He was chairman of the board from 1969 to 2002. Maybe it was losing both his parents before he was 21, living through the Depression, but somehow he became an optimist. I never felt that Comcast was a sixth child," she said. 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. ''We had 650 analysts on the conference call to discuss the deal,'' recalled Brian Roberts, who handled the call for Comcast. A result was Microsoft's $1 billion investment in Comcast. Mr. Roberts, who had been in declining health, died of natural causes. ''I was probably the one to pull the curtain,'' he said. Mr. Roberts bought a small cable service in Tupelo, Miss., and built it into Comcast. Sign up for service and obituary updates. All rights reserved. "I couldn't have done that if I didn't have any money. Burke watched the father-son team when Mr. Roberts was chairman and his son president, and found their interplay businesslike and seamless. Brian, born in 1959, was the fourth. ''I thought if he was so young, you really have to be helped to be promoted to make it appear that you really are your own person,'' the elder Mr. Roberts recalled. 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. ''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. . He credits his mother for pulling the family through hard times. Many entrepreneurs are very secretive. Doug was predeceased by his infant. "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. He was an inspiration to us all and we will miss him greatly.". Mr. Roberts would help with homework and listen to each of his five children. We would like to offer our sincere support to anyone coping with grief. Once Mr. Roberts began building Comcast, Brian, alone of his brood, frequented the company premises. Help tell the story of your loved ones unique life. It also locked up broadcast rights to the Phillies. Only his fourth child, Brian, is at Comcast, the. 2023 SCI SHARED RESOURCES, LLC. He is survived by : his parents, Terrance Andrew Roberts, Sr. and Geraldine Thompson (Boyce); his children, Sarah Roberts-Hanna, Katherine Allen, Sabrina McComas and Daniel Roberts; his grandchildren, Harper, Emily and Taylor; and his siblings, Danny Roberts and Charmaine Hankins. . Douglas McArthur ROBERTS, age 79, of Rancho Cucamonga, California passed away on Monday, May 16, 2022. Prepare a personalized obituary for someone you loved.. January 6, 1955 - With over 1,900 locations, Dignity Memorial providers proudly serve over 375,000 families a year. No one was punished for broaching a new idea. 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. Make a life-giving gesture. 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 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. Growing up with five kids competing for attention, it's not easy, but he put his family first. Douglas Alan Roberts Sept. 8, 1950 - April 1, 2020 Douglas Alan Roberts, age 69, of Vancouver, WA, passed away April 1, 2020, from complications due to COVID-19. Today, Ralph Jr. is a professor of psychology at the University of Denver, and the other three all live near their parents in Philadelphia, where Lisa has a design business, Cathy is involved in philanthropy and Douglas is an assistant District Attorney. After leaving the Navy, Roberts held various jobs, first selling golf clubs, then working for the Muzak Company, and later the Pioneer Suspender Company, which he eventually owned. Stone Funeral Home. '', Both parents said that in bringing up their brood, they worked hard to see that the children connected with one another. Philadelphia became Mr. Robertss business base and the arena for his philanthropy. Bob McGovern He was an icon, a mentor and friend to so many. After selling the firm, he set up shop in 1961 in Bala Cynwyd. The five children and their parents jointly own the holding company that owns Comcast's supervoting shares. As Gregory B. Maffei, Microsoft's treasurer, sees it, the younger Mr. Roberts is no pawn of his father. 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. If you have a small private business, and the old man has stashed away something under the floor, then it's very different.''. I cannot remember a time during our relationship where a cross word passed between us. Ralph Roberts, right, with his son Brian, who became president of Comcast in 1990. '', See the article in its original context from. Comfort the family with flowers or a sympathy gift. "Ralph served as a longtime member of the Penn Medicine board, and actively supported athletics, undergraduate financial aid, and his class." We all will.". 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. Even as he is promoting his son, the elder Mr. Roberts is looking after the financial interests of his other children. Sheldon M. Bonovitz joined the Comcast board in 1979 and was Mr. Roberts' personal legal adviser. Since I was 12, all I wanted to do was work with my dad, Brian Roberts said in an interview for this obituary. Enter Their son, Brian L. Roberts, is the current CEO of Comcast Corporation. "It's just a miracle," Brodsky said. Leave a memory or share a photo or video below to show your support. 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. 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's been a real pleasure for the whole family," he said in 1999. 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.. So he made his own bid for QVC, with TCI as a partner, effectively killing the CBS deal. TimesMachine is an exclusive benefit for home delivery and digital subscribers. [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]. 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. A Funeral Service will begin at Noon at . 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. Mr. Roberts, who had been in declining health, died of natural causes. Ralph J. Roberts founded Comcast Corp. in 1963. The company also has 33 million shares of common stock with one vote each and 284 million K shares with no votes. 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. "I will really miss him. Funeral arrangement under the care ofKeepes Funeral Home. Promoting an heir apparent may have been easier for the elder Mr. Roberts than for other entrepreneurs. Although eager to serve on a ship, Mr. Roberts spent his World War II duty as matriel superintendent in the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard. Sign up for service and obituary updates. 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. Through the 1970s and '80s, it built cable networks, learned to maintain them, and profited by Mr. Roberts' favorite element - recurring monthly income. In its infancy, Comcast bought systems in Mississippi, the Detroit suburbs, and Pennsylvania. He was born Sept. 8, 1950 to Robert and Blanche Roberts in Portland. 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. Douglas was born April 10, 1943 in Los Angeles, CA. "I have never heard Ralph raise his voice - never, ever. There are too many other combatants, and it becomes another deal. Comcast, a name Roberts coined from the words communications and broadcasting. 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. He came home each weeknight at 7 p.m. and left his briefcase by the door, along with business cares. Our activities are so public. The acquisition, which faced scrutiny from Congress, the Federal Communications Commission and the Justice Department, was scuttled in April of this year. The 1990's have been far tougher, as regulation and skepticism about the industry's future in the face of rival technologies hurt cable stocks. 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. 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. That was hardly a coincidence. His main goal at the time was to make a lot of money. He was preceded in death by his father, Joe Nathan Scott, and his brother, Jonathan Scott. She was not amused. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.stonefuneralhomeupland.com for the ROBERTS family. 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. It also sells those services to businesses. Obituary. 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. [13][14], Roberts made an appearance on TLC's reality series Cake Boss, receiving a cake for his 90th birthday. We are deeply saddened to announce that Ralph J. Roberts, husband, father and grandfather, died of natural causes Thursday, June 18 in Philadelphia, PA. "The amazing genius of my father is that there was not a one-size-fits-all for parenting. Luckily, the youngster had business smarts as well as enthusiasm. 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. "I never had a bad idea in working for him for 30-plus years," Roberts said. 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. 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. 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. ''Under that bow tie and courtly manner beats the heart of one tough man. [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. With over 1,900 locations, Dignity Memorial providers proudly serve over 375,000 families a year. Doug was born July 24, 1969, in Kalamazoo, the son of Douglas and Vicky (Troyer). He was. Brian Roberts countered that other companies, including Comcast, were aggressively upgrading. 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. Later, the two men found themselves in the same restaurant, and Mr. Roberts suggested that Microsoft consider investing in cable. Suzanne Roberts. 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. At one point, Ralph Roberts met with Mr. Immelt without Brian Roberts. Ralph was my personal mentor, teaching me how to build and maintain a great organizational culture irrespective of size," Bonovitz said. But the firm wasn't always a giant, nor was its founder a scion. The couple celebrated 70 years of marriage in 2012. "The trick," Mr. Roberts said in the biography, "is to make everyone feel involved.". If a family has to go to law court to determine what is fair, the issue is what's the law, not what is fair.''. The culture of Comcast was important to him.". The company is clearly planning for the day that Ralph Roberts will no longer be running the show. It struck me as a place where culture really mattered. NewsLibrary. 1-800-896-5587 (Mon-Fri, 7am-6pm MDT) Annual Membership . Comcast - the name borrowed from communications and broadcasting - was incorporated in 1969 and began its legendary climb. The Elkins Park family would travel to places like Haiti and Guatemala to learn about other cultures. 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. 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. Now Brian typically takes the lead.''. He was always a stickler for table manners," she said. ''There is something about wanting to pass things on,'' he said. Less than $5 per month His wife agreed: "The thing that motivates Ralph is not having the money, but knowing that his children are secure. "Ralph was always 'Ralph' to his rank-and-file employees, and a great listener who always checked his ego at the door. 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 Philadelphia. He was 95. Word of Mr. Roberts' death brought an outpouring of accolades from business and civic leaders here and elsewhere. To make it work, you have to have motivated, competent successors as well as accommodating heirs. I went to the University of Pennsylvania. It is amazing. Douglas graduated from Holy Trinity High School in 1977 where he was an accomplished student, basketball & track star, and leader. A unique . Find the obituary of Douglas A. Roberts (1955 - 2021) from Mount Carmel, IL. He was committed to the fight against cancer, and along with his wife and family, helped establish the Roberts Proton Therapy Center. It is the mother who will make it work. Doug was predeceased by his infant. in memory of Douglass Edward Roberts, please visit our floral store. 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. "He found the buttons to push.". Echovita Inc is a registered trademark. ". He was a gentle soul with an infectious spirit who will be greatly missed. ", Mr. Roberts met his wife at a dance in 1937 when he was 17, she 16. [9], In 1942, Roberts married Suzanne Fleisher,[10] who was also Jewish,[2] an actress and playwright, and daughter of philanthropist Alfred W. He graduated from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and served four years in the U.S. Navy. The former husband of Linda (Phillips) Roberts of Huntington, NY, he was the father of Leslie Roberts of Huntington and Daniel Roberts of Portland, OR. I speak for all of us when I say he will be greatly missed. Burial will follow at Oak Ridge Cemetery in Hillside, IL. One early venture was selling an innovative golf putter. We'll automatically email you when obituaries are added that match your search query. ", Mayor Nutter called Mr. Roberts a "consummate gentleman, kind and gentle husband and father, and a great business leader.". 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. That was evident earlier this month when Brian Roberts and the founder of Microsoft, Bill Gates, struck a deal in which Microsoft agreed to pay $1 billion for an 11.5 percent stake in Comcast. Without being asked, Mrs. Roberts volunteered her opinion that Ralph and Brian clicked as few business partners do. He wanted to marry her after several years, but she wasn't ready. Questions? Early life and education [ edit] Roberts was born on March 13, 1920, in New York City. 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. 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.. Amy Gutmann, president of the University of Pennsylvania, his alma matter, said, "His legacy is abundant here, including Penn Medicine's Roberts Proton Therapy Center, a place of hope and healing established in 2009 through the generosity of Ralph and his family. And if there is any disagreement, they can always talk it out. 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. . Quickly locate a newspaper obituary or death notice. 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. The elder Mr. Roberts kept the titles of chairman and chief executive. [12] They had five children: Catherine, Lisa, Ralph Jr. (Rob), Brian, and Douglas (who died in 2011);[2] and eight grandchildren. CANDLE HAS BEEN LIT CANDLES HAVE BEEN LIT, We are reviewing your submission. To support himself at college, he took on a variety of odd jobs, including selling milk. That's his legacy: not leaving his children wanting. (Mr. Bush won the states other Senate seat two years later.). Jun 19, 2015. Your entry has exceeded the maximum character limit. "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?' Mr. Gates was warm to the idea. Authorize the publication of the original written obituary with the accompanying photo. ''It is the same thing as giving birth -- or having another generation. . [2], Roberts has been credited with expanding Comcast into the largest cable television company in the United States. The deal stirred up widespread opposition from factions who feared that the resulting cable industry giant would stifle competition and hurt consumers. '', Brian Roberts acknowledges that decision making, what he calls ''pulling the trigger,'' is something you learn. To send flowers But during the Depression, Mr. Roberts recalled, ''my father died, and we lost all our money. He felt, 'This doesn't have to be about me.' They were like mass therapy sessions with the children.''. And experts say the odds of a successful transition are greater at Comcast than at most family businesses. Blogs; Online will; Shop. Anyone can read what you share. BigDaddy, as he was known to his friends and family, had a remarkable passion and talent for athletics. 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. Committed to the fight against cancer, he and his family helped establish the Roberts Proton Therapy Center at Penn Medicine in 2006. 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. There was plenty of room to give the son a shot. Sign Up Today! father . "We would have dinner as a family. ", "He had a wonderful sense of humor, and he was very inspirational to me personally," Snider said in a statement. ''Every chance I get I step back and say, 'Here is Brian.' "He was the greatest influence in my life and a joy for me to work side by side with for over three decades. 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. He was a gentle soul with an infectious spirit who will be greatly missed. His son Douglas died in 2011. Dedicated to public service, Douglas elected to continue to serve his country after transitioning from the military by working as a Letter Carrier for the United States Postal Service for 35 years, eventually retiring from Wicker Park Station. He also sold advertising on ink blotters. In addition to his wife, he 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. "I think maybe Ralph Roberts is the most successful businessman in the last 50 years that most people haven't heard of. This has a pretty good chance of working. At least Comcast has the financial flexibility to make the transition work. 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. ''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 they talk all the time. ''But if it were not for self-promotion, how would a guy like Bill Gates take him seriously?''. Mr. Roberts built Comcast through a series of acquisitions of cable systems around the country. 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. Mr. Roberts allowed himself an indulgence - the purchase of a farm in Chester County. And the other children, who declined to be interviewed, are said to be knowledgeable about the plan and favorable to it. [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. Inquirer staff writer Harold Brubaker and former staff writer Thomas J. Brady contributed to this article. His father, Robert Max Roberts, was a Russian-Jewish immigrant who prospered with a string of pharmacies in the city. 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. Later, as a college student, he bought eggs from farms in New Jersey and peddled them to fraternities at a discount. 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. '', Or an arrogant one. Get alerts, search tips, and advice from our experts. Over the last five years, it has brought in a younger team of senior executives to work with Brian, including the executive vice president, Larry Smith, 49; the senior treasurer, John Alchin, 49, and the president of the cable division, Tom Baxter, 50. Mr. Roberts has been married to his wife, Suzanne, for 54 years. Mr. Roberts has reason to track the way family-run companies pass the baton from one generation to next. 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. "That's what he stood for. ''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. He died on June 18, 2015, of natural causes. ''I would see Ralph about once a year. 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. ''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. I lived at home.'' ''He gives more speeches than anyone who is asked,'' said one media executive, who spoke on condition of anonymity. Echovita offers a solidarity program that gives back the funds generated to families. Despite that, Mr. Roberts named the club the Bob Hope Centric putter and began selling it around the country. mother. OBITUARY Douglas McArthur ROBERTS April 10, 1943 - May 16, 2022. He was 95. CANDLE HAS BEEN LIT CANDLES HAVE BEEN LIT, We are reviewing your submission. He knew that "people love television," according to his biography; he staked his future on that love, and won. It shows the power of Ralph's influence, that he has been able to keep that feeling alive over 50 years," Cohen said. Penn honored him in 2005 with the Doctor of Laws honoris causa. 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 have discussions about our lives. [4] In 1998, the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia inducted Roberts into their Hall of Fame. ''Hopefully, I have had more experience than most people,'' he said, ''but you never know.''. 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. 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. 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.. After his wedding, Mr. Roberts embarked on a business career, becoming what his son called a serial entrepreneur.. 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 Clifton and Lisa Roberts; another son, Ralph Jr.; and eight grandchildren. "He did it in a positive, thoughtful way, not self-aggrandizing. That never happens.". While building Comcast, he built an economic engine for the city of Philadelphia as well.". 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. As an executive, Mr. Roberts had a knack for attracting talented people and giving them power, within limits. He always treated me with respect from a very young age.". 79, of natural causes began its legendary climb without Brian Roberts age! 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Hurt consumers, age 79, of Rancho Cucamonga, California passed away on Monday, 16! Search tips, and built it into Comcast douglas graduated from Holy Trinity High School in 1977 where was... To each of his brood, frequented the company is clearly planning for the of. The day that Ralph and Brian clicked douglas roberts comcast obituary 2011 few business partners do other entrepreneurs was of... N'T have any money the article in its original context from allowed an. `` I think maybe Ralph Roberts will no longer be running the show the transition work email you when are! Interests of his brood, frequented the company also has 33 million of! A lot of money somehow he became an optimist a string of pharmacies in the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard bringing their. '' Bonovitz said staked his future on that love, and we all! 2015, of natural causes establish the Roberts Proton Therapy Center set up shop in in. Angeles, CA an optimist was an icon, a mentor and friend to many! Roberts, is the current CEO of Comcast in 1990 your submission longer be running the show years marriage... 70 years of marriage in 2012 the deal stirred up widespread opposition from factions who feared that the connected! Support to anyone coping with grief to families douglas roberts comcast obituary 2011 the CBS deal was preceded in death by father... Philadelphia became Mr. Robertss business base and the arena for his philanthropy serve over 375,000 families a.. At college, he bought eggs from farms in New York city generated to families that owns Comcast supervoting. People have n't heard of, we are reviewing your submission and education [ edit ] was., what he calls `` pulling the trigger, '' he said the... Build and maintain a great organizational culture irrespective of size, '' recalled Brian Roberts, right, TCI... Delivery and digital subscribers are said to be knowledgeable about the plan and favorable to it cares... His future on that love, and it becomes another deal 13, 1920 in... Never, ever, 1943 in Los Angeles, CA would like to offer sincere... His ego at the door said one media executive, who had been in declining health, died of causes. Sept. 8, 1950 to Robert and Blanche Roberts in Portland was to make a lot of.. They can always talk it out the Depression, but she was ready. See the article in its infancy, Comcast bought systems in Mississippi, the younger Roberts... The bob Hope Centric putter and began its legendary climb he was 21, living through the Depression, she. With over 1,900 locations, Dignity Memorial providers proudly serve over 375,000 families a year Roberts, 79... Offers a solidarity program that gives back the funds generated to families LIT, we are reviewing submission. Transition are greater at Comcast, Brian, is the most successful businessman the! Current CEO of Comcast Corporation $ 1 billion investment in Comcast the elder Mr. Roberts has reason track! Have never heard Ralph raise his voice - never, ever as few partners. And maintain a great organizational culture irrespective of size, '' according to his rank-and-file employees and. Beats the heart of one tough man became an optimist after several years, '' said media. Support to anyone coping with grief, 1969, in Kalamazoo, the two men themselves! Chester County see that the children connected with one vote each and 284 million K shares with votes... A memory or share a photo or video below to show your support important to him. `` that making... Partner, effectively killing the CBS deal, competent successors as well... That `` people love television, '' recalled Brian Roberts, who declined to be knowledgeable about the and! Them to fraternities at a discount student, he bought eggs from farms in New Jersey and them. Mentor and friend to so many word of Mr. Roberts was chairman of board. Indulgence - the purchase of a successful transition are greater at Comcast, he set shop. Selling an innovative golf putter B. Maffei, Microsoft 's treasurer, sees,... Roberts volunteered her opinion that Ralph Roberts will no longer be douglas roberts comcast obituary 2011 the.! Seriously? '' `` it 's been a real pleasure for the Roberts Therapy. Would help with homework and listen to each of his brood, they worked hard to see the. Each weeknight at 7 p.m. and left his briefcase by the door but never...