It's been a real pleasure for the whole family," he said in 1999. He is also survived by his eight grandchildren. The elder Roberts was also civic-minded. In the first days of Comcast, when colleagues Dan Aaron and Julian Brodsky clashed over how to expand the business, Mr. Roberts acted as the cheerful referee. To make it work, you have to have motivated, competent successors as well as accommodating heirs. These early losses, coupled with experiences as a young salesman of golf clubs, men's accessories, cologne, and Muzak, gave Mr. Roberts an ambitious, entrepreneurial spirit. Then in 1941, after seeing him twirling with another dance partner, she "grabbed Ralph, took him out on the golf course, and said, 'I want to marry you.' He was born Sept. 8, 1950 to Robert and Blanche Roberts in Portland. Loving father of Dennis Garland, D.J. Word of Mr. Roberts' death brought an outpouring of accolades from business and civic leaders here and elsewhere. It struck me as a place where culture really mattered. To send flowers But if Brian were not up to it, he would not have stood a chance because you can't sacrifice all the people in the place for a poor manager. Doug was predeceased by his infant. DOUGLAS ROBERTS OBITUARY Douglas J. Roberts Of Candor Douglas James Roberts, 51, of Candor, passed away suddenly at home on Monday, May 9, 2011. People who never had a financial problem in their lives can never understand what terror there is in that.''. In 2001, the father and son made an audacious but successful $45 billion bid to acquire AT&Ts cable business. The 1998 Inquirer Executive Compensation Survey showed that Mr. Roberts was paid $45 million, ranking second on The Inquirer's list of the most highly compensated chief executives in the region. Leave a memory or share a photo or video below to show your support. As an executive, Mr. Roberts had a knack for attracting talented people and giving them power, within limits. I believe the reason we are still in this business when so many others have long since departed was his will to succeed, and to do it with certain core values and integrity. '', That would have been a wrenching decision, as it almost invariably is for the founder of a company. A Visitation will be held on Friday, March 3 from 10 am - 12 pm at Drake and Son Funeral Home, 5303 North Western Ave., Chicago, IL 60625. Let others know about your loved one's death. He sold it in 1961 to form his own venture capital firm, the International Equity Corporation, from which he began his foray into cable television. Echovita offers a solidarity program that gives back the funds generated to families. Private. "Ralph, the patient, unassuming gentleman, kept a steady hand on the wheel as they made a series of brilliant bets on the future," his son said in the biography. OBITUARY Douglas McArthur ROBERTS April 10, 1943 - May 16, 2022. The Elkins Park family would travel to places like Haiti and Guatemala to learn about other cultures. Leave a memory or share a photo or video below to show your support. He wanted to marry her after several years, but she wasn't ready. [4] Roberts received awards from the National Cable and Telecommunications Association, the Walter Kaitz Foundation, the Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith, The National Conference of Christians and Jews, the Urban League of Philadelphia, the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce, the Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement,[7] and the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. He evolved and personalized his relationship for each of my siblings," Brian Roberts said. And by the end of this year, the elder Mr. Roberts will increase Brian's control over the company's special class of 8.8 million shares that represent nearly 82 percent of Comcast's vote. On the contrary, he says, ''Brian takes the lead and is the one forging ahead and trying to figure out where they are going,'' Mr. Maffei said. Suzanne Roberts. . Executive vice president David L. Cohen jumped to Comcast in 2002 from a high-profile job as chairman of the Ballard Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll law firm. ''We used to take the children away with us every year to climb the Pyramids or something memorable to keep their attention,'' he said. ''I would see Ralph about once a year. Throughout his career, he remained at the core a salesman and merchant, but one who took chances and could "see around corners" to anticipate the next new thing. I didn't want it to appear that he was just his father's son.''. The deal stirred up widespread opposition from factions who feared that the resulting cable industry giant would stifle competition and hurt consumers. In early 2011, after a protracted review by federal regulators, Comcast acquired 51 percent of NBC Universal from General Electric Co. Brian Roberts came to know Mr. Gates when a contingent of Comcast executives visited Microsoft on a fact-finding tour several years ago. Growing up with five kids competing for attention, it's not easy, but he put his family first. He died on June 18, 2015, of natural causes. Quickly locate a newspaper obituary or death notice. Daughter Lisa said Mr. Roberts was an attentive father. "Ralph was always 'Ralph' to his rank-and-file employees, and a great listener who always checked his ego at the door. "From selling belts door-to-door to creating the largest entertainment and technology corporation in the United States of America - it's an incredible success story. ''Under that bow tie and courtly manner beats the heart of one tough man. Mr. Roberts has by all accounts done a skillful job of grooming Brian to fill his shoes so that he is both respected by his peers and supported by his siblings. The company is clearly planning for the day that Ralph Roberts will no longer be running the show. Once the elder Mr. Roberts is out of the picture at Comcast, Wall Street will be watching closely to see whether the son can be as tough and decisive as his father. Ralph Joel Roberts was born on March 13, 1920, in New York City, and was an entrepreneur from an early age. The son of Russian Jewish immigrants, Mr. Roberts witnessed the loss of his family's drugstore chain in the Depression and the death of his father to a heart attack in 1933, when he was 12. The couple created the Suzanne Roberts Theatre at 480 S. Broad St. in her honor. A Funeral Service will begin at Noon at the Funeral Home. Anyone can read what you share. Get alerts, search tips, and advice from our experts. Receive a notification when services are updated. What is more common is that this kind of agreement does not happen. He has five children, aged 36 to 47. The Roberts clan's equity stake in Comcast, based in Philadelphia, is worth at least $470 million without a premium, and once the patriarch and his wife pass from the scene, there is no guarantee the heirs won't hurl themselves into a fierce battle for the spoils. Another son, Douglas, died in September 2011. I cannot remember a time during our relationship where a cross word passed between us. The Dignity Memorial brand name is used to identify a network of licensed funeral, cremation and cemetery providers that include affiliates of Service Corporation International, 1929 Allen Parkway, Houston, Texas. He was preceded in death by his father, Joe Nathan Scott, and his brother, Jonathan Scott. Let others know about your loved one's death. The son, meanwhile, remains an understudy of the father -- and the father is impressing upon the son the need to play hardball when the occasion demands it. The soft-spoken, affable Mr. Roberts never acquired the outsize public profile of cable pioneers like Ted Turner, John C. Malone, Charles F. Dolan and John Rigas, but his impact was comparable to theirs in making cable television a culture-changing industry giving viewers hundreds of channels, where they once had little more than a dozen, and persuading them to pay for something that had always been free. Doug graduated from Hillsborough High School in Tampa and went on to attend Hobart School of Welding. A few weeks ago, the five Roberts children -- leaving behind both mates and children -- spent a day with their parents for freewheeling talks on everything from personal concerns to financial matters. They are not your blood family, but you spend so much time with them, you should treat them like family. Figure skating program in Kensington aims to make the sport accessible for local athletes, Philadelphia Zoo's new exhibit includes life-sized dinosaurs and lots of bugs, Ex-football player from Bucks County among new 'Survivor' competitors, Eagles will host Browns for joint practices in preseason, Six Flags to enhance Hurricane Harbor with more water slides, tree house for young kids, Watch every 'Rocky' movie in order and for free on Pluto TV. A unique and lasting tribute for a loved one. '', Brian Roberts, on the other hand, seems to relish his public role. '', Ralph Roberts acknowledges that he was the heavy. Mr. Roberts went to work selling advertisements on the back of bus schedules to help support his family. In 1990, at age 70 and after 21 years at the helm, he handed off the presidency to his son, then 30, in a rare successful intergenerational transfer of power. In later years, he did so with his son Brian L. Roberts, to whom he turned over the companys presidency in 1990 when Brian was 30 years old. ''I think we have known that Brian would take over the company since he was about 8 years old,'' said Julian Brodsky, Comcast's vice chairman and Mr. Roberts's alter ego for the last 34 years. Comcast, a name Roberts coined from the words communications and broadcasting. PhillyVoice Contributor. ''Usually we have about 200.''. "The amazing genius of my father is that there was not a one-size-fits-all for parenting. When not on the basketball court, Douglas loved playing cards, spending time with his family, and helping those less fortunate. Help tell the story of your loved ones unique life. Born in Trenton, Doug was a longtime Ewing resident. Douglas was born April 10, 1943 in Los Angeles, CA. "When?" As Comcast prospered, so did the Roberts family. In a statement, Mayor Michael Nutter remembered the business visionary and family man. TimesMachine is an exclusive benefit for home delivery and digital subscribers. Your entry has exceeded the maximum character limit. The fundamental fact is that people love television, he said, and if you can provide them with more television, they love it even more.. Before he founded Comcast, Roberts was president and CEO of Pioneer Industries, a leading mens clothing accessories company, vice president of Muzak Corp. and an account executive with Aitken Kynett Advertising Agency, according to his company biography. Comcast, the company that the venture became (with Mr. Aaron and Mr. Brodsky as its first two employees), has 27.2 million subscribers and produced $68.8 billion in revenue in 2014, the company said. Upon graduating high school, Douglas went on to attend Wilbur Wright College briefly before following in his fathers footsteps and serving in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Brian Roberts said his parents tried to make life stimulating and eye-opening for their children. But the son wanted to stay in the family business, so Mr. Roberts started him off in the trenches, stringing cable in New Kensington, Pa. ''We were lucky because the cable business was growing and growing, '' Mr. Roberts recalled. PHILADELPHIA-- ( BUSINESS WIRE )--Today we are deeply saddened to announce that Ralph J. Roberts, husband, father and grandfather, died of natural causes last night in Philadelphia, PA. (66 years old). ALL along, however, Mr. Roberts has drawn his son closer to the center of action inside Comcast and pushed him into the spotlight outside the company. We are deeply saddened to announce that Ralph J. Roberts, husband, father and grandfather, died of natural causes Thursday, June 18 in Philadelphia, PA. In addition to his wife, Ralph is survived by four of his children and their spouses: Catherine R. Clifton and Anthony A. Clifton, Lisa S. Roberts and David Seltzer, Ralph Roberts Jr. and Kim Roberts, Brian L. Roberts and Aileen K. Roberts and Diane Roberts, widow of Ralph and Suzannes son Douglas Roberts, who passed away in September 2011. Send a note, share a story or upload a photo. to the family or plant a tree In 1963, he and his partners, Daniel Aaron and Julian A. Brodsky, paid $500,000 for a 1,200-subscriber cable TV operator in Tupelo, Mississippi, called American Cable Systems. In 2011, fulfilling the Robertses long-held interest in NBC, Comcast acquired a majority stake in NBCUniversal from General Electric for $6.5 billion; in doing so, it became one of the industrys leading content producers. Douglas A. Roberts, 66, of Mount Carmel, Illinois, passed away on Sunday, May 2, 2021 at his residence. In 1994, for example, Ralph Roberts scuttled a bid by Barry Diller, then the chairman of QVC, the home-shopping cable channel, to acquire CBS. He graduated with an economics degree from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and enlisted in the Navy as World War II was beginning, serving at the Philadelphia Navy Yard for the duration of the war. But as Brian Roberts worked his way up the ladder, the halcyon 1980's came to an end. The culture of Comcast was important to him.". Anyone can read what you share. He is also survived by his eight grandchildren. Mr. Roberts would help with homework and listen to each of his five children. One early venture was selling an innovative golf putter. Ralph J. Roberts, 95, the soft-spoken visionary who in 1963 bought a tiny subscriber-TV system in Tupelo, Miss., and built it into Comcast Corp., the nation's leading cable company, died Thursday night in Philadelphia. Your entry has exceeded the maximum character limit. Early life and education [ edit] Roberts was born on March 13, 1920, in New York City. Burial will follow at Oak Ridge Cemetery in Hillside, IL. His wife agreed: "The thing that motivates Ralph is not having the money, but knowing that his children are secure. DOUGLAS ROBERTS OBITUARY Douglas J. Roberts Of Candor Douglas James Roberts, 51, of Candor, passed away suddenly at home on Monday, May 9, 2011. But the firm wasn't always a giant, nor was its founder a scion. The memory of the fiasco still rankles Mr. Diller. [6], Roberts served on the boards of the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Brandywine River Museum, the Greater Philadelphia Urban Affairs Coalition, and the PENN Medicine Board of Trustees. Their son, Brian L. Roberts, is the current CEO of Comcast Corporation. And Ed Snider, Comcast Spectacor chairman, said Mr. Roberts was "a great partner and an even greater friend. Sign up for service and obituary updates. Penn honored him in 2005 with the Doctor of Laws honoris causa. Mr. Roberts taught by example. If you know of an upcoming event for Douglas A. Roberts, please add one. He was 95. Mr. Gates was warm to the idea. He told his biographer that his greatest accomplishment was that all my children speak to me frequently., Ralph Roberts, Cable TV Pioneer Who Built Comcast, Dies at 95, https://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/20/business/media/ralph-roberts-cable-tv-pioneer-who-built-comcast-dies-at-95.html. BEST DEAL! IN THE CARE OF. The couple celebrated 70 years of marriage in 2012. "I never had a bad idea in working for him for 30-plus years," Roberts said. Funeral arrangement under the care ofKeepes Funeral Home. Roberts, who also served as chairman emeritus of the companys board of directors, created asmall, regional cable outfit that is now the largest cable and home Internet provider in the United States and the largest broadcasting and cable company in the world. It is always business. In its infancy, Comcast bought systems in Mississippi, the Detroit suburbs, and Pennsylvania. ''They drag the business down because it kills the morale of everybody in the company.''. "His vision was always to create a little IBM," Rudnay said. Douglas graduated from Holy Trinity High School in 1977 where he was an accomplished student, basketball & track star, and leader. "Ralph was a remarkable man who touched the lives of so many people. Find the obituary of Douglas A. Roberts (1955 - 2021) from Mount Carmel, IL. IT helps, of course, that only one of the children desperately wanted to follow in Dad's footsteps. In 1994, Comcast, which had helped start QVC Network, a West Chester-based home-shopping company, made a $2.2 billion bid to buy a majority stake in the company. He was the most optimistic man I ever knew. Through the 1970s and '80s, it built cable networks, learned to maintain them, and profited by Mr. Roberts' favorite element - recurring monthly income. It purchased for $30 billion controlling interest in the entertainment conglomerate's NBC and Telemundo broadcast networks; pay TV channels such as USA, CNBC, Bravo, and Syfy; the Universal movie studio; and Universal Studios theme parks in Florida and California. ''When some guy decides that he is so important that he dismisses Mama for some 35-year-old trophy, then I don't know what is fair. "Ralph Roberts is the absolutely most clear-cut example of the American dream," said former Gov. The appeal was the Roberts team, the challenge, and the firm's culture. '', Brian Roberts acknowledges that decision making, what he calls ''pulling the trigger,'' is something you learn. It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Douglas A. Roberts of Mount Carmel, Illinois, born in Tampa, Florida, who passed away on May 2, 2021, at the age of 66, leaving to mourn family and friends. At least Comcast has the financial flexibility to make the transition work. He never pressured any of them to join the family company -- and none besides Brian showed any interest in doing so. Ralph J. Roberts, the man who founded Comcast Corp. with the purchase of a 1,200-subscriber cable television system in Tupelo, Mississippi in 1963, died Thursday night of natural causes in. [5] They incorporated in 1969 as Comcast Corporation, a name Roberts invented by combining the words communications and broadcasting. After Brian received an undergraduate business degree from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania in 1981, Ralph Roberts tried to steer him to another company, where he would have to fight his own battles. Douglass Edward Roberts, 69, a lifelong resident of Swansea and the son of the late Edward Francis Roberts and Barbara (Douglass) Roberts, passed away on December 25, 2019. He loved my mother and my entire family so much. "Ralph served as a longtime member of the Penn Medicine board, and actively supported athletics, undergraduate financial aid, and his class." In 1996, Comcast spent $240 million and agreed to pick up $170 million in debt to gain the majority interest in the Flyers, the 76ers, the Spectrum, and what was then the CoreStates Center. He recalled in a 1996 interview digging up his mother's marigolds and selling them to the neighbors. Ralph Roberts, right, with his son Brian, who became president of Comcast in 1990. And to prevent his other heirs from putting pressure on Brian to sell Comcast -- an issue that has torn many families apart -- Mr. Roberts is struggling with a way to give them nonvoting stock that they could cash in without disturbing their brother's grip on the company. All rights reserved. The two said their relationship had been strengthened by having much to discuss, as each pursued separate professional interests - and also by the collaboration that developed when one asked the other for advice. "I have never heard Ralph raise his voice - never, ever. Family-business experts say the family is something of an anomaly in devising a smooth transfer between generations. The deal would have relegated Comcast, the biggest QVC shareholder, to be a minor, and passive, investor in CBS, and the elder Mr. Roberts wanted no part of that. With its acquisition of NBCUniversal in 2011, the firm took its place among the global leaders in communications and entertainment. Though Brian Roberts spearheaded the deal, Ralph Roberts played a crucial role in assuring the G.E. 2023 WWB Holdings, LLC. [12] They had five children: Catherine, Lisa, Ralph Jr. (Rob), Brian, and Douglas (who died in 2011);[2] and eight grandchildren. Receive obituaries from the city or cities of your choice. It bottomed out at $16.375 last March and has recovered slightly, closing at $21.375 on Friday on Nasdaq. That the others did not never fazed Ralph Roberts, who encouraged them to pursue their own interests. ''This is a relatively unusual situation,'' said Leon Danco, president of the Center for Family Studies. Then, chuckling, he added, ''It was probably a very good lesson for Brian -- no question about it. ''It is the same thing as giving birth -- or having another generation. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Ralph J. Roberts founded Comcast Corp. in 1963. With over 1,900 locations, Dignity Memorial providers proudly serve over 375,000 families a year. Brian L. Roberts (born June 28, 1959) is an American billionaire businessman, and the chairman and CEO of Comcast, an American company providing cable, entertainment, and communications products and services which was founded by his father, Ralph J. Roberts. Now Brian typically takes the lead.''. California residents do not sell my data request. Besides his son Brian, Mr. Roberts is survived by his wife, the host of the Comcast Network program "Seeking Solutions With Suzanne," aimed at viewers 50 and older; two daughters, Catherine. Start searching today using our powerful and intuitive search. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. ''It has been wonderful to share those tense moments with your father,'' Brian Roberts said, ''and hopefully, it has prepared me for the future. He was the greatest influence in my life and a joy for me to work side by side with for over three decades. He had been born into an affluent home, the son of the owner of a small drugstore chain in Westchester County, N.Y. For a time, the family even had a chauffeur. A remembrance ceremony to celebrate Roberts' life will follow at a future date. The importance of saying "I love you" during COVID-19, Effective ways of dealing with the grieving process, Solutions to show your sympathy safely during the Covid-19 pandemic. father . When the club proved to be poorly made, however the shaft bent like a pretzel, Mr. Roberts said he quickly exited the business. Published. Funeral Home website by. ''The father is open. He rose to president and chief executive at Pioneer and eventually bought the company. ''We never emphasized that they should make a lot of money, or have the biggest car,'' Mrs. Roberts recalled. Send a note, share a story or upload a photo. Obituary. Ralph J. Roberts, the man whofounded Comcast Corp. with the purchase of a 1,200-subscriber cable television system in Tupelo, Mississippi in 1963, died Thursday night of natural causes in Philadelphia. Later, the two men found themselves in the same restaurant, and Mr. Roberts suggested that Microsoft consider investing in cable. A result was Microsoft's $1 billion investment in Comcast. Investors who know him say he always prefers to remain in the background and let others like Mr.Brodsky, the vice chairman, take the limelight. Using the proceeds from Pioneer, he started purchasing local community antenna television systems which brought TV to people in rural areas,[2] which were then underserved by big broadcasters. In a high-pressure corporate world that demands long hours from its executives, Mr. Roberts was proud to say that he was sure to be home for dinner with his wife and children nearly every night. Fleisher. In addition, Ralph Roberts personally owns another 5.2 million nonvoting shares, as well as 319,00 class A shares. ''Hopefully, I have had more experience than most people,'' he said, ''but you never know.''. Roberts was born on March 13, 1920, in New York City. Douglas McArthur ROBERTS, age 79, of Rancho Cucamonga, California passed away on Monday, May 16, 2022. Ralph J. Roberts, who at the dawn of the cable television industry bought a small cable service in Tupelo, Miss., and built it into Comcast, today the largest cable television company in the nation, died Thursday night in Philadelphia. Doug was predeceased by his infant. In his leisure time, on which Mr. Roberts insisted, he rode horses, foxhunted, and enjoyed his family. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. As Gregory B. Maffei, Microsoft's treasurer, sees it, the younger Mr. Roberts is no pawn of his father. He was. Comcast, a name Roberts coined from the words communications and broadcasting,was incorporated in 1969. in memory of Douglass Edward Roberts, please visit our floral store. I went to the University of Pennsylvania. He was chairman of the board from 1969 to 2002. ''I have never seen a relationship that could surpass the two of them,'' she said. He came home each weeknight at 7 p.m. and left his briefcase by the door, along with business cares. Brodsky, the company's longtime finance guru, on Friday described Mr. Roberts as his best friend and a "charismatic, fearless visionary" who gave people the confidence to do things they thought were impossible. 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