I really admired the artwork that he shared with us.
What was he like in person? If it's ok to ask

Unpredictable. He'd tell you something one day and deny it a week later. He'd get fixated on something and you couldn't talk him out of it, and then that'd disappear, too. Towards the end, he wanted human contact, but only on his terms. he expected to be constantly praised and never contradicted. At one point, he faked his own death.

My earliest memory of him was his telling me at a convention that he'd been kidnapped by alien bears that forced him to cross-dress.

Yeah, he was not an easy person to get to know. He was a great host when I stayed with him. Seemed to know every good restaurant in the state and a lot of small great stores. He drew mostly for his own pleasure and it really hurt him when nerve damage left him unable to draw or make models. A great storyteller and could imitate a lot of Looney Tunes voices, especially Bugs Bunny.
And for what it's worth, there were very few better at charming a crowd in a fursuit.

Hm? That was Rob's personal character for a long time, and if I look around, I think I can find her name again.

I believe she was called Lulubelle -- or something like that.

Well there was Annabelle.
https://www.furaffinity.net/view/36180489/

Annabelle, yes. Isn't that the same suit?

Similar head, different fur color.