Yes, I am aware of his recent surgery. Why does this matter to you now, because he might state a truth that is inconvenient to you?
Second, I'm suggesting to you that even though he is the owner of this site, he has other things on his mind right now, and that offering him as a referee is a straw-man argument that serves your purpose, but without getting his permission first to allow you to make your offer to others, people won't take kindly to your insinuating him into this on your own.
-PJ