Questions? He was an icon, a mentor and friend to so many. "It's just a miracle," Brodsky said. Douglas McArthur ROBERTS, age 79, of Rancho Cucamonga, California passed away on Monday, May 16, 2022. Ralph Joel Roberts was born on March 13, 1920, in New York. '', Brian Roberts, on the other hand, seems to relish his public role. The magic words, according to Mr. Roberts, were "Yes, dear.". "He was the greatest influence in my life and a joy for me to work side by side with for over three decades. And if there is any disagreement, they can always talk it out. Asked what it was like to run a company with one's father, Brian Roberts said his dad was a superb work partner, mentor, and parent. "I will really miss him. ''I would see Ralph about once a year. "You could tell Ralph was crazy about Brian, and Brian was crazy about him. Mr. Roberts taught by example. BEST DEAL! He is also survived by his eight grandchildren. He was an inspiration to us all and we will miss him greatly.". Mr. Roberts, who had been in declining health, died of natural causes. To send flowers After graduating from Parkrose High School in 1968, Doug attended Willamette University, then he graduated with a BA and Masters in Public . 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. "Ralph served as a longtime member of the Penn Medicine board, and actively supported athletics, undergraduate financial aid, and his class." 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 has five children, aged 36 to 47. Funeral homes; Help and advice. He helped his wife, an actress, practice her lines and attended every performance no matter how many days the show ran. 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. As Comcast prospered, so did the Roberts family. He was a killer dancer - the only thing he bragged about. "I never had a bad idea in working for him for 30-plus years," Roberts said. They have met at the investment bank Allen & Company's annual Sun Valley Conference for media heavyweights, and they got together last summer when Mr. Gates came to speak at a United Way fund-raising event in Philadelphia. He was. He felt, 'This doesn't have to be about me.' Sheldon M. Bonovitz joined the Comcast board in 1979 and was Mr. Roberts' personal legal adviser. Ralph was my personal mentor, teaching me how to build and maintain a great organizational culture irrespective of size," Bonovitz said. 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. Moving to Germantown with his family from New Rochelle, N.Y., after his father's death, he graduated from Germantown High School and in 1941 from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, where he received a bachelor's degree. The couple created the Suzanne Roberts Theatre at 480 S. Broad St. in her honor. 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. We'll automatically email you when obituaries are added that match your search query. 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. '', The son got the point. "Ralph was always 'Ralph' to his rank-and-file employees, and a great listener who always checked his ego at the door. ''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. Inquirer staff writer Harold Brubaker and former staff writer Thomas J. Brady contributed to this article. Comcast is also one of the largest residential telephone providers in the United States. Brian brought in the Walt Disney Company to put up most of the funds for the acquisition, even though Comcast management gained effective control of E Entertainment. Help tell the story of your loved ones unique life. In 1942, he married Suzanne Fleisher, an aspiring actress from a well-to-do Philadelphia family. Sign up for service and obituary updates. In early 2011, after a protracted review by federal regulators, Comcast acquired 51 percent of NBC Universal from General Electric Co. 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. Brian Roberts said his parents tried to make life stimulating and eye-opening for their children. In its infancy, Comcast bought systems in Mississippi, the Detroit suburbs, and Pennsylvania. It also locked up broadcast rights to the Phillies. 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 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.. 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. He knew that "people love television," according to his biography; he staked his future on that love, and won. Prepare a personalized obituary for someone you loved.. January 6, 1955 - ''It's a pretty close family. 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 (March 13, 1920 - June 18, 2015) was an American businessman who was the founder of Comcast, serving as its CEO for 46 years and as it's chairman emeritus until his death in 2011. 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. I lived at home.'' Maybe it was losing both his parents before he was 21, living through the Depression, but somehow he became an optimist. Mr. Roberts, typically dapper in his signature bow tie and Brooks Brothers suits, became his sons mentor and sounding board, and the two were admired as a potent business partnership while never displaying the kind of strained and tempestuous relationship that can flare when a son succeeds a successful father. He is also survived by cousins, nieces and nephews. The deal made Comcast the nations largest cable operator. This has a pretty good chance of working. And her husband reminisced about family trips. 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. ''The father is open. Mr. Roberts has been married to his wife, Suzanne, for 54 years. The industry as we know it today that is generating enormous revenues and is the way that most American consumers get their television was invented by Ralph Roberts and these other cable barons, said Josh Bernoff, a media analyst. ''Hopefully, I have had more experience than most people,'' he said, ''but you never know.''. [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. Suzanne Roberts. Cancel any time, no strings attached. 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. 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. ''All this would never have happened in the arms of a second wife,'' according to Mr. Danco. 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. His son Douglas died in 2011. If you know of an upcoming event for Douglas A. Roberts, please add one. "He found the buttons to push.". 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. ''They are all billionaires, and they're fighting like crazy over another billion.''. [5] They incorporated in 1969 as Comcast Corporation, a name Roberts invented by combining the words communications and broadcasting. Despite that, Mr. Roberts named the club the Bob Hope Centric putter and began selling it around the country. His father's greatest skill, he said, ''is the ability to make the hard decision at the crucial moment.''. [1], When Roberts was five the family moved to New Rochelle, New York and then after his father died of a heart-attack, to Germantown, Philadelphia when he was seventeen to live with his stepfather Harry Bobrow, of Bobrow Brothers Cigars. '', See the article in its original context from. There is no photo or video of Douglas A. Roberts.Be the first to share a memory to pay tribute. He wanted to marry her after several years, but she wasn't ready. Comcast's decision in late April to abandon its $45 billion deal to buy Time Warner Cable Inc. was a rare misstep for the company and a trimming of its ambitions for the moment. Committed to the fight against cancer, he and his family helped establish the Roberts Proton Therapy Center at Penn Medicine in 2006. 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. Luckily, the youngster had business smarts as well as enthusiasm. Anyone can read what you share. I cannot remember a time during our relationship where a cross word passed between us. Would you like to offer Douglas A. Robertss loved ones a condolence message? Doug was born July 24, 1969, in Kalamazoo, the son of Douglas and Vicky (Troyer). In the meantime, he and his wife had five children. Only his fourth child, Brian, is at Comcast, the. can stop at any time. Mr. Roberts would help with homework and listen to each of his five children. ''I was probably the one to pull the curtain,'' he said. Start searching today using our powerful and intuitive search. 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. Since I was 12, all I wanted to do was work with my dad, Brian Roberts said in an interview for this obituary. The fundamental fact is that people love television, he said, and if you can provide them with more television, they love it even more.. CANDLE HAS BEEN LIT CANDLES HAVE BEEN LIT, We are reviewing your submission. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. . in memory of Douglass Edward Roberts, please visit our floral store. 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. In a statement to Comcast employees, his son, Brian L. Roberts, the chairman and chief executive officer, said Friday: Ralph will long be remembered as a kind, generous, and humble man and he was an inspiration to us all. [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]. Ralph Roberts took the time to sort out with each child the ambitions and passions of life, and to stay engaged, as these changed, his son said. ''Ralph and Julian have been intimately involved, but Ralph doesn't sit there until 4 A.M. in the lawyers' offices anymore. ''I used to talk to Julian all the time,'' recalled Gordon Crawford, a senior vice president at the Capital Group, whose funds hold 8.1 percent of Comcast's class A stock. When the club proved to be poorly made, however the shaft bent like a pretzel, Mr. Roberts said he quickly exited the business. 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. [12] They had five children: Catherine, Lisa, Ralph Jr. (Rob), Brian, and Douglas (who died in 2011);[2] and eight grandchildren. Matching family tree profiles for Douglas Roberts Douglas Roberts in MyHeritage family trees (Sverdlove Web Site) view all Immediate Family. Ed Rendell. [4] In 1998, the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia inducted Roberts into their Hall of Fame. Make a life-giving gesture. IT helps, of course, that only one of the children desperately wanted to follow in Dad's footsteps. Douglas A. Roberts, 66, of Mount Carmel, Illinois, passed away on Sunday, May 2, 2021 at his residence. The company is clearly planning for the day that Ralph Roberts will no longer be running the show. [4] He was awarded honorary degrees from both Holy Family College and the University of Pennsylvania, where he received their Joseph P. Wharton Award. Doug graduated from Hillsborough High School in Tampa and went on to attend Hobart School of Welding. . 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. The family holding company owns all the supervoting shares, as well as 1.8 million of the class A shares and 5.3 million of the nonvoting shares. Even though Brian is the CEO, Ralph set the tone from a business point of view.". "Our city has lost a wonderful champion," Nutter said in a statement. Leave a memory or share a photo or video below to show your support. Later, as a college student, he bought eggs from farms in New Jersey and peddled them to fraternities at a discount. ''We would have discussions about our lives. He was able to keep it alive as the company grew. As an executive, Mr. Roberts had a knack for attracting talented people and giving them power, within limits. Sign Up Today! Born in Trenton, Doug was a longtime Ewing resident. He was 95. Obituary Roberts, Douglas David It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Douglas Roberts on August 1, 2013 at The Wellington Nursing Home in his 89th year. We have all learned so much from Ralph, but perhaps the greatest lesson was the way he lived his life. He was the greatest influence in my life and a joy for me to work side by side with for over three decades. "He wanted to keep the integrity, the family feel, and the dedication of employees. Anyone can read what you share. Then he turned the company over to his son at an early age. Ralph Joel Roberts was born on March 13, 1920, in New York City, and was an entrepreneur from an early age. Published. Your entry has exceeded the maximum character limit. After selling the firm, he set up shop in 1961 in Bala Cynwyd. ''They drag the business down because it kills the morale of everybody in the company.''. 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. 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. I didn't want it to appear that he was just his father's son.''. It struck me as a place where culture really mattered. Promoting an heir apparent may have been easier for the elder Mr. Roberts than for other entrepreneurs. Prepare a personalized obituary for someone you loved.. Your entry has exceeded the maximum character limit. The deal put the cable company on a far larger corporate map. Ralph J. Roberts founded Comcast Corp. in 1963. That the others did not never fazed Ralph Roberts, who encouraged them to pursue their own interests. BigDaddy, as he was known to his friends and family, had a remarkable passion and talent for athletics. I knew a lot of people at Comcast. Douglas P. Roberts LEESBURG, FL Douglas P. Roberts, 54, of Leesburg, FL, passed away Aug, 18, 2014. 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. ''There are the families that destroy each other as soon as the father or mother dies,'' Mr. Roberts said. There are too many other combatants, and it becomes another deal. 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. 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. ", Mr. Roberts met his wife at a dance in 1937 when he was 17, she 16. At one point, Ralph Roberts met with Mr. Immelt without Brian Roberts. He recalled in a 1996 interview digging up his mother's marigolds and selling them to the neighbors. 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. ''Usually we have about 200.''. Ralph Joel Roberts (March 13, 1920 June 18, 2015) was an American businessman who was the founder of Comcast, serving as its CEO for 46 years and as it's chairman emeritus until his death in 2011. 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. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 2023 SCI SHARED RESOURCES, LLC. Brian Roberts came to know Mr. Gates when a contingent of Comcast executives visited Microsoft on a fact-finding tour several years ago. ". 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. The acquisition, which faced scrutiny from Congress, the Federal Communications Commission and the Justice Department, was scuttled in April of this year. Flush with cash, Comcast went on a buying spree in the mid-1980s, acquiring part of the Group W cable system. Jun 19, 2015. The family will host a private service for the family, the company announced. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. '', Ralph Roberts acknowledges that he was the heavy. He was needed there because of his business acumen, his superiors said. 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. your email below for our complimentary daily grief messages. Quickly locate a newspaper obituary or death notice. He rose to president and chief executive at Pioneer and eventually bought the company. 2023 SCI SHARED RESOURCES, LLC. Find the obituary of Douglas A. Roberts (1955 - 2021) from Mount Carmel, IL. Contributions may be made to the Germantown Boys and Girls Club, 25 W. Penn St., Philadelphia 19144, or the United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey, 1709 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia 19103, or at http://unitedforimpact.org/ways-to-give. ''This is a relatively unusual situation,'' said Leon Danco, president of the Center for Family Studies. He was the most optimistic man I ever knew. He will always be remembered for his generosity, integrity, honesty, kindness and respect for everyone around him. "As a person, his DNA is all over our company. 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. to the family or plant a tree CANDLE HAS BEEN LIT CANDLES HAVE BEEN LIT, We are reviewing your submission. They were like mass therapy sessions with the children.''. "He did it in a positive, thoughtful way, not self-aggrandizing. He had resided in Leesburg for the past two years. "I have never heard Ralph raise his voice - never, ever. The memory of the fiasco still rankles Mr. Diller. Most of his pay, he said, came from $43 million in profit from expiring stock options he had to exercise. Comfort the family with flowers or a sympathy gift. The elder Mr. Roberts kept the titles of chairman and chief executive. Mr. Immelt was aware that many deals dont get concluded, the elder Mr. Roberts was quoted as saying in The Incredible Dream, a 2012 biography by William Novak, and he wanted some reassurance from the father of the groom that we wouldnt let this opportunity slip through our fingers.. Roberts, Craig Mort, Brenda Bachura, Bill McMenemy, and Peter McMenemy. The five children and their parents jointly own the holding company that owns Comcast's supervoting shares. California residents do not sell my data request. That's his legacy: not leaving his children wanting. "Ralph was a remarkable man who touched the lives of so many people. But that verve was always tempered by a calm affability and a cautious approach to spending money. 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. 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. In 2014, Comcast proposed a $45.2 billion acquisition of Time Warner Cable. Only his fourth child, Brian, is at Comcast, the nation's fourth-largest cable television operator with $4 billion in revenue last year. Less than $5 per month The company also has 33 million shares of common stock with one vote each and 284 million K shares with no votes. Douglas is survived by his wife DeLene (nee Edmon) Scott, his loving children Douglas (Erin Sutton) Scott and Monique (Terri) Davis; his mother Mona Scott; his siblings Vernon Scott, Steven Scott, Michael Scott and Patricia Yusuff and many loving family and friends. Throughout his life, Roberts was involved in numerous community and civic activities, serving the boards of the Council of Emeritus Directors of the Philadelphia Orchestra and the Brandywine Museum and Conservancy, among others. 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 graduated from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and served four years in the U.S. Navy. He was a wonderful husband, father and grandfather and perhaps most importantly, a kind and humble human being. ''There is something about wanting to pass things on,'' he said. That never happens.". "People often ask me, 'When you started in Tupelo with a few hundred customers, did you ever think that someday you'd have the largest cable company in the country?' With its acquisition of NBCUniversal in 2011, the firm took its place among the global leaders in communications and entertainment. It is amazing. [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. Ralph Roberts was a consummate gentleman, kind and gentle husband and father, and a great business leader," Nutter said. As Gregory B. Maffei, Microsoft's treasurer, sees it, the younger Mr. Roberts is no pawn of his father. Beloved companion of the late Mary McMenemy. 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. The recent deal was begun when the executive committee of Cablelabs, the cable industry's research and development arm that included Brian Roberts and John Malone, chairman of Tele-Communications Inc., the country's largest cable operator, visited Microsoft in late April. mother. He came home each weeknight at 7 p.m. and left his briefcase by the door, along with business cares. "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. Doug was predeceased by his infant. . ''She had a lot of friends, and she decided to go into the insurance business, and everybody she knew bought a policy from her the first year to keep us going,'' he said. Sign up for service and obituary updates. 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