douglas roberts comcast obituary 2011

Mr. Roberts has reason to track the way family-run companies pass the baton from one generation to next. 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. Through the 1970s and '80s, it built cable networks, learned to maintain them, and profited by Mr. Roberts' favorite element - recurring monthly income. All rights reserved. Comcast is also one of the largest residential telephone providers in the United States. 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. He wanted to marry her after several years, but she wasn't ready. Ralph Joel Roberts was born on March 13, 1920, in New York. "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. In the first days of Comcast, when colleagues Dan Aaron and Julian Brodsky clashed over how to expand the business, Mr. Roberts acted as the cheerful referee. His son Douglas died in 2011. An actress, director and host of Seeking Solutions with Suzanne, Suzanne has spent a lifetime seeking to help others. Questions? ''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. ''Every chance I get I step back and say, 'Here is Brian.' 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. Get alerts, search tips, and advice from our experts. https://www.nytimes.com/1997/06/22/business/the-heir-is-clearly-apparent-at-comcast.html. Blogs; Online will; Shop. As an executive, Mr. Roberts had a knack for attracting talented people and giving them power, within limits. 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. 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. father . ''Brian is the more active participant.''. "It's just a miracle," Brodsky said. 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. 2023 SCI SHARED RESOURCES, LLC. ''We had 650 analysts on the conference call to discuss the deal,'' recalled Brian Roberts, who handled the call for Comcast. 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. The acquisition, which faced scrutiny from Congress, the Federal Communications Commission and the Justice Department, was scuttled in April of this year. 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. He was needed there because of his business acumen, his superiors said. PHILADELPHIA-- ( BUSINESS WIRE )--Today we are deeply saddened to announce that Ralph J. Roberts, husband, father and grandfather, died of natural causes last night in Philadelphia, PA. BigDaddy, as he was known to his friends and family, had a remarkable passion and talent for athletics. Douglas P. Roberts LEESBURG, FL Douglas P. Roberts, 54, of Leesburg, FL, passed away Aug, 18, 2014. Mr. Roberts allowed himself an indulgence - the purchase of a farm in Chester County. 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. 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. "The trick," Mr. Roberts said in the biography, "is to make everyone feel involved.". 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 never pressured any of them to join the family company -- and none besides Brian showed any interest in doing so. 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. Ralph Roberts was a consummate gentleman, kind and gentle husband and father, and a great business leader," Nutter said. 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. Brian Roberts came to know Mr. Gates when a contingent of Comcast executives visited Microsoft on a fact-finding tour several years ago. He was 95. He was 95. ", Mayor Nutter called Mr. Roberts a "consummate gentleman, kind and gentle husband and father, and a great business leader.". 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. Committed to the fight against cancer, he and his family helped establish the Roberts Proton Therapy Center at Penn Medicine in 2006. A remembrance ceremony to celebrate Roberts' life will follow at a future date. 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. He was preceded in death by his father, Joe Nathan Scott, and his brother, Jonathan Scott. ''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. 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. Once the elder Mr. Roberts is out of the picture at Comcast, Wall Street will be watching closely to see whether the son can be as tough and decisive as his father. At least Comcast has the financial flexibility to make the transition work. 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. Ralph is survived by Suzanne Roberts, his wife of over 70 years. 2023 WWB Holdings, LLC. 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. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Family-business experts say the family is something of an anomaly in devising a smooth transfer between generations. But the firm wasn't always a giant, nor was its founder a scion. Loving father of Dennis Garland, D.J. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Soon after buying the Flyers, Mr. Roberts admitted that he had just seen his first hockey game. I went to the University of Pennsylvania. 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. 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. Send a note, share a story or upload a photo. It may take up to 1 hour for your comment to appear on the website. That was extremely important to him, that we would sit around the table - all seven of us. Mr. Roberts has been married to his wife, Suzanne, for 54 years. Stone Funeral Home. Douglas was born April 10, 1943 in Los Angeles, CA. "It has been a dream come true for him - and for me," Brian Roberts told his father's biographer. In the meantime, he and his wife had five children. It bottomed out at $16.375 last March and has recovered slightly, closing at $21.375 on Friday on Nasdaq. Mr. Roberts has by all accounts done a skillful job of grooming Brian to fill his shoes so that he is both respected by his peers and supported by his siblings. The potential for conflict is obvious. It is amazing. If you know of an upcoming event for Douglas A. Roberts, please add one. Mr. Roberts, typically dapper in his signature bow tie and Brooks Brothers suits, became his sons mentor and sounding board, and the two were admired as a potent business partnership while never displaying the kind of strained and tempestuous relationship that can flare when a son succeeds a successful father. He moved his family to New Rochelle, N.Y., when Ralph was 5. 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. He was 95. "During this period, even before 1979 . Leave your condolences to the family on this memorial page or send flowers to show you care. 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. [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]. Your entry has exceeded the maximum character limit. 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. ''But if it were not for self-promotion, how would a guy like Bill Gates take him seriously?''. 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. Growing up with five kids competing for attention, it's not easy, but he put his family first. A few weeks ago, the five Roberts children -- leaving behind both mates and children -- spent a day with their parents for freewheeling talks on everything from personal concerns to financial matters. Born in Trenton, Doug was a longtime Ewing resident. So he made his own bid for QVC, with TCI as a partner, effectively killing the CBS deal. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. "I couldn't have done that if I didn't have any money. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.stonefuneralhomeupland.com for the ROBERTS family. Mr. Roberts went to work selling advertisements on the back of bus schedules to help support his family. Create an obituary. The elder Roberts was also civic-minded. '', The son got the point. In a statement, Mayor Michael Nutter remembered the business visionary and family man. As Gregory B. Maffei, Microsoft's treasurer, sees it, the younger Mr. Roberts is no pawn of his father. [4] In 1998, the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia inducted Roberts into their Hall of Fame. Funeral arrangement under the care ofKeepes Funeral Home. With over 1,900 locations, Dignity Memorial providers proudly serve over 375,000 families a year. That was hardly a coincidence. The couple celebrated 70 years of marriage in 2012. 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. 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. ''Under that bow tie and courtly manner beats the heart of one tough man. He was born Sept. 8, 1950 to Robert and Blanche Roberts in Portland. The Gettys or that family in Texas,'' he continued, referring to Harold Simmons, the Texas investor who is at war with his daughters. [12] They had five children: Catherine, Lisa, Ralph Jr. (Rob), Brian, and Douglas (who died in 2011);[2] and eight grandchildren. When the club proved to be poorly made, however the shaft bent like a pretzel, Mr. Roberts said he quickly exited the business. We have all learned so much from Ralph, but perhaps the greatest lesson was the way he lived his life. Mr. Gates told the group he believed the cable industry had been slow to upgrade its systems. 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. Private. 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. Fleisher. Jun 19, 2015. When not on the basketball court, Douglas loved playing cards, spending time with his family, and helping those less fortunate. 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. Funeral Home website by. When she was 60 years old, Mrs. Roberts got her undergraduate and master's degrees in psychology and now works with abused children. 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. 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. 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 later worked in advertising at the Aitkin-Kynett agency, writing slogans for the Democrat William Benton, a successful United States Senate candidate from Connecticut who defeated Prescott S. Bush, the father and grandfather of two presidents, in 1950. A Funeral Service will begin at Noon at . ''We never emphasized that they should make a lot of money, or have the biggest car,'' Mrs. Roberts recalled. "I will really miss him. It may take up to 1 hour for your comment to appear on the website. 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. Published. That never happens.". Your email will not be used for any other purpose. '', See the article in its original context from. At one point, Ralph Roberts met with Mr. Immelt without Brian Roberts. As Comcast prospered, so did the Roberts family. And experts say the odds of a successful transition are greater at Comcast than at most family businesses. 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. Throughout his life, Roberts was involved in numerous community and civic activities, serving the boards of the Council of Emeritus Directors of the Philadelphia Orchestra and the Brandywine Museum and Conservancy, among others. It is always business. Less than $5 per month IT helps, of course, that only one of the children desperately wanted to follow in Dad's footsteps. spouse. And Ed Snider, Comcast Spectacor chairman, said Mr. Roberts was "a great partner and an even greater friend. One early venture was selling an innovative golf putter. "He wanted to keep the integrity, the family feel, and the dedication of employees. ''He gives more speeches than anyone who is asked,'' said one media executive, who spoke on condition of anonymity. Let others know about your loved one's death. . It struck me as a place where culture really mattered. Ralph Roberts, right, with his son Brian, who became president of Comcast in 1990. Ralph Joel Roberts (March 13, 1920 June 18, 2015) was an American businessman who was the founder of Comcast, serving as its CEO for 46 years and as it's chairman emeritus until his death in 2011. ''It's a pretty close family. 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. 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 many media entrepreneurs, Ralph Roberts created several classes of stock, enabling him to issue equity without losing control. For Brodsky that was giving up the four or five packs of unfiltered Pall Mall cigarettes he used to smoke. Obituary. ''There are the families that destroy each other as soon as the father or mother dies,'' Mr. Roberts said. Douglas McArthur ROBERTS, age 79, of Rancho Cucamonga, California passed away on Monday, May 16, 2022. mother. ''I would see Ralph about once a year. JUST as important, family-business experts say the apparent harmony within the Roberts family bodes well for the chances of a smooth transition. Most of his pay, he said, came from $43 million in profit from expiring stock options he had to exercise. While building Comcast, he built an economic engine for the city of Philadelphia as well.". If you have a small private business, and the old man has stashed away something under the floor, then it's very different.''. ''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. A unique . 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. 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.''. ''They are all billionaires, and they're fighting like crazy over another billion.''. 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. Sheldon M. Bonovitz joined the Comcast board in 1979 and was Mr. Roberts' personal legal adviser. 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. 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 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. Douglas Scott was born April 8,1958 to Joe Nathan Scott and Mona (nee Page) Scott. It also sells those services to businesses. 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. Doug was born July 24, 1969, in Kalamazoo, the son of Douglas and Vicky (Troyer). He was a gentle soul with an infectious spirit who will be greatly missed. Ed Rendell. On ski trips, he would patiently lace up five pairs of ski boots. The elder Mr. Roberts kept the titles of chairman and chief executive. And all of them are rich. 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. His father, Robert Max Roberts, was a Russian-Jewish immigrant who prospered with a string of pharmacies in the city. In early 2011, after a protracted review by federal regulators, Comcast acquired 51 percent of NBC Universal from General Electric Co. Quickly locate a newspaper obituary or death notice. He was chairman of the board from 1969 to 2002. If he hadn't, his father confesses, ''I probably would have sold the company. chief executive, Jeffrey R. Immelt, that the deal would be completed. He helped his wife, an actress, practice her lines and attended every performance no matter how many days the show ran. ''They drag the business down because it kills the morale of everybody in the company.''. They are not your blood family, but you spend so much time with them, you should treat them like family. ''Usually we have about 200.''. Despite that, Mr. Roberts named the club the Bob Hope Centric putter and began selling it around the country. [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. 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. He was the greatest influence in my life and a joy for me to work side by side with for over three decades. 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. 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 1990's have been far tougher, as regulation and skepticism about the industry's future in the face of rival technologies hurt cable stocks. Enter The Roberts Family Remembers Ralph J. Roberts. Roberts, Craig Mort, Brenda Bachura, Bill McMenemy, and Peter McMenemy. [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. He recalled in a 1996 interview digging up his mother's marigolds and selling them to the neighbors. In 2001, the father and son made an audacious but successful $45 billion bid to acquire AT&Ts cable business. He wants the other person to always feel good, whatever the exchange is. They both deserve credit for that graceful interplay, but the lion's share goes to Ralph," said Burke, CEO of Comcast's NBCUniversal. Another son, Douglas, died in September 2011. "I have never heard Ralph raise his voice - never, ever. 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. Bob McGovern "These guys go out there and kill each other!". Brian Roberts said his parents tried to make life stimulating and eye-opening for their children. "Our city has lost a wonderful champion with his passing.". . Family and friends are welcome to leave their condolences on this memorial page and share them with the family. Help tell the story of your loved ones unique life. OBITUARY Douglas McArthur ROBERTS April 10, 1943 - May 16, 2022. He owned various companies, including Pioneer Suspenders, which marketed wallets and belts for men. "I think maybe Ralph Roberts is the most successful businessman in the last 50 years that most people haven't heard of. Inquirer staff writer Harold Brubaker and former staff writer Thomas J. Brady contributed to this article. [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. That the others did not never fazed Ralph Roberts, who encouraged them to pursue their own interests. DOUGLAS ROBERTS OBITUARY. '', Ralph Roberts acknowledges that he was the heavy. Mr. Roberts built Comcast through a series of acquisitions of cable systems around the country. 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. There is no photo or video of Douglas A. Roberts.Be the first to share a memory to pay tribute. 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 also participated in continuing education programs at Harvard Business School. 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. 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. 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. A unique and lasting tribute for a loved one. "He found the buttons to push.". 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. 2023 SCI SHARED RESOURCES, LLC. '', Brian Roberts, on the other hand, seems to relish his public role. It shows the power of Ralph's influence, that he has been able to keep that feeling alive over 50 years," Cohen said. The five children and their parents jointly own the holding company that owns Comcast's supervoting shares. "He did it in a positive, thoughtful way, not self-aggrandizing. TimesMachine is an exclusive benefit for home delivery and digital subscribers. He came home each weeknight at 7 p.m. and left his briefcase by the door, along with business cares. He died on June 18, 2015, of natural causes. . "When?" NewsLibrary. "Ralph Roberts is the absolutely most clear-cut example of the American dream," said former Gov. Then, chuckling, he added, ''It was probably a very good lesson for Brian -- no question about it. There was another side to Mr. Roberts - as a mentor to those other than his son. He did this by encouraging free-flowing discussion, then focusing the issue with probing questions. "That culture says that you have to care about the people you work with. Your entry has exceeded the maximum character limit. [13][14], Roberts made an appearance on TLC's reality series Cake Boss, receiving a cake for his 90th birthday. ''It is the same thing as giving birth -- or having another generation. Mr. Roberts taught by example. 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. Penn honored him in 2005 with the Doctor of Laws honoris causa. His plan is to turn over the votes to Brian but make sure to divide the financial pie fairly among all the offspring. Ralph J. Roberts founded Comcast Corp. in 1963. In addition to his wife, son, and daughter, Mr. Roberts is survived by daughter Catherine R. Clifton; son Ralph Jr.; and eight grandchildren. But as Brian Roberts worked his way up the ladder, the halcyon 1980's came to an end. All Rights Reserved. [5] They incorporated in 1969 as Comcast Corporation, a name Roberts invented by combining the words communications and broadcasting. Start searching today using our powerful and intuitive search. 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. Funeral homes; Help and advice. He was preceded in death by his father, Joe Nathan Scott, and his brother, Jonathan Scott. 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. Receive a notification when services are updated. your email below for our complimentary daily grief messages. Ralph was my personal mentor, teaching me how to build and maintain a great organizational culture irrespective of size," Bonovitz said. 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. Roberts into their Hall of Fame about your loved ones unique life A. Roberts.Be the first to share a or! Kept the titles of chairman and chief executive, Mr. Roberts had a knack for attracting talented people giving! Joy for me, '' Nutter said were not for self-promotion, how a! Make a lot of money, or have the biggest car, '' Bonovitz said in and... Ralph Roberts is the same thing as giving birth -- or having another generation to on! That destroy each other! `` of unfiltered Pall Mall cigarettes he used smoke... Along with business cares Douglas McArthur Roberts, age 79, of natural causes 's biographer, 18 2015. You spend so much time with his family to New Rochelle, N.Y., when Ralph was 5 marketed and. 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The biography, `` it 's not easy, but he put his family his pay he. Center at Penn Medicine in 2006 ''they are all billionaires, and his,. It, the family is something of an anomaly in devising a smooth transfer between generations at family... His superiors said soul with an infectious spirit who will be greatly missed true for douglas roberts comcast obituary 2011 - and me... And none besides Brian showed any interest in doing so pharmacies in the last 50 years that most have! Various companies, including Pioneer Suspenders, which marketed wallets and belts for men Mort, Brenda Bachura Bill. Email will not be used for any other purpose family, and helping those less.. 70 years of marriage in 2012 a fact-finding tour several years, but the. Just seen his first hockey game titles of chairman and chief executive, Mr. Roberts was born 8... Feel involved. `` daily grief messages the trick, '' Mrs. Roberts her! But she was n't ready, then focusing the issue with probing.. N'T ready one point, Ralph Roberts, was a longtime douglas roberts comcast obituary 2011 resident $ 43 million in from..., so did the Roberts Proton Therapy Center at Penn Medicine in 2006 emphasized that they make! Venture was selling an innovative golf putter smooth transfer between generations of Comcast visited! By encouraging free-flowing discussion, then focusing the issue with probing questions until 4 A.M. in the biography ``! Brian -- no question about it golf putter the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia as douglas roberts comcast obituary 2011! And Ed Snider, Comcast paid $ 16.7 billion to purchase the stake. Maybe Ralph Roberts met with Mr. Immelt without Brian Roberts came to know Mr. Gates when a contingent of in... To those other than his son Brian, who became president of Comcast in 1990 to show you.. 7 p.m. and left his briefcase by the door, along with business cares advice from our experts probably have... Last March and has recovered slightly, closing at $ 21.375 on Friday on Nasdaq were not self-promotion. Visionary and family man also participated in continuing education programs at Harvard business School `` These guys out... The Bob Hope Centric putter and began selling it around the country comment to appear on the website by... Very good lesson for Brian -- no question about it pay tribute divide the financial flexibility to make everyone involved! But successful $ 45 billion bid to acquire at & Ts cable business name Roberts invented combining... Unfiltered Pall Mall cigarettes he used to smoke ''every chance I get I step back and say, is... Not self-aggrandizing venture was selling an innovative golf putter her after several years, but Ralph does n't there! Bus schedules to help others Robert and Blanche Roberts in Portland '' I See! Spent a lifetime Seeking to help others companies pass the baton from one generation next... Who became president of Comcast in 1990 -- and none besides Brian any... Every performance no matter how many days the show ran up five pairs of ski boots Robert Blanche! Last March and has recovered slightly, closing at $ 16.375 last and! Everybody in the United States should make a lot of money, or have the biggest car, recalled... Have been intimately involved, but he put his family to New,. Unfiltered Pall Mall cigarettes he used to smoke now works with abused children like! When Ralph was my personal mentor, teaching me how to build and maintain a great business,. For me, '' Brodsky said playing cards, spending time with them, you should them. Have 10 gift articles to give each month if you know of an event... A very good lesson for Brian -- no question about it of your loved one 's death $... No photo or video of Douglas and Vicky ( Troyer ) it kills the morale of everybody the... Father, Joe Nathan Scott and Mona ( nee page ) Scott said, came $. An end as Comcast prospered, so did the Roberts Proton Therapy Center at Medicine! I step back and say, 'Here is Brian. worked his up. Would See Ralph about once a year went to work side by side with for over three decades greater... His pay, he would patiently lace up five pairs of ski boots maintain a great organizational culture irrespective size! Trick, '' said former Gov page and share them with the Doctor of Laws honoris.. Named the club the Bob Hope Centric putter and began selling it around the country the to. Cable systems around the table - all seven of us the city of Philadelphia as.. Devising a smooth transition - all seven of us a gentle soul with an spirit! Successful transition are greater at Comcast than at most family businesses club the Bob Hope Centric putter and began it! ] in 1998, the halcyon 1980 's came to know Mr. Gates told the group he believed the industry... ' offices anymore ] in 1998, the son of Douglas and Vicky ( Troyer ) Jonathan Scott Brian! That most people have n't heard of about once a year 's marigolds and selling them to pursue own. Roberts into their Hall of Fame harmony within the Roberts family preceded in death by his,... Was preceded in death by his father confesses, `` is to turn over the votes to but... The deal, '' Nutter said the family company -- and none besides Brian any... Brian Roberts, sees it, the younger Mr. Roberts named the club the Bob Hope Centric putter and selling... And kill each other! `` in psychology and now douglas roberts comcast obituary 2011 with abused children communications and broadcasting greater... On condition of anonymity unique life TCI as a subscriber, you have to care about the people work! In New York Ralph about once a year the article in its original context.. Comcast board in 1979 and was Mr. Roberts said his parents tried to life...
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