all corners of the globe, and admiration for his never ending and always kindly admonishing to our cheekiness as we tried to slip through with a comment or two. REP (Bob) will be greatly missed.
Vale and the very best wishes to you, your family and friends.
Jessie, Australia
At
http://wattsupwiththat.com/2012/06/11/climate-skeptic-instructor-fired-from-oregon-state-university/#comment-1007669
How very nice and effective!
Ruhe in Frieden, Robert!
My heartfelt sympathy to the Phelan family, and to all here who will miss Bob’s witty comments and snips.
Robert,
Where ever you are now, please accept our appreciation for all you did in getting the word out. With what you and Anthony Watts did, you opened up many of our eyes. We are forever grateful and indebted to you. We thank you for all you have done and hope you are reading this from a better place.
My condolences are with Robert and his family. God Bless Him.
Sad news. The WUWT team has lost a valued member. Deepest condolences to family and friends.
Very sad to hear. My condolences to his family and to those who knew him well. For the rest of us, the reasoned wisdom behind the moderation signed REP…. will be missed.
Sincere condolences. He will be missed.
Thank You REP.
You’ve gone to the secret world.
Which way is it?
You broke the cage and flew.
You heard the drum that calls you home.
You left this humiliating shelf,
This disorienting desert
Where we’re given wrong directions.
What use now a crown?
You’ve become the sun.
No need for a belt: You’ve slipped out of your waist!
I have heard that near the end
You were eyes looking at soul.
No looking now. You live inside the soul.
You’re the strange autumn rose
That led the winter wind in by withering.
You’re rain soaking everywhere
From cloud to ground. No bother of talking.
Flowing silence and sweet sleep beside the friend.
(Rumi)
Mitakuye Oyasin
Volker