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. ''But if it were not for self-promotion, how would a guy like Bill Gates take him seriously?''. 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. Roberts, Craig Mort, Brenda Bachura, Bill McMenemy, and Peter McMenemy. Despite that, Mr. Roberts named the club the Bob Hope Centric putter and began selling it around the country. . Promoting an heir apparent may have been easier for the elder Mr. Roberts than for other entrepreneurs. He was a gentle soul with an infectious spirit who will be greatly missed. 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. '', Or an arrogant one. "The amazing genius of my father is that there was not a one-size-fits-all for parenting. DOUGLAS ROBERTS OBITUARY Douglas J. Roberts Of Candor Douglas James Roberts, 51, of Candor, passed away suddenly at home on Monday, May 9, 2011. The family will host a private service for the family, the company announced. In 1994, for example, Ralph Roberts scuttled a bid by Barry Diller, then the chairman of QVC, the home-shopping cable channel, to acquire CBS. I cannot remember a time during our relationship where a cross word passed between us. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. chief executive, Jeffrey R. Immelt, that the deal would be completed. [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. Then, chuckling, he added, ''It was probably a very good lesson for Brian -- no question about it. Sign up for service and obituary updates. We have all learned so much from Ralph, but perhaps the greatest lesson was the way he lived his life. He was an inspiration to us all and we will miss him greatly.". One early venture was selling an innovative golf putter. Brian Roberts came to know Mr. Gates when a contingent of Comcast executives visited Microsoft on a fact-finding tour several years ago. Anyone can read what you share. All Rights Reserved. In 2011, fulfilling the Robertses long-held interest in NBC, Comcast acquired a majority stake in NBCUniversal from General Electric for $6.5 billion; in doing so, it became one of the industrys leading content producers. No one was punished for broaching a new idea. 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. 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. Our activities are so public. He was always a stickler for table manners," she said. He is also survived by his eight grandchildren. In his leisure time, on which Mr. Roberts insisted, he rode horses, foxhunted, and enjoyed his family. 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. Roberts was born on March 13, 1920, in New York City. 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. Comcast, a name Roberts coined from the words communications and broadcasting. 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. Mr. Gates was warm to the idea. '', Brian Roberts acknowledges that decision making, what he calls ''pulling the trigger,'' is something you learn. I lived at home.'' CANDLE HAS BEEN LIT CANDLES HAVE BEEN LIT, We are reviewing your submission. "I never had a bad idea in working for him for 30-plus years," Roberts said. 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. Like many media entrepreneurs, Ralph Roberts created several classes of stock, enabling him to issue equity without losing control. "Ralph was always 'Ralph' to his rank-and-file employees, and a great listener who always checked his ego at the door. He graduated from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and served four years in the U.S. Navy. ''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. The Elkins Park family would travel to places like Haiti and Guatemala to learn about other cultures. He has five children, aged 36 to 47. It is a sign of a man who has given considerable thought to the future and has spoken to his other children. In addition, Ralph Roberts personally owns another 5.2 million nonvoting shares, as well as 319,00 class A shares. When not on the basketball court, Douglas loved playing cards, spending time with his family, and helping those less fortunate. "He wanted to keep the integrity, the family feel, and the dedication of employees. To make it work, you have to have motivated, competent successors as well as accommodating heirs. The couple celebrated 70 years of marriage in 2012. But that verve was always tempered by a calm affability and a cautious approach to spending money. can stop at any 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. Mr. Roberts, who had been in declining health, died of natural causes. Mr. Roberts allowed himself an indulgence - the purchase of a farm in Chester County. He was the greatest influence in my life and a joy for me to work side by side with for over three decades. Sign up for service and obituary updates. If you know of an upcoming event for Douglas A. Roberts, please add one. ''There is something about wanting to pass things on,'' he said. Brian Roberts countered that other companies, including Comcast, were aggressively upgrading. "He found the buttons to push.". When she was 60 years old, Mrs. Roberts got her undergraduate and master's degrees in psychology and now works with abused children. In the meantime, he and his wife had five children. Burial will follow at Oak Ridge Cemetery in Hillside, IL. In its infancy, Comcast bought systems in Mississippi, the Detroit suburbs, and Pennsylvania. Without being asked, Mrs. Roberts volunteered her opinion that Ralph and Brian clicked as few business partners do. '', Both parents said that in bringing up their brood, they worked hard to see that the children connected with one another. After his wedding, Mr. Roberts embarked on a business career, becoming what his son called a serial entrepreneur.. Another son, Douglas, died in September 2011. The culture of Comcast was important to him.". Leave a memory or share a photo or video below to show your support. https://www.nytimes.com/1997/06/22/business/the-heir-is-clearly-apparent-at-comcast.html. The Roberts Family Remembers Ralph J. Roberts. "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 born Sept. 8, 1950 to Robert and Blanche Roberts in Portland. In February 2013, Comcast paid $16.7 billion to purchase the remaining stake in NBCUniversal. JUST as important, family-business experts say the apparent harmony within the Roberts family bodes well for the chances of a smooth transition. Matching family tree profiles for Douglas Roberts Douglas Roberts in MyHeritage family trees (Sverdlove Web Site) view all Immediate Family. 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. 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. 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. 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. And Ed Snider, Comcast Spectacor chairman, said Mr. Roberts was "a great partner and an even greater friend. It's been a real pleasure for the whole family," he said in 1999. "That's what he stood for. "He did it in a positive, thoughtful way, not self-aggrandizing. 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. Although eager to serve on a ship, Mr. Roberts spent his World War II duty as matriel superintendent in the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard. Questions? Even though Brian is the CEO, Ralph set the tone from a business point of view.". It may take up to 1 hour for your comment to appear on the website. 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. Soon after buying the Flyers, Mr. Roberts admitted that he had just seen his first hockey game. He had resided in Leesburg for the past two years. Their son, Brian L. Roberts, is the current CEO of Comcast Corporation. We are deeply saddened to announce that Ralph J. Roberts, husband, father and grandfather, died of natural causes Thursday, June 18 in Philadelphia, PA. 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. Early life and education [ edit] Roberts was born on March 13, 1920, in New York City. The deal would have relegated Comcast, the biggest QVC shareholder, to be a minor, and passive, investor in CBS, and the elder Mr. Roberts wanted no part of that. And the other children, who declined to be interviewed, are said to be knowledgeable about the plan and favorable to it. 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. He was born on January 6, 1955 in Tampa, Florida, the son of Terrance Andrew Roberts, Sr. and Geraldine (Boyce) Thompson. . I speak for all of us when I say he will be greatly missed. Comcast - the name borrowed from communications and broadcasting - was incorporated in 1969 and began its legendary climb. 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. Your email will not be used for any other purpose. To send flowers Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Ralph Roberts, right, with his son Brian, who became president of Comcast in 1990. He was a killer dancer - the only thing he bragged about. The elder Mr. Roberts kept the titles of chairman and chief executive. 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. He was a gentle soul with an infectious spirit who will be greatly missed. "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?' It is always business. 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. NewsLibrary. We'll automatically email you when obituaries are added that match your search query. A Funeral Service will begin at Noon at the Funeral Home. ''Ralph and Julian have been intimately involved, but Ralph doesn't sit there until 4 A.M. in the lawyers' offices anymore. [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. ''We would have discussions about our lives. Mr. Gates told the group he believed the cable industry had been slow to upgrade its systems. The appeal was the Roberts team, the challenge, and the firm's culture. "I will really miss him. 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. A remembrance ceremony to celebrate Roberts' life will follow at a future date. It is amazing. 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. 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. Family and friends are welcome to leave their condolences on this memorial page and share them with the family. He rose to president and chief executive at Pioneer and eventually bought the company. 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. It may take up to 1 hour for your comment to appear on the website. Sheldon M. Bonovitz joined the Comcast board in 1979 and was Mr. Roberts' personal legal adviser. 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. 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. 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. It also locked up broadcast rights to the Phillies. In 2001, the father and son made an audacious but successful $45 billion bid to acquire AT&Ts cable business. 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. 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. 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. The potential for conflict is obvious. He credits his mother for pulling the family through hard times. ", "He had a wonderful sense of humor, and he was very inspirational to me personally," Snider said in a statement. The company is clearly planning for the day that Ralph Roberts will no longer be running the show. 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 sold it in 1961 to form his own venture capital firm, the International Equity Corporation, from which he began his foray into cable television. He is steel. California residents do not sell my data request. [4] He was awarded honorary degrees from both Holy Family College and the University of Pennsylvania, where he received their Joseph P. Wharton Award. 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.. 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. This site is provided as a service of SCI Shared Resources, LLC. 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. The deal made Comcast the nations largest cable operator. Get alerts, search tips, and advice from our experts. "That culture says that you have to care about the people you work with. There was plenty of room to give the son a shot. Write your message of sympathy today. I speak for all of us when I say he will be greatly missed. Send a note, share a story or upload a photo. 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. [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. 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. spouse. Figure skating program in Kensington aims to make the sport accessible for local athletes, Philadelphia Zoo's new exhibit includes life-sized dinosaurs and lots of bugs, Ex-football player from Bucks County among new 'Survivor' competitors, Eagles will host Browns for joint practices in preseason, Six Flags to enhance Hurricane Harbor with more water slides, tree house for young kids, Watch every 'Rocky' movie in order and for free on Pluto TV. He 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. "So much of what he is to the public is what he was to us. Sign Up Today! ''It is the same thing as giving birth -- or having another generation. your email below for our complimentary daily grief messages. ''I don't think Ralph knows any more about Brian's personal life than he knows about the others. . ''Under that bow tie and courtly manner beats the heart of one tough man. In addition to his wife, son, and daughter, Mr. Roberts is survived by daughter Catherine R. Clifton; son Ralph Jr.; and eight grandchildren. Let others know about your loved one's death. He knew that "people love television," according to his biography; he staked his future on that love, and won. Committed to the fight against cancer, he and his family helped establish the Roberts Proton Therapy Center at Penn Medicine in 2006. Mr. Roberts taught by example. 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. 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. "The trick," Mr. Roberts said in the biography, "is to make everyone feel involved.". RALPH ROBERTS, the dapper 77-year-old founder of the Comcast Corporation, loves to follow the ups and downs of other family businesses and try to figure out what makes some thrive and others implode. This site is provided as a service of SCI Shared Resources, LLC. He also sold advertising on ink blotters. Ralph J. Roberts, the man whofounded 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. This has a pretty good chance of working. Ralph Joel Roberts was born on March 13, 1920, in New York City, and was an entrepreneur from an early age. 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.. 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. Stone Funeral Home. In 1942, he married Suzanne Fleisher, an aspiring actress from a well-to-do Philadelphia family. Comfort the family with flowers or a sympathy gift. 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.. Cancel any time, no strings attached. . Doug was predeceased by his infant. [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. "It has been a dream come true for him - and for me," Brian Roberts told his father's biographer. 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. ''I was probably the one to pull the curtain,'' he said. But during the Depression, Mr. Roberts recalled, ''my father died, and we lost all our money. "But I don't think I'll be seeing too many more," he said. BEST DEAL! He was the most optimistic man I ever knew. 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. "You could tell Ralph was crazy about Brian, and Brian was crazy about him. "His vision was always to create a little IBM," Rudnay said. Quickly locate a newspaper obituary or death notice. That's his legacy: not leaving his children wanting. He also participated in continuing education programs at Harvard Business School. As Gregory B. Maffei, Microsoft's treasurer, sees it, the younger Mr. Roberts is no pawn of his father. 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. Ralph was my personal mentor, teaching me how to build and maintain a great organizational culture irrespective of size," Bonovitz said. [5] They incorporated in 1969 as Comcast Corporation, a name Roberts invented by combining the words communications and broadcasting. ''They are all billionaires, and they're fighting like crazy over another billion.''. 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 never pressured any of them to join the family company -- and none besides Brian showed any interest in doing so. [4] In 1998, the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia inducted Roberts into their Hall of Fame. Throughout his career, he remained at the core a salesman and merchant, but one who took chances and could "see around corners" to anticipate the next new thing. Daughter Lisa said Mr. Roberts was an attentive father. Receive obituaries from the city or cities of your choice. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. It also sells those services to businesses. Blogs; Online will; Shop. ''All this would never have happened in the arms of a second wife,'' according to Mr. Danco. He was 95. Doug was born July 24, 1969, in Kalamazoo, the son of Douglas and Vicky (Troyer). Mr. Roberts has reason to track the way family-run companies pass the baton from one generation to next. Doug was predeceased by his infant. 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. ''There are the families that destroy each other as soon as the father or mother dies,'' Mr. Roberts said. In early 2011, after a protracted review by federal regulators, Comcast acquired 51 percent of NBC Universal from General Electric Co. 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. He owned various companies, including Pioneer Suspenders, which marketed wallets and belts for men. ''Usually we have about 200.''. 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. Word of Mr. Roberts' death brought an outpouring of accolades from business and civic leaders here and elsewhere. Great partner and an even greater friend legal adviser University of Pennsylvania and served four years in lawyers. Selling it around the country who always checked his ego at the Funeral.. Or share a photo or video below to show your support is the CEO Ralph. Was plenty of room to give the son a shot and they 're fighting like crazy over billion. Years, '' Mr. Roberts spent his World War II duty as superintendent! Real pleasure for the whole family, the broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia Roberts! ''Ralph and Julian have been easier for the past two years, the is... Not self-aggrandizing at Oak Ridge Cemetery in Hillside, IL degrees in psychology now! 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