UPDATE: 930AM PDT 8/14/12 now at 71% 80% (at 530PM) 90% (8AM 8/15) 96% – just $700 to go, (11AM) of the goal.
2:26 PM 8/15 GOAL MET, and EXCEEDED! $17,281
Let me just say that the circumstances of Bob’s employment did not allow for the usual financial safety nets. Through your generosity, you have relieved a huge burden from the family and I’m very proud of you all. You have my sincerest thanks on behalf of the Phelan Family. For those of you that donated via PayPal, Diane Phelan reports there’s about $1800 there, and given that there’s a 7% commission taken from the GiveForward donation site, and the funeral costs worked out at about $17,500, the final GiveForward amount works out to be $16,071.33 Plus the PayPal balance of $1800, less their 2.5% commission: $1755.00 = 17,826.33
THANK YOU!
– Anthony
[modified] Bob wouldn’t want us to stop WUWT on his behalf, but it’s been hard to
focus on anything else since I heard the news. It was especially hard to learn that Bob died at his study desk, where he moderated WUWT from. The family has asked for my help. The request is rooted in a real need.
Therefore, I’m asking for your help for funeral expenses on behalf of the Phelan family. Thank you for your consideration – anything you can spare even $10 will help.
http://www.giveforward.com/therobertphelanmemorialfund
See the updates and new details at WUWT here, http://wp.me/p7y4l-hWr
So, after 48 hours, WUWT will resume normal programming. Life goes on. I’ll do my best to show draw from the best lessons of moderation that Bob demonstrated. – Anthony
UPDATE: The first post since being notified of Bob’s passing is now online. Below. I’ll keep the WUWT header in black bar mode to honor and mourn his passing until after the funeral is over next Thursday – Anthony
Don’t really care whether the family “needed” the contributions or not … immaterial here.
REP gave much to the community. And the community has honored that by freely giving back. That is all that is important here.
It would have been easy to donate through PayPal if the financial advantage had been made clear.
HarryW says, “I am diametrically opposed to almost all the ‘hard science’ one finds here.”
You’re welcome to stop by and fully refute any of the science and views posted here. No one will censor you; few, if any at all, will resort to insult. Provide convincing science, and we’ll all change our minds.
We can be sure Bob Phelan wouldn’t have moderated here if he thought WUWT didn’t meet his standards of civility.
Drat! I had just closed down for the night, then it hit me so I had to go back, switch on again.
It feels like A Miracle Just Happened all over again. First time was Climategate One. Second was C2. This is the first time I can remember seeing both warmists and skeptics honouring someone on our side. I regard that as a miracle. Plus raising the money, another miracle.
Your leadership in this cause was tasteful, compelling and honorable. I’m glad that I could donate a little to help express the sense of community you’ve fostered here…
[snip – very bad taste ~ac]
Gosh…[REP] having died has me pondering my own mortality, particularly since having learned of his death at the computer working at this blog. Anthony you have lost a better-than-a-friend. You too must be suffering. My prayers are with you and your remaining friends.
That’s a beautiful thing, Anthony. Congratulations again on drawing high quality participation to your site, and for the uplifting leadership and inspiration you provide your community.
Thank you Anthony and all – a fine job.
Re-posting, in memory of REP:
No man is an island, alone unto itself;
every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main.
If a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is diminished,
even as a promontory were,
even as a manor of thy friend’s or of thine own were:
every man’s death concerns me, because I am concerned with mankind,
and therefore send not to know for whom the bells tolls;
it tolls for thee.
— John Donne (1624)
From Meditations, XVII
Heh, ac, tastes vary. I thought it was just wonderful.
=================================
[Hey Kim, as you say. But in deference to REP, I thought your comment could be interpretted two ways, and I didn’t want to upset anyone – but thanks for the thoughts ~ac]
Sorry for your loss, Anthony. I think the WUWT community and others have spoken with their hearts for you and for REP’s friends and family.
In the Jewish tradition, assisting in the burial of another (including assisting in the physical act of burial) is considered to be philanthropy of the highest order, as the kindness shown to the deceased can never be reciprocated back to the donor. The WUWT community has performed a a “Mitzvah” for Bob Phelan and his family. Anyone who has participated is enriched, from a spiritual perspective.
Thanks for the gracious reply, ac. I write purposefully to be misunderstood, and I regret it in this case. If you were offended by the old fashioned notion that Heaven is a better place than this vale of tears, then I stand convicted of tasteless manners. If you objected to the notion that Robert’s curiosity is satisfied in Heaven, then you also may have a point, for what could be more heavenly than curiosity.
Robert was a great warrior, may his memory live.
=====================
I know I’m just an occasional drive-by snarker, but I wanted to say…
You people make me proud.
A. Scott
You have nailed it.
How come us nasty sceptics are actually very generous and nice people?
Donated. RIP REP, and peace to his people. Thank you, Anthony and commenter community, for opening your hearts and allowing me to open mine. The climate of our spiritual lives is immeasurably the better for our having grieved together for a good man gone.
Good evening everyone. I am Kate REP’s Sister and I just wanted to take this opportunity to thank all of you for the wonderful and kind words for my brother. It mean the world to my mother and to me and the rest of my family. Thank you all for helping us get through this very sad time.
katiegirl06460,
It’s good to hear from you. I trust you are suitably amazed at how many people around the worldappreciated all the time Bob spent helping WUWT. I’m sure I can speak for all of us that it was an honor to help your family.
Ric Werme says:
August 16, 2012 at 9:10 pm
katiegirl06460,
It’s good to hear from you. I trust you are suitably amazed at how many people around the world appreciated all the time Bob spent helping WUWT. I’m sure I can speak for all of us that it was an honor to help your family.
=====================================================
I would only add that it wasn’t just that he spent time helping WUWT but that the time he spent here showed us his character. It was good. You and your Mom got to see it develope as he grew and you all grew up together. Thanks to your Mom raising a good son we got to a little. That “little” was enough to elicit what Ric refered to.
TYPO!
“Thanks to your Mom raising a good son we got to a little.”
Should be “Thanks to your Mom raising a good son we got to know a little.”
“hswiseman says:
August 15, 2012 at 10:03 pm
In the Jewish tradition, assisting in the burial of another (including assisting in the physical act of burial) is considered to be philanthropy of the highest order, as the kindness shown to the deceased can never be reciprocated back to the donor. The WUWT community has performed a a “Mitzvah” for Bob Phelan and his family. Anyone who has participated is enriched, from a spiritual perspective.”
This. Well said.