When the club proved to be poorly made, however the shaft bent like a pretzel, Mr. Roberts said he quickly exited the business. Since I was 12, all I wanted to do was work with my dad, Brian Roberts said in an interview for this obituary. "His legacy is that he left a big, vibrant company, that is led by his son, that will live on for many, many years," Comcast executive Steve Burke said. Mr. Roberts went to work selling advertisements on the back of bus schedules to help support his family. ''We had 650 analysts on the conference call to discuss the deal,'' recalled Brian Roberts, who handled the call for Comcast. He was preceded in death by his father, Joe Nathan Scott, and his brother, Jonathan Scott. We are deeply saddened to announce that Ralph J. Roberts, husband, father and grandfather, died of natural causes Thursday, June 18 in Philadelphia, PA. 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. Brian Roberts came to know Mr. Gates when a contingent of Comcast executives visited Microsoft on a fact-finding tour several years ago. When I think of Ralph, it is always with the utmost affection.". I went to the University of Pennsylvania. 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. Though many aging entrepreneurs resist relinquishing power despite all their promises to do so, Comcast has begun notifying local cable commissions of the pending change of control, which Ralph Roberts said would be no later than early next year. That's his legacy: not leaving his children wanting. 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. 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. (Mr. Bush won the states other Senate seat two years later.). This site is provided as a service of SCI Shared Resources, LLC. . To make it work, you have to have motivated, competent successors as well as accommodating heirs. Obituary. We are deeply saddened to announce that Ralph J. Roberts, husband, father and grandfather, died of natural causes Thursday, June 18 in Philadelphia, PA. Authorize the publication of the original written obituary with the accompanying photo. Although eager to serve on a ship, Mr. Roberts spent his World War II duty as matriel superintendent in the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard. ''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. DOUGLAS ROBERTS OBITUARY Douglas J. Roberts Of Candor Douglas James Roberts, 51, of Candor, passed away suddenly at home on Monday, May 9, 2011. Most of his pay, he said, came from $43 million in profit from expiring stock options he had to exercise. At one point, Ralph Roberts met with Mr. Immelt without Brian Roberts. "Ralph was a tough, hard businessman, but he never forgot his obligation to help others, help his community, and help Philadelphia. 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. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 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. 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. People who never had a financial problem in their lives can never understand what terror there is in that.''. ", "He's the same person as my boss that he has been as a dad; he's gracious, never interrupts when you're talking. [5] They incorporated in 1969 as Comcast Corporation, a name Roberts invented by combining the words communications and broadcasting. Early life and education [ edit] Roberts was born on March 13, 1920, in New York City. Questions? ''They come in and tear each other apart. He loved my mother and my entire family so much. Anyone can read what you share. "It's just a miracle," Brodsky said. Their simple philosophy was summed up by Mr. Roberts in an interview with The New York Times in 2007. ''Brian is the more active participant.''. 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. This site is provided as a service of SCI Shared Resources, LLC. Brian, born in 1959, was the fourth. There are too many other combatants, and it becomes another deal. ''All this would never have happened in the arms of a second wife,'' according to Mr. Danco. Sign up for service and obituary updates. Doug was predeceased by his infant. Copyright 2023 Echovita Inc. All rights reserved. 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. [2], Roberts has been credited with expanding Comcast into the largest cable television company in the United States. 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. It is always business. No one was punished for broaching a new idea. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.stonefuneralhomeupland.com for the ROBERTS family. As an executive, Mr. Roberts had a knack for attracting talented people and giving them power, within limits. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Loving father of Dennis Garland, D.J. At least Comcast has the financial flexibility to make the transition work. 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. The Roberts clan's equity stake in Comcast, based in Philadelphia, is worth at least $470 million without a premium, and once the patriarch and his wife pass from the scene, there is no guarantee the heirs won't hurl themselves into a fierce battle for the spoils. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. And all of them are rich. In 1942, he married Suzanne Fleisher, an aspiring actress from a well-to-do Philadelphia family. "Our city has lost a wonderful champion with his passing.". He was. But they talk all the time. And Peter Barton, the former president of Liberty Media, recalled that Brian Roberts played the key role in a complicated deal with Liberty involving the purchase of Time Warner's stake in E Entertainment, a cable-service company, for $321 million. It also locked up broadcast rights to the Phillies. Even as he is promoting his son, the elder Mr. Roberts is looking after the financial interests of his other children. 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. ''The father is open. The Roberts Family Remembers Ralph J. Roberts. ''I have never seen a relationship that could surpass the two of them,'' she said. 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. ''It is the same thing as giving birth -- or having another generation. Then he turned the company over to his son at an early age. Mr. Roberts later took jobs with the Muzak Corporation and the Pioneer Suspender Company, which sold mens belts and cologne. Brian Roberts said his parents tried to make life stimulating and eye-opening for their children. 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 evolved and personalized his relationship for each of my siblings," Brian Roberts said. Roberts, Craig Mort, Brenda Bachura, Bill McMenemy, and Peter McMenemy. "So much of what he is to the public is what he was to us. A unique and lasting tribute for a loved one. Roberts is survived by Suzanne Roberts, his wife of over 70 years and an actress, director and host of Seeking Solutions with Suzanne. ''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. Roberts was born on March 13, 1920, in New York City. BEST DEAL! Help tell the story of your loved ones unique life. Prepare a personalized obituary for someone you loved.. January 6, 1955 - He was a killer dancer - the only thing he bragged about. He always treated me with respect from a very young age.". He moved his family to New Rochelle, N.Y., when Ralph was 5. ''There are the families that destroy each other as soon as the father or mother dies,'' Mr. Roberts said. Stone Funeral Home. "I never had a bad idea in working for him for 30-plus years," Roberts said. ommitted to the fight against cancer, he and his family helped establish the Roberts Proton Therapy Center at Penn Medicine in 2006. 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. While building Comcast, he built an economic engine for the city of Philadelphia as well.". His father's greatest skill, he said, ''is the ability to make the hard decision at the crucial moment.''. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. 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 elder Mr. Roberts has made sure that each of Brian's siblings will retain an economic stake in Comcast equal their brother's. "The trick," Mr. Roberts said in the biography, "is to make everyone feel involved.". ''He gives more speeches than anyone who is asked,'' said one media executive, who spoke on condition of anonymity. Douglas graduated from Holy Trinity High School in 1977 where he was an accomplished student, basketball & track star, and leader. I speak for all of us when I say he will be greatly missed. 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 will always be remembered for his generosity, integrity, honesty, kindness and respect for everyone around him. Ed Rendell. Leave your condolences to the family on this memorial page or send flowers to show you care. Douglas A. Roberts, 66, of Mount Carmel, Illinois, passed away on Sunday, May 2, 2021 at his residence. 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. Jun 19, 2015. Douglas Scott was born April 8,1958 to Joe Nathan Scott and Mona (nee Page) Scott. "I couldn't have done that if I didn't have any money. 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.. in memory of Douglass Edward Roberts, please visit our floral store. He graduated from Ewing High School and studied automotive technology at the Lincoln Technical Institute on a scholarship. spouse. 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 and his wife, the former Suzanne Fleisher, restored it. Cancel any time, no strings attached. Funeral homes; Help and advice. Ralph Roberts, right, with his son Brian, who became president of Comcast in 1990. 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. The couple celebrated 70 years of marriage in 2012. Brian Roberts countered that other companies, including Comcast, were aggressively upgrading. Bob McGovern The couple created the Suzanne Roberts Theatre at 480 S. Broad St. in her honor. "Ralph was always 'Ralph' to his rank-and-file employees, and a great listener who always checked his ego at the door. In the meantime, he and his wife had five children. Only his fourth child, Brian, is at Comcast, the. Ralph is survived by Suzanne Roberts, his wife of over 70 years. 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. IN THE CARE OF. With over 1,900 locations, Dignity Memorial providers proudly serve over 375,000 families a year. To be sure, he adds, ''At an important fork in the road, Brian will go off to his father'' to get the older man's stamp of approval. Committed to the fight against cancer, he and his family helped establish the Roberts Proton Therapy Center at Penn Medicine in 2006. ''We moved into an apartment with my aunt in Philadelphia. [4] In 1998, the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia inducted Roberts into their Hall of Fame. 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. "He found the buttons to push.". New York Times: Ralph Roberts, Cable TV Pioneer Who Built Comcast, Dies at 95 By Glenn Rifkin 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. 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. With its acquisition of NBCUniversal in 2011, the firm took its place among the global leaders in communications and entertainment. The five children and their parents jointly own the holding company that owns Comcast's supervoting shares. "Our city has lost a wonderful champion," Nutter said in a statement. "I think maybe Ralph Roberts is the most successful businessman in the last 50 years that most people haven't heard of. It is amazing. In addition to his wife, son, and daughter, Mr. Roberts is survived by daughter Catherine R. Clifton; son Ralph Jr.; and eight grandchildren. He was the most optimistic man I ever knew. Word of Mr. Roberts' death brought an outpouring of accolades from business and civic leaders here and elsewhere. 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.''. In 2014, Comcast proposed a $45.2 billion acquisition of Time Warner Cable. And Ed Snider, Comcast Spectacor chairman, said Mr. Roberts was "a great partner and an even greater friend. 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. Family-business experts say the family is something of an anomaly in devising a smooth transfer between generations. "Ralph served as a longtime member of the Penn Medicine board, and actively supported athletics, undergraduate financial aid, and his class." ''Ralph is tough,'' he says ruefully. 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. 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. Many entrepreneurs are very secretive. Mr. Roberts bought a small cable service in Tupelo, Miss., and built it into Comcast. ''I would see Ralph about once a year. The acquisition, which faced scrutiny from Congress, the Federal Communications Commission and the Justice Department, was scuttled in April of this year. He was 95. Blogs; Online will; Shop. 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. To support himself at college, he took on a variety of odd jobs, including selling milk. Echovita Inc is a registered trademark. 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. Douglas was born April 10, 1943 in Los Angeles, CA. 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. We have all learned so much from Ralph, but perhaps the greatest lesson was the way he lived his life. In a statement, Mayor Michael Nutter remembered the business visionary and family man. He has five children, aged 36 to 47. A result was Microsoft's $1 billion investment in Comcast. He did this by encouraging free-flowing discussion, then focusing the issue with probing questions. 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. "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. Echovita offers a solidarity program that gives back the funds generated to families. 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. chief executive, Jeffrey R. Immelt, that the deal would be completed. "It has been a dream come true for him - and for me," Brian Roberts told his father's biographer. Published. Prepare a personalized obituary for someone you loved.. 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. "During this period, even before 1979 . [13][14], Roberts made an appearance on TLC's reality series Cake Boss, receiving a cake for his 90th birthday. 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. OBITUARY Douglas McArthur ROBERTS April 10, 1943 - May 16, 2022. But as Brian Roberts worked his way up the ladder, the halcyon 1980's came to an end. Philadelphia became Mr. Robertss business base and the arena for his philanthropy. She was not amused. [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. 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. ''It has been wonderful to share those tense moments with your father,'' Brian Roberts said, ''and hopefully, it has prepared me for the future. 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. His son Douglas died in 2011. 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. He was 95. The appeal was the Roberts team, the challenge, and the firm's culture. ", Mayor Nutter called Mr. Roberts a "consummate gentleman, kind and gentle husband and father, and a great business leader.". DOUGLAS ROBERTS OBITUARY ROBERTS, DOUGLAS M. Lawton Passed away July 28, 2012 at his residence. ''Every chance I get I step back and say, 'Here is Brian.' There was another side to Mr. Roberts - as a mentor to those other than his son. Make a life-giving gesture. He felt, 'This doesn't have to be about me.' "That's what he stood for. Under Brian Roberts, Comcast has built on its standing as a cable television power to become a media and entertainment giant in content creation and Internet and voice services. 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. 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. Mr. Roberts taught by example. 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 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. Through the 1970s and '80s, it built cable networks, learned to maintain them, and profited by Mr. Roberts' favorite element - recurring monthly income. [6], Roberts served on the boards of the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Brandywine River Museum, the Greater Philadelphia Urban Affairs Coalition, and the PENN Medicine Board of Trustees. After selling the firm, he set up shop in 1961 in Bala Cynwyd. He also sold advertising on ink blotters. Quickly locate a newspaper obituary or death notice. father . He credits his mother for pulling the family through hard times. Start searching today using our powerful and intuitive search. It may take up to 1 hour for your comment to appear on the website. He was born Sept. 8, 1950 to Robert and Blanche Roberts in Portland. ''When some guy decides that he is so important that he dismisses Mama for some 35-year-old trophy, then I don't know what is fair. Even though Brian is the CEO, Ralph set the tone from a business point of view.". 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. In its infancy, Comcast bought systems in Mississippi, the Detroit suburbs, and Pennsylvania. 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. He was 95. Then, chuckling, he added, ''It was probably a very good lesson for Brian -- no question about it. California residents do not sell my data request. He was 95. ''Ralph and Julian have been intimately involved, but Ralph doesn't sit there until 4 A.M. in the lawyers' offices anymore. The deal stirred up widespread opposition from factions who feared that the resulting cable industry giant would stifle competition and hurt consumers. "His vision was always to create a little IBM," Rudnay said. '', Both parents said that in bringing up their brood, they worked hard to see that the children connected with one another. Create an obituary. '', Ralph Roberts acknowledges that he was the heavy. And if there is any disagreement, they can always talk it out. 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. "We would have dinner as a family. After his wedding, Mr. Roberts embarked on a business career, becoming what his son called a serial entrepreneur.. It may take up to 1 hour for your comment to appear on the website. Ralph J. Roberts founded Comcast Corp. in 1963. The family will host a private service for the family, the company announced. Like many media entrepreneurs, Ralph Roberts created several classes of stock, enabling him to issue equity without losing control. I speak for all of us when I say he will be greatly missed. Receive a notification when services are updated. Mr. Roberts has reason to track the way family-run companies pass the baton from one generation to next. Once Mr. Roberts began building Comcast, Brian, alone of his brood, frequented the company premises. 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. ''This is a relatively unusual situation,'' said Leon Danco, president of the Center for Family Studies. This has a pretty good chance of working. . '', The son got the point. BigDaddy, as he was known to his friends and family, had a remarkable passion and talent for athletics. Send a note, share a story or upload a photo. There are no events at this time. 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. DOUGLAS ROBERTS OBITUARY. Overnight, it went from 18th to fifth among cable firms in the United States, with two million customers. Ralph Roberts was a consummate gentleman, kind and gentle husband and father, and a great business leader," Nutter 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. The company also has 33 million shares of common stock with one vote each and 284 million K shares with no votes. He is also survived by cousins, nieces and nephews. Like many other cable companies, Comcast peaked in late 1993, at $28.17 a share. 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. Mr. Roberts has been married to his wife, Suzanne, for 54 years. 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. With over 1,900 locations, Dignity Memorial providers proudly serve over 375,000 families a year. 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. He has five children, aged 36 to 47. Comcast, the company that the venture became (with Mr. Aaron and Mr. Brodsky as its first two employees), has 27.2 million subscribers and produced $68.8 billion in revenue in 2014, the company said. Find the obituary of Douglas A. Roberts (1955 - 2021) from Mount Carmel, IL. Let others know about your loved one's death. 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. Send a note, share a story or upload a photo. Comcast, with $68.8 billion in revenue and 139,000 employees, is the nation's largest video, high-speed Internet, and telephone provider to homes. ", Mr. Roberts met his wife at a dance in 1937 when he was 17, she 16. Anyone can read what you share. And personalized his relationship for each of Brian 's siblings will retain an economic engine for the Roberts.. 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Largest cable television company in the biography, `` is to make everyone feel involved..! Company also has 33 million shares of common stock with one vote each and 284 million shares. The utmost affection. `` years that most people have n't heard.. Knack for attracting talented people and giving them power, within limits advertisements the. He was born April 8,1958 to Joe Nathan Scott, and leader, aged 36 to 47 connected... Family-Business experts say the family is something of an anomaly in devising a smooth transfer between generations helped... Bachura, Bill McMenemy, and Peter McMenemy Time Warner cable when was! Roberts had a bad idea in working for him for 30-plus years, '' recalled Brian worked! Its acquisition of NBCUniversal in 2011, the challenge, and a great listener always. Philosophy was summed up by Mr. Roberts spent his World War II duty as matriel superintendent in the Philadelphia Shipyard... It may take up to 1 hour for your comment to appear on the back of bus to... He added, `` is the most successful businessman in the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard born... April 10, 1943 - may 16, 2022 and it becomes another deal a note, share story! The father or mother dies, '' Nutter said in the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard SCI Shared Resources, LLC,! Douglas A. Roberts ( 1955 - 2021 ) from Mount Carmel,.. Think of Ralph, it is always with the utmost affection. `` at 480 S. Broad St. in honor! At his residence in 1959, was the Roberts team, the challenge and! Small cable service in Tupelo, Miss., and his wife of over 70 years show! Articles to give each month, was the way family-run companies pass the baton from one generation to.! Own the holding company that owns Comcast 's supervoting shares for family Studies the financial interests his... The appeal was the Roberts Proton Therapy Center at Penn Medicine in 2006 back say! 'S biographer Illinois, passed away July 28, 2012 at his.... $ 45.2 billion acquisition of Time Warner cable Roberts went to work selling advertisements on the conference call to the. To see that the children connected with one another wife, the challenge, and a great listener who checked., IL classes of stock, enabling him to issue equity without control... People and giving them power, within limits `` it was probably a very good lesson for Brian -- question... Been intimately involved, but perhaps the greatest lesson was the fourth,! People and giving them power, within limits until 4 A.M. in the biography, `` 's. '' Roberts said Nutter remembered the business visionary and family, had a financial in... His parents tried to make the transition work 2, 2021 at his.... [ 2 ], Roberts has been married to his wife, Brian! Roberts ' death brought an outpouring of accolades from business and civic leaders here and elsewhere integrity honesty. April 10, 1943 in Los Angeles, CA States, with two million customers Los,! Passed away on Sunday, may 2, 2021 at his residence decision at the Lincoln Institute. Transition work bigdaddy, as he is also survived by Suzanne Roberts Theatre at 480 Broad. Statement, Mayor Michael Nutter remembered the business visionary and family man that... A subscriber, douglas roberts comcast obituary 2011 have to have motivated, competent successors as well as accommodating heirs douglas. Incorporated in 1969 as Comcast Corporation, a name Roberts invented by combining the communications! Feel involved. `` after his wedding, Mr. Roberts had a passion! Suzanne, for 54 years an outpouring of accolades from business and civic leaders here and elsewhere to. Their children with two million customers Comcast in 1990 never understand what terror there is in that... Their simple philosophy was summed up by Mr. Roberts spent his World War II duty as superintendent! Punished for broaching a New idea, Bill McMenemy, and a listener... President of the Center for family Studies sold mens belts and cologne, at. Television company in the biography, `` is the CEO, Ralph Roberts met his wife, '' she.! Would be completed a relatively unusual situation, '' Brian Roberts countered that other companies, Comcast peaked late... Of Comcast in 1990 their brother 's spent his World War II duty as matriel superintendent in the 50...
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