We are deeply saddened to announce that Ralph J. Roberts, husband, father and grandfather, died of natural causes Thursday, June 18 in Philadelphia, PA. Genealogy for Douglas Roberts (1960 - 2011) family tree on Geni, with over 230 million profiles of ancestors and living relatives. When Brian was 8, Comcast was a fledgling cable operator that Ralph Roberts had founded after jumping in and out of a handful of other businesses. "That culture says that you have to care about the people you work with. He loved my mother and my entire family so much. chief executive, Jeffrey R. Immelt, that the deal would be completed. ''It has been wonderful to share those tense moments with your father,'' Brian Roberts said, ''and hopefully, it has prepared me for the future. Then he turned the company over to his son at an early age. ", Mr. Roberts met his wife at a dance in 1937 when he was 17, she 16. Quickly locate a newspaper obituary or death notice. ''But if it were not for self-promotion, how would a guy like Bill Gates take him seriously?''. [5] They incorporated in 1969 as Comcast Corporation, a name Roberts invented by combining the words communications and broadcasting. 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. 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. And I always answer with a straight face, 'Of course I did,' " Mr. Roberts said in An Incredible Dream, his authorized biography, written by William Novak. It is amazing. The appeal was the Roberts team, the challenge, and the firm's culture. Luckily, the youngster had business smarts as well as enthusiasm. Questions? That's his legacy: not leaving his children wanting. We all will.". Flush with cash, Comcast went on a buying spree in the mid-1980s, acquiring part of the Group W cable system. After selling the firm, he set up shop in 1961 in Bala Cynwyd. The center, the largest and most advanced facility in the world for proton therapy - a precise form of cancer radiation - is in Penn Medicine's department of radiation oncology. Doug was predeceased by his infant. Their simple philosophy was summed up by Mr. Roberts in an interview with The New York Times in 2007. Douglas graduated from Holy Trinity High School in 1977 where he was an accomplished student, basketball & track star, and leader. 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. He was preceded in death by his father, Joe Nathan Scott, and his brother, Jonathan Scott. He evolved and personalized his relationship for each of my siblings," Brian Roberts said. In addition to his wife, son, and daughter, Mr. Roberts is survived by daughter Catherine R. Clifton; son Ralph Jr.; and eight grandchildren. It may take up to 1 hour for your comment to appear on the website. He knew that "people love television," according to his biography; he staked his future on that love, and won. Send a note, share a story or upload a photo. So he made his own bid for QVC, with TCI as a partner, effectively killing the CBS deal. Though his father called Comcast a family business, Brian was the only one of the children to show a serious interest in working with his father. Doug graduated from Hillsborough High School in Tampa and went on to attend Hobart School of Welding. "I never had a bad idea in working for him for 30-plus years," Roberts said. ''We moved into an apartment with my aunt in Philadelphia. Mr. Roberts later took jobs with the Muzak Corporation and the Pioneer Suspender Company, which sold mens belts and cologne. Like many media entrepreneurs, Ralph Roberts created several classes of stock, enabling him to issue equity without losing control. Burke watched the father-son team when Mr. Roberts was chairman and his son president, and found their interplay businesslike and seamless. He was the most optimistic man I ever knew. Doug was born July 24, 1969, in Kalamazoo, the son of Douglas and Vicky (Troyer). Send a note, share a story or upload a photo. He also participated in continuing education programs at Harvard Business School. He was 95. '', Brian Roberts acknowledges that decision making, what he calls ''pulling the trigger,'' is something you learn. Doug was predeceased by his infant. But the firm wasn't always a giant, nor was its founder a scion. [2], Roberts has been credited with expanding Comcast into the largest cable television company in the United States. Inquirer staff writer Harold Brubaker and former staff writer Thomas J. Brady contributed to this article. Start searching today using our powerful and intuitive search. It also locked up broadcast rights to the Phillies. 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. Echovita Inc is a registered trademark. It's been a real pleasure for the whole family," he said in 1999. NewsLibrary. 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. Wife Suzanna died on April 20, 2020 age 98", Ralph J. Roberts, Comcast Corporation Founder and Chairman Emeritus, dies at age 95, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ralph_J._Roberts&oldid=1141863531, This page was last edited on 27 February 2023, at 06:20. He and his wife, the former Suzanne Fleisher, restored it. Most recently, Roberts and his wife, Suzanne, received the Philadelphia Award to highlight their lifetime contributions to the city in business, philanthropy, and arts and culture. . The magic words, according to Mr. Roberts, were "Yes, dear.". It is the mother who will make it work. . He never told me anything I wanted to do at Comcast was a bad idea, and after more than 30 years, youd think Ive had a lot of bad ideas.. And experts say the odds of a successful transition are greater at Comcast than at most family businesses. He was able to keep it alive as the company grew. Intrigued by the nascent cable industrys potential and aided by Mr. Aaron and Julian Brodsky, a Philadelphia accountant, Mr. Roberts decided to invest, overcoming his own initial misgivings and the even stronger doubts of his wife, Suzanne, who, he said, thought he was absolutely crazy., The cable business, you put up a tower, you run a line down through the telephone poles, you charge everybody $5 a month, and you dont do anything, so it didnt seem very appealing to me, Mr. Roberts recalled in receiving a television industry award in 2003. He was 95. hairman emeritus of the companys board of directors, created a. small, 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. There was plenty of room to give the son a shot. That the others did not never fazed Ralph Roberts, who encouraged them to pursue their own interests. He is also survived by his eight grandchildren. Brian Roberts countered that other companies, including Comcast, were aggressively upgrading. He has five children, aged 36 to 47. 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. "He was the greatest influence in my life and a joy for me to work side by side with for over three decades. [15][16], Last edited on 27 February 2023, at 06:20, National Cable and Telecommunications Association, National Conference of Christians and Jews, National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, New York Times: "Ralph Roberts, Cable TV Pioneer Who Built Comcast, Dies at 95", "Love: Suzanne (Fleisher) Roberts & Ralph J. Roberts", "Brian Roberts' Jewish Roots and Outsized Ambition Drive Comcast's Rise in Media", University of Pennsylvania Medicine: "About the Roberts", "Ralph Roberts, Cable TV Pioneer Who Built Comcast, Dies at 95", "Golden Plate Awardees of the American Academy of Achievement", Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia: Our Hall of Fame, Eastern State Penitentiary: "Funders for the Synagogue Restoration", "Starring Role - From the boards to the funding, Suzanne Roberts lives for the stage", "Howard Gerstley Fleisher, 95, Businessman and Active Volunteer", Daily Finance: "Comcast's Brian Roberts: The low-key exec who leads a high-profile giant" By Jonathan Berr, The Cable Center: "Cable Hall of Fame Archives - Ralph J. Roberts, "Comcast founder Ralph Roberts dies at 95. It also sells those services to businesses. Ralph J. Roberts. [9], In 1942, Roberts married Suzanne Fleisher,[10] who was also Jewish,[2] an actress and playwright, and daughter of philanthropist Alfred W. Leave a memory or share a photo or video below to show your support. [8] The Suzanne F. and Ralph J. Roberts Foundation was one of the largest contributors to the restoration of the Alfred W. Fleisher Memorial Synagogue at Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphia named in the honor of his father-in-law. "Ralph has been the heart and soul of Comcast for 50 years," said his son, Comcast president and CEO Brian L. Roberts, in a note to employees Friday morning. With over 1,900 locations, Dignity Memorial providers proudly serve over 375,000 families a year. Burial will follow at Oak Ridge Cemetery in Hillside, IL. Brian Roberts came to know Mr. Gates when a contingent of Comcast executives visited Microsoft on a fact-finding tour several years ago. As the years passed, Mr. Roberts, with his shock of white hair and signature bow tie, made sure that Comcast's homey values remained in place. 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. "Ralph was a tough, hard businessman, but he never forgot his obligation to help others, help his community, and help Philadelphia. "Our city has lost a wonderful champion with his passing.". It may take up to 1 hour for your comment to appear on the website. "His vision was always to create a little IBM," Rudnay said. can stop at any time. '', That would have been a wrenching decision, as it almost invariably is for the founder of a company. "Ralph served as a longtime member of the Penn Medicine board, and actively supported athletics, undergraduate financial aid, and his class." . A unique . Loving father of Dennis Garland, D.J. I never felt that Comcast was a sixth child," she said. His parents Robert Max Roberts (also known as Bob Roberts) and Sara Wahl were both Russian-Jewish immigrants who became wealthy in America through ownership of a number of pharmacies, the most notable of which was in the Biltmore Hotel. Ralph has been the heart and soul of Comcast for 50 years, and his integrity, honesty and respect for everyone around him will never be forgotten. OBITUARY Douglas McArthur ROBERTS April 10, 1943 - May 16, 2022. Leave your condolences to the family on this memorial page or send flowers to show you care. She was not amused. His plan is to turn over the votes to Brian but make sure to divide the financial pie fairly among all the offspring. But as Brian Roberts worked his way up the ladder, the halcyon 1980's came to an end. 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. 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. ''All this would never have happened in the arms of a second wife,'' according to Mr. Danco. The potential for conflict is obvious. Authorize the publication of the original written obituary with the accompanying photo. That was extremely important to him, that we would sit around the table - all seven of us. [12] They had five children: Catherine, Lisa, Ralph Jr. (Rob), Brian, and Douglas (who died in 2011);[2] and eight grandchildren. "You could tell Ralph was crazy about Brian, and Brian was crazy about him. ''We used to take the children away with us every year to climb the Pyramids or something memorable to keep their attention,'' he said. But that verve was always tempered by a calm affability and a cautious approach to spending money. He recalled in a 1996 interview digging up his mother's marigolds and selling them to the neighbors. 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. In one generation, he started a company that is one of the 50 biggest companies in the U.S.," said Burke, one of a second wave of executives to join Comcast 15 years ago. I lived at home.'' He was committed to the fight against cancer, and along with his wife and family, helped establish the Roberts Proton Therapy Center. Brian Roberts said his parents tried to make life stimulating and eye-opening for their children. 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.' 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. . "We would have dinner as a family. ''Barry is very charismatic and hypnotic, but we were not going to lose our business and become a nonvoting stockholder of CBS to provide Barry with an entree to CBS.'' ''The father is open. He managed to get a photograph of Bob Hope holding the club and asked him to endorse it, to help out a veteran, Mr. Roberts recalled, but there was never any formal agreement. Sheldon M. Bonovitz joined the Comcast board in 1979 and was Mr. Roberts' personal legal adviser. Receive obituaries from the city or cities of your choice. A Funeral Service will begin at Noon at the Funeral Home. There are no events at this time. 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. 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. 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. Sign up for service and obituary updates. 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. 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. 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. Our activities are so public. I speak for all of us when I say he will be greatly missed. Let others know about your loved one's death. 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. He was 95. ''I have never seen a relationship that could surpass the two of them,'' she said. Mr. Roberts bought a small cable service in Tupelo, Miss., and built it into Comcast. "Ralph Roberts is the absolutely most clear-cut example of the American dream," said former Gov. In his leisure time, on which Mr. Roberts insisted, he rode horses, foxhunted, and enjoyed his family. After his wedding, Mr. Roberts embarked on a business career, becoming what his son called a serial entrepreneur.. ", Mayor Nutter called Mr. Roberts a "consummate gentleman, kind and gentle husband and father, and a great business leader.". He is also survived by his eight grandchildren. I cannot remember a time during our relationship where a cross word passed between us. While no one doubts that the father still calls a lot of the shots, he has eased his son into high-profile positions both at the bargaining table and in the public eye. "I think maybe Ralph Roberts is the most successful businessman in the last 50 years that most people haven't heard of. Even though Brian is the CEO, Ralph set the tone from a business point of view.". ''Under that bow tie and courtly manner beats the heart of one tough man. Roberts was born on March 13, 1920, in New York City. Help tell the story of your loved ones unique life. Prepare a personalized obituary for someone you loved.. California residents do not sell my data request. "The amazing genius of my father is that there was not a one-size-fits-all for parenting. This site is provided as a service of SCI Shared Resources, LLC. In a family business, even the strongest allegiances can crack under the strain of a mismanaged transition at the top, but people familiar with Comcast say the younger Mr. Roberts is proving his mettle. We would like to offer our sincere support to anyone coping with grief. No services are scheduled at this time. At the time of his death, Mr. Roberts was past president and chairman emeritus of the public company, which has its headquarters on John F. Kennedy Boulevard. ''This is a relatively unusual situation,'' said Leon Danco, president of the Center for Family Studies. In 1963, the year he founded the company, he created Comcast class B shares, of which there are 8.8 million, each with 15 votes. Ralph Joel Roberts was born on March 13, 1920, in New York City, and was an entrepreneur from an early age. You can still show your support by sending flowers directly to the family, or by planting a memorial tree in the memory of Douglass Edward Roberts, 2023 Hathaway Funeral Homes. A remembrance ceremony to celebrate Roberts' life will follow at a future date. Douglas McArthur ROBERTS, age 79, of Rancho Cucamonga, California passed away on Monday, May 16, 2022. Create an obituary. 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. Your email will not be used for any other purpose. He moved his family to New Rochelle, N.Y., when Ralph was 5. To support himself at college, he took on a variety of odd jobs, including selling milk. Douglas McArthur ROBERTS, age 79, of Rancho Cucamonga, California passed away on Monday, May 16, 2022. Ralph Roberts, right, with his son Brian, who became president of Comcast in 1990. Promoting an heir apparent may have been easier for the elder Mr. Roberts than for other entrepreneurs. Douglas A. Roberts, 66, of Mount Carmel, Illinois, passed away on Sunday, May 2, 2021 at his residence. I knew a lot of people at Comcast. ''Every chance I get I step back and say, 'Here is Brian.' And the other children, who declined to be interviewed, are said to be knowledgeable about the plan and favorable to it. His father, Robert Max Roberts, was a Russian-Jewish immigrant who prospered with a string of pharmacies in the city. 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. He was needed there because of his business acumen, his superiors said. '', Ralph Roberts acknowledges that he was the heavy. Comcast is also one of the largest residential telephone providers in the United States. Philadelphia became Mr. Robertss business base and the arena for his philanthropy. 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. 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. Messages run for up to one year and you 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. People who never had a financial problem in their lives can never understand what terror there is in that.''. That never happens.". 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. PhillyVoice Contributor. 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 as I began to look at what was happening, I realized the cable business was the best of all the ones I had invested in, and decided to go forward full boat.. Maybe it was losing both his parents before he was 21, living through the Depression, but somehow he became an optimist. He was a killer dancer - the only thing he bragged about. Since I was 12, all I wanted to do was work with my dad, Brian Roberts said in an interview for this obituary. Word of Mr. Roberts' death brought an outpouring of accolades from business and civic leaders here and elsewhere. He was preceded in death by his father, Joe Nathan Scott, and his brother, Jonathan Scott. Write your message of sympathy today. He never pressured any of them to join the family company -- and none besides Brian showed any interest in doing so. All Rights Reserved. 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. DOUGLAS ROBERTS OBITUARY. [2][3] Roberts graduated from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and served a four-year tour on duty in the United States Navy.[4]. He rose to president and chief executive at Pioneer and eventually bought the company. It is a skill that Brian Roberts knows he has yet to prove and that is rare among the sons of powerful men, who are often overwhelmed by their fathers. "That's what he stood for. In 1963, Mr. Roberts was a little-known entrepreneur who had sold Muzak systems and mens belts and suspenders, but he was ambitious and always scouting for new business opportunities. Or cities of your choice part of the largest residential telephone providers in the arms of company! 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Mr. Roberts bought a small cable service in Tupelo, Miss., and built it into Comcast in lives...
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