Bob Antonio, RIP

Dear Wifconers,

I have spoken with Bob's family. He died yesterday, November 24, of gall bladder cancer. He had been diagnosed as Stage 4 on November 14.

The family has made no decision about continuing the site and have said they need time to think things over.

I will let you know of any developments.

Vern

That’s awful news.  I guess the cancer really took Bob by surprise.

One of the founders of the company I worked for, Bob Welch, was the Procurement Executive at both Commerce and Treasury.  He told me about Bob when we all worked in the government.  He said Bob was the one of the very few audit types truly interested in improving the government.  The rest were the “got you” types.  He added Bob never did that and focused on what everything needs to do to make things better without pointing blame on anyone.  Bob Welch’s comments were after Bob reviewed major acquisition programs at both agencies he was responsible for and he had nothing but total respect for him.  Creating Wifcon was a perfect example of his wanting to make government better.

Bob was a wonderful person and a true professional.He has unselfishly provided this service to the Nation for over two decades. I was very lucky to meet him years ago in the National Building Museum across the street from the GAO building. I was TDY to our USACE Headquarters downstairs in the GAO Building.

The Government Contracting Forum was originally on a DoD website. When DoD announced that it would discontinue that site, Bob decided to establish the WIFCON Forum. I don’t know if the WIFCON Homepage was already active or followed the FORUM but I made it my homepage and followed it ever since, even after retirement, checking WIFCON Homepage daily until very recently.

Bob tirelessly devoted time to capture,  post and save all the information contained in WIFCON.

Many others and I will miss him - as a person and as this resource. God Speed, Bob. 🌹🙏

My condolences to Bob’s family.   His dedication to WIFCON added unmeasurable wealth to my career.   While we never met, yet my contacts with him over the years were a testament to his personal dedication to making Where in Federal Contracting a beacon for all.   Sad news, very sad news.

Sad news, indeed. Bob made a deep impression on me. I will be ever grateful for the site he created and maintained.

Really sad news. My condolences to his family.  I enjoyed this site for many years and found it very helpful.  May he rest in peace!

Condolences to his family and to those who have followed him every bit of the 26 years this site has operated.  His dedication to helping us push for excellence in acquisition was remarkable.  With deepest gratitude for making me a better analyst, from his time with GAO to now.

Sad news, very sad news. My condolences to his family. While I never had the opportunity to meet Bob, this site and the information and people that contribute to it have made me a better KO. His dedication to WIFCON is a testament to his personal dedication to making us all better contracting folks.   

Thank you Bob for everything.

Keeping Bob and his family in our hearts this week. I've followed the site from its start and Bob was an icon. He and the WIFCON family have been a staple of much of my learning throughout my Federal career. I "grew up" with it. Thank you, Bob, for providing a safe space to ask contracting questions, get sound advice, answers, and opinions, and learn from some of the best. Forever grateful. -- Shauna (Martinez) Weatherly

Very sad news. I never met Bob, but this board has been with me my entire career and I am very grateful for that.

Bob's contribution to the Federal procurement community was immeasurable.

Horrible news. Prayers for Bob and his family.

My condolences to Bob and his family.  Bob, contributors to the website, and other who've opined (+ and -) have made - at least - the last 24 years of my contracting experience better and easier.  

He will be missed.

Thank you Bob.

I found Bob Antonio’s Obituary at https://obituaries.cremationofpennsylvania.com/obituaries/blue-bell-pa/robert-antonio-12108837

I pray for God’s Blessings for you, Robert Antonio…🌹🙏❤️

Bob did something great by starting Wifcon. I can honestly say that the site had more of an effect on my professional development than all the training classes I ever took combined. It's also remarkable that he ran what was the best federal contracting site on the Web on his own. DAU had a staff running a site that wasn't half as good.

There was something that he wrote once that stuck with me. He was describing what an auditor should assume about an organization when auditing them. I searched for it but couldn't find it. He basically said that an auditor should assume that people are just trying to do their jobs the best they can. They are not trying to "get away" with anything. I thought that's a good assumption to make in general. 

Another bit of Bob's wisdom that I remember is when he commented how he could tell a lot about someone by the how well-organized their files were. He pointed out that the file is the contract specialists' work product. As such, a well-organized file typically indicated the pride one took in their work.

I would love if someone could find those two posts.

Bob set a great example for how to give back. His selfless dedication to keep the Federal contracting community informed will be missed. Bob was a hero in my book. I want to be like him when I grow up.

Don Mansfield said:

I would love if someone could find those two posts.

Because I have loved life,

I shall have no sorrow to die.

I have sent up my gladness on wings,

to be lost in the blue of the sky.

Thank you @bremen

I never met Bob, but relied on his forum for updates over the past couple of decades.  From what I have read he was a wonderful man and will be missed. I am sorry for his family loss.

Clint

My condolences to Bob's family.  Thank you to Bob for starting Wifcon.com and sharing so much government contracting wisdom and knowledge.  I have learned so much from this site.

I really appreciate everyone taking the time to explain here what happened to Bob Antonio.  I wondered why the site hadn't been updated since Sept and suspected the worst.  I often wondered how the site was operated and am blown away to learn that it was kept up single-handedly by one volunteer person.  That is a testament to Mr. Antonio's tremendous dedication to the domain of federal contracting, and to his generosity and service to our country.  Like many others, I found WIFCON to be an invaluable tool in performing my job.  I retired from Govt contracting this year after 36 years; while working I reviewed the site on almost a daily basis since its inception.  It has saved the taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars by providing such an accessible and efficient knowledge resource for so many practitioners.   Even after retiring last spring I would read over WIFCON from time to time. 

You and WIFCON will be truly missed Mr. Antonio!  Rest in Peace.