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. The deal made Comcast the nations largest cable operator. 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. Make a life-giving gesture. . can stop at any time. Echovita Inc is a registered trademark. 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. "Ralph was a remarkable man who touched the lives of so many people. Send a note, share a story or upload a photo. Roberts, Craig Mort, Brenda Bachura, Bill McMenemy, and Peter McMenemy. It is the mother who will make it work. ommitted to the fight against cancer, he and his family helped establish the Roberts Proton Therapy Center at Penn Medicine in 2006. "He was the greatest influence in my life and a joy for me to work side by side with for over three decades. He was the most optimistic man I ever knew. Mr. Roberts went to work selling advertisements on the back of bus schedules to help support his family. Soon after buying the Flyers, Mr. Roberts admitted that he had just seen his first hockey game. The culture of Comcast was important to him.". A remembrance ceremony to celebrate Roberts' life will follow at a future date. ''We used to take the children away with us every year to climb the Pyramids or something memorable to keep their attention,'' he said. He moved his family to New Rochelle, N.Y., when Ralph was 5. Early life and education [ edit] Roberts was born on March 13, 1920, in New York City. He was a killer dancer - the only thing he bragged about. 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. They both deserve credit for that graceful interplay, but the lion's share goes to Ralph," said Burke, CEO of Comcast's NBCUniversal. He helped his wife, an actress, practice her lines and attended every performance no matter how many days the show ran. "But I don't think I'll be seeing too many more," he said. ''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. 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. Douglas was born April 10, 1943 in Los Angeles, CA. Enter 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. [2], Roberts has been credited with expanding Comcast into the largest cable television company in the United States. Burke watched the father-son team when Mr. Roberts was chairman and his son president, and found their interplay businesslike and seamless. 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. There is no photo or video of Douglas A. Roberts.Be the first to share a memory to pay tribute. Would you like to offer Douglas A. Robertss loved ones a condolence message? 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. It shows the power of Ralph's influence, that he has been able to keep that feeling alive over 50 years," Cohen said. Then he turned the company over to his son at an early age. 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. The Elkins Park family would travel to places like Haiti and Guatemala to learn about other cultures. CANDLE HAS BEEN LIT CANDLES HAVE BEEN LIT, We are reviewing your submission. 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. (Mr. Bush won the states other Senate seat two years later.). IN THE CARE OF. 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. He was needed there because of his business acumen, his superiors said. He wants the other person to always feel good, whatever the exchange is. "During this period, even before 1979 . "He wanted to keep the integrity, the family feel, and the dedication of employees. "Ralph was always 'Ralph' to his rank-and-file employees, and a great listener who always checked his ego at the door. "His vision was always to create a little IBM," Rudnay said. Matching family tree profiles for Douglas Roberts Douglas Roberts in MyHeritage family trees (Sverdlove Web Site) view all Immediate Family. After Robert Roberts died in 1932, Ralphs mother, Sara, moved the family to the Germantown section of Philadelphia, to be near her ailing sister. That was hardly a coincidence. People who never had a financial problem in their lives can never understand what terror there is in that.''. They are not your blood family, but you spend so much time with them, you should treat them like family. OBITUARY Douglas McArthur ROBERTS April 10, 1943 - May 16, 2022. Roberts is survived by Suzanne Roberts, his wife of over 70 years and an actress, director and host of Seeking Solutions with Suzanne. Many entrepreneurs are very secretive. We'll automatically email you when obituaries are added that match your search query. But that verve was always tempered by a calm affability and a cautious approach to spending money. We all will.". Later, as a college student, he bought eggs from farms in New Jersey and peddled them to fraternities at a discount. May 2, 2021 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. ''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. 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. Ralph J. Roberts founded Comcast Corp. in 1963. Stone Funeral Home. Actually, he added, "I've had a lot of bad ideas, but he would never say that. 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 will always be remembered for his generosity, integrity, honesty, kindness and respect for everyone around him. "Ralph Roberts is the absolutely most clear-cut example of the American dream," said former Gov. Leave a memory or share a photo or video below to show your support. 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. He was born on January 6, 1955 in Tampa, Florida, the son of Terrance Andrew Roberts, Sr. and Geraldine (Boyce) Thompson. The deal stirred up widespread opposition from factions who feared that the resulting cable industry giant would stifle competition and hurt consumers. And the other children, who declined to be interviewed, are said to be knowledgeable about the plan and favorable to it. 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. Leave a memory or share a photo or video below to show your support. ''He gives more speeches than anyone who is asked,'' said one media executive, who spoke on condition of anonymity. Authorize the publication of the original written obituary with the accompanying photo. ''I don't think Ralph knows any more about Brian's personal life than he knows about the others. 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.. But the elder Mr. Roberts has probably come as close as any company founder can to setting the stage for an orderly succession. To support himself at college, he took on a variety of odd jobs, including selling milk. ''The children -- the family -- have continual discussions,'' he said during an interview in which he was joined by Brian, dressed like his father in a gray suit, black loafers, a white button-down shirt and red print tie. The memory of the fiasco still rankles Mr. Diller. Without being asked, Mrs. Roberts volunteered her opinion that Ralph and Brian clicked as few business partners do. ''It has been wonderful to share those tense moments with your father,'' Brian Roberts said, ''and hopefully, it has prepared me for the future. "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?' He was preceded in death by his father, Joe Nathan Scott, and his brother, Jonathan Scott. Growing up with five kids competing for attention, it's not easy, but he put his family first. Although eager to serve on a ship, Mr. Roberts spent his World War II duty as matriel superintendent in the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard. 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. Comcast, a name Roberts coined from the words communications and broadcasting. Mr. Roberts, who had been in declining health, died of natural causes. [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. "I have never heard Ralph raise his voice - never, ever. 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. With over 1,900 locations, Dignity Memorial providers proudly serve over 375,000 families a year. 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. He was an inspiration to us all and we will miss him greatly.". An actress, director and host of Seeking Solutions with Suzanne, Suzanne has spent a lifetime seeking to help others. He had a way of leading and managing that is razor-smart, focused, intuitive, strong, but all with a velvet glove," said chief communications officer D'Arcy Rudnay. He felt, 'This doesn't have to be about me.' . There are too many other combatants, and it becomes another deal. Private. ''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. ''They are all billionaires, and they're fighting like crazy over another billion.''. Already in his 40s, he was approached by a Philadelphia acquaintance named Dan Aaron, who alerted him to a 1,200-subscriber cable television system for sale in Tupelo. He evolved and personalized his relationship for each of my siblings," Brian Roberts said. Comcast, a name Roberts coined from the words communications and broadcasting,was incorporated in 1969. To make it work, you have to have motivated, competent successors as well as accommodating heirs. In February 2013, Comcast paid $16.7 billion to purchase the remaining stake in NBCUniversal. . ''Ralph and Julian have been intimately involved, but Ralph doesn't sit there until 4 A.M. in the lawyers' offices anymore. And if there is any disagreement, they can always talk it out. He also participated in continuing education programs at Harvard Business School. "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. Less than $5 per month Echovita offers a solidarity program that gives back the funds generated to families. His main goal at the time was to make a lot of money. Only his fourth child, Brian, is at Comcast, the. He also sold advertising on ink blotters. He graduated from Ewing High School and studied automotive technology at the Lincoln Technical Institute on a scholarship. [11] Her name appears on the Suzanne Roberts Theatre in Philadelphia and she hosted a TV program aimed at seniors called "Seeking Solutions with Suzanne" on Comcast's CN8 network. Their son, Brian L. Roberts, is the current CEO of Comcast Corporation. ", Mr. Roberts met his wife at a dance in 1937 when he was 17, she 16. https://www.nytimes.com/1997/06/22/business/the-heir-is-clearly-apparent-at-comcast.html. Douglas McArthur ROBERTS, age 79, of Rancho Cucamonga, California passed away on Monday, May 16, 2022. I didn't want it to appear that he was just his father's son.''. DOUGLAS ROBERTS OBITUARY. ''Deals like Microsoft and QVC would not have happened without Brian,'' said Steven Rattner, deputy chief executive of Lazard Freres & Company, who has worked with the family for about a decade. And her husband reminisced about family trips. This site is provided as a service of SCI Shared Resources, LLC. "Our city has lost a wonderful champion," Nutter said in a statement. I lived at home.'' Ralph is survived by Suzanne Roberts, his wife of over 70 years. It may take up to 1 hour for your comment to appear on the website. 2023 WWB Holdings, LLC. 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. 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. 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. 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. ''I would see Ralph about once a year. The Gettys or that family in Texas,'' he continued, referring to Harold Simmons, the Texas investor who is at war with his daughters. ''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. 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. Your entry has exceeded the maximum character limit. Ralph was my personal mentor, teaching me how to build and maintain a great organizational culture irrespective of size," Bonovitz said. Like many media entrepreneurs, Ralph Roberts created several classes of stock, enabling him to issue equity without losing control. 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. It struck me as a place where culture really mattered. His son Douglas died in 2011. Burial will follow at Oak Ridge Cemetery in Hillside, IL. . 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.. 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 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. mother. In a statement, Mayor Michael Nutter remembered the business visionary and family man. chief executive, Jeffrey R. Immelt, that the deal would be completed. 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. 2023 SCI SHARED RESOURCES, LLC. 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. 1-800-896-5587 (Mon-Fri, 7am-6pm MDT) Annual Membership . "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. He was the greatest influence in my life and a joy for me to work side by side with for over three decades. 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. Committed to the fight against cancer, he and his family helped establish the Roberts Proton Therapy Center at Penn Medicine in 2006. That's his legacy: not leaving his children wanting. The family will host a private service for the family, the company announced. After graduating from Parkrose High School in 1968, Doug attended Willamette University, then he graduated with a BA and Masters in Public . 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. DOUGLAS ROBERTS OBITUARY ROBERTS, DOUGLAS M. Lawton Passed away July 28, 2012 at his residence. Mr. Gates was warm to the idea. [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. IT helps, of course, that only one of the children desperately wanted to follow in Dad's footsteps. Sign up for service and obituary updates. Loving father of Dennis Garland, D.J. Mr. Roberts built Comcast through a series of acquisitions of cable systems around the country. ''Ralph is tough,'' he says ruefully. [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 never pressured any of them to join the family company -- and none besides Brian showed any interest in doing so. "We would have dinner as a family. But as Brian Roberts worked his way up the ladder, the halcyon 1980's came to an end. 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. He was 95. Overnight, it went from 18th to fifth among cable firms in the United States, with two million customers. The couple celebrated 70 years of marriage in 2012. ''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.'' "Ralph served as a longtime member of the Penn Medicine board, and actively supported athletics, undergraduate financial aid, and his class." I speak for all of us when I say he will be greatly missed. '', Both parents said that in bringing up their brood, they worked hard to see that the children connected with one another. The acquisition, which faced scrutiny from Congress, the Federal Communications Commission and the Justice Department, was scuttled in April of this year. 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. "Ralph was a tough, hard businessman, but he never forgot his obligation to help others, help his community, and help Philadelphia. ", "He had a wonderful sense of humor, and he was very inspirational to me personally," Snider said in a statement. '', Brian Roberts acknowledges that decision making, what he calls ''pulling the trigger,'' is something you learn. We would like to offer our sincere support to anyone coping with grief. Ralph Joel Roberts was born on March 13, 1920, in New York City, and was an entrepreneur from an early age. father . Though Brian Roberts spearheaded the deal, Ralph Roberts played a crucial role in assuring the G.E. "I couldn't have done that if I didn't have any money. 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. We are deeply saddened to announce that Ralph J. Roberts, husband, father and grandfather, died of natural causes Thursday, June 18 in Philadelphia, PA. Like to offer Douglas A. 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