I got an email from Diane Phelan, Bob Phelan’s daughter, summarizing last weeks funeral, which I’ll share below. One phrase though, really characterizes what Bob Phelan was about, and by extension, what WUWT is all about, and I make it quote of the week:

“To do what is popular is not always right. To do what is right is not always popular.” 

Let me once again give my sincerest thanks to everyone who has helped the Phelan family. – Anthony

Here’s the message from Diane:

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Dear Friends,

On Thursday we laid my father Bob to his final rest. It was a beautiful day and a beautiful mass and we were surrounded by many dear family members and friends. The pall bearers all donned the famous patterned engineer caps he made and wore in tribute. My own dear friend Ali, a broadway singer, sang at the mass. I even managed to get up and sing the Ave Maria as my dad was my biggest fan and it’s what he would have wanted. The eulogies given by both my uncle Jim and my father’s close friend Frank were moving tributes to my father’s life. My uncle summed up my dad’s life philosophy well when he quoted him saying: ‎”To do what is popular is not always right. To do what is right is not always popular.” He closed with saying, “Bob didn’t make me a better person. Bob taught me how to be a better person.”

Nothing could have prepared me or anyone in our family to have to say goodbye to my father so soon, but with all the love, prayers, contributions, visits, hugs, thoughts, well-wishes, notes, letters, texts and calls- our family has been surrounded with so much love. Hearing from each one of you whom my father’s life had touched makes me extremely proud of the life he lived and strengthened my own resolve to continue living a life that my father would be proud of.

I want to say a special thank you to my dear friend Mayumi Ando for creating this fund.

I also wanted to give a special thank you to Anthony Watts and the WUWT community for your incredible support.

Thank you to each and every friend who has contributed; any funds collected in excess will go towards purchasing the headstone and helping my mother.

The fund date had originally been set up to close mid-September. I believe the page will stay open until then so the comments and the pictures will all still be up for people to see. I will actually be creating an online photobook, likely through Flickr, of all the photos from my dad’s life. I will post the link here so that anyone can go and visit or relive the wonderful memories of his life.

I’m wishing each of you all the love and happiness in life. Know that you have much gratitude from our family. We will never forget the love and generosity you have shown us.

Diane Phelan