PhillyVoice Contributor. "It has been a dream come true for him - and for me," Brian Roberts told his father's biographer. In its infancy, Comcast bought systems in Mississippi, the Detroit suburbs, and Pennsylvania. Word of Mr. Roberts' death brought an outpouring of accolades from business and civic leaders here and elsewhere. He also participated in continuing education programs at Harvard Business School. 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. He was always a stickler for table manners," she said. Help tell the story of your loved ones unique life. "We would have dinner as a family. . Actually, he added, "I've had a lot of bad ideas, but he would never say that. Roberts is survived by Suzanne Roberts, his wife of over 70 years and an actress, director and host of Seeking Solutions with Suzanne. Copyright 2023 Echovita Inc. All rights reserved. [4] In 1998, the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia inducted Roberts into their Hall of Fame. This has a pretty good chance of working. 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. 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. 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. "It's just a miracle," Brodsky said. They are not your blood family, but you spend so much time with them, you should treat them like family. The culture of Comcast was important to him.". Growing up with five kids competing for attention, it's not easy, but he put his family first. Douglas A. Roberts, 66, of Mount Carmel, Illinois, passed away on Sunday, May 2, 2021 at his residence. ALL along, however, Mr. Roberts has drawn his son closer to the center of action inside Comcast and pushed him into the spotlight outside the company. 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. I believe the reason we are still in this business when so many others have long since departed was his will to succeed, and to do it with certain core values and integrity. But as Brian Roberts worked his way up the ladder, the halcyon 1980's came to an end. The couple celebrated 70 years of marriage in 2012. DOUGLAS ROBERTS OBITUARY. 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. 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. Now Brian typically takes the lead.''. He graduated from Ewing High School and studied automotive technology at the Lincoln Technical Institute on a scholarship. In 2001, the father and son made an audacious but successful $45 billion bid to acquire AT&Ts cable business. We all will.". Later, as a college student, he bought eggs from farms in New Jersey and peddled them to fraternities at a discount. There was plenty of room to give the son a shot. They were like mass therapy sessions with the children.''. If he hadn't, his father confesses, ''I probably would have sold the company. Upon graduating high school, Douglas went on to attend Wilbur Wright College briefly before following in his fathers footsteps and serving in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. 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. Get alerts, search tips, and advice from our experts. 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. His father, Robert Max Roberts, was a Russian-Jewish immigrant who prospered with a string of pharmacies in the city. He wants the other person to always feel good, whatever the exchange is. 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. The Elkins Park family would travel to places like Haiti and Guatemala to learn about other cultures. 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. (Mr. Bush won the states other Senate seat two years later.). All rights reserved. The Roberts family said in a statement: "Ralph was a remarkable man who touched the lives of so many people. Brian Roberts said his parents tried to make life stimulating and eye-opening for their children. Ed Rendell. 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 recalled in a 1996 interview digging up his mother's marigolds and selling them to the neighbors. Roberts, Craig Mort, Brenda Bachura, Bill McMenemy, and Peter McMenemy. When not on the basketball court, Douglas loved playing cards, spending time with his family, and helping those less fortunate. "Ralph, the patient, unassuming gentleman, kept a steady hand on the wheel as they made a series of brilliant bets on the future," his son said in the biography. ''I thought if he was so young, you really have to be helped to be promoted to make it appear that you really are your own person,'' the elder Mr. Roberts recalled. Let others know about your loved one's death. Receive a notification when services are updated. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. ''I have never seen a relationship that could surpass the two of them,'' she said. Intrigued by the nascent cable industrys potential and aided by Mr. Aaron and Julian Brodsky, a Philadelphia accountant, Mr. Roberts decided to invest, overcoming his own initial misgivings and the even stronger doubts of his wife, Suzanne, who, he said, thought he was absolutely crazy., The cable business, you put up a tower, you run a line down through the telephone poles, you charge everybody $5 a month, and you dont do anything, so it didnt seem very appealing to me, Mr. Roberts recalled in receiving a television industry award in 2003. 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. 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. ", "He had a wonderful sense of humor, and he was very inspirational to me personally," Snider said in a statement. So he made his own bid for QVC, with TCI as a partner, effectively killing the CBS deal. He died on June 18, 2015, of natural causes. Daughter Lisa said Mr. Roberts was an attentive father. He was born on January 6, 1955 in Tampa, Florida, the son of Terrance Andrew Roberts, Sr. and Geraldine (Boyce) Thompson. Your entry has exceeded the maximum character limit. 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. 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. No one was punished for broaching a new idea. NewsLibrary. He was a gentle soul with an infectious spirit who will be greatly missed. Mr. Roberts went to work selling advertisements on the back of bus schedules to help support his family. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. "I think maybe Ralph Roberts is the most successful businessman in the last 50 years that most people haven't heard of. When the club proved to be poorly made, however the shaft bent like a pretzel, Mr. Roberts said he quickly exited the business. Prepare a personalized obituary for someone you loved.. January 6, 1955 - [2], Roberts has been credited with expanding Comcast into the largest cable television company in the United States. Receive obituaries from the city or cities of your choice. 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. Maybe it was losing both his parents before he was 21, living through the Depression, but somehow he became an optimist. Then he turned the company over to his son at an early age. He graduated from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and served four years in the U.S. Navy. Matching family tree profiles for Douglas Roberts Douglas Roberts in MyHeritage family trees (Sverdlove Web Site) view all Immediate Family. 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. As Comcast prospered, so did the Roberts family. He was a gentle soul with an infectious spirit who will be greatly missed. I didn't want it to appear that he was just his father's son.''. The 1998 Inquirer Executive Compensation Survey showed that Mr. Roberts was paid $45 million, ranking second on The Inquirer's list of the most highly compensated chief executives in the region. Mr. Roberts would help with homework and listen to each of his five children. "I never had a bad idea in working for him for 30-plus years," Roberts said. That's his legacy: not leaving his children wanting. Although eager to serve on a ship, Mr. Roberts spent his World War II duty as matriel superintendent in the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard. mother. 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. In a statement to Comcast employees, his son, Brian L. Roberts, the chairman and chief executive officer, said Friday: Ralph will long be remembered as a kind, generous, and humble man and he was an inspiration to us all. The acquisition, which faced scrutiny from Congress, the Federal Communications Commission and the Justice Department, was scuttled in April of this year. 2023 WWB Holdings, LLC. 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. Despite that, Mr. Roberts named the club the Bob Hope Centric putter and began selling it around the country. This site is provided as a service of SCI Shared Resources, LLC. Published. It shows the power of Ralph's influence, that he has been able to keep that feeling alive over 50 years," Cohen said. Luckily, the youngster had business smarts as well as enthusiasm. ''There are the families that destroy each other as soon as the father or mother dies,'' Mr. Roberts said. Mr. Gates was warm to the idea. Echovita Inc is a registered trademark. Later, the two men found themselves in the same restaurant, and Mr. Roberts suggested that Microsoft consider investing in cable. Promoting an heir apparent may have been easier for the elder Mr. Roberts than for other entrepreneurs. Anyone can read what you share. 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. '', Brian Roberts, on the other hand, seems to relish his public role. 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. Ralph is survived by Suzanne Roberts, his wife of over 70 years. "He did it in a positive, thoughtful way, not self-aggrandizing. (66 years old). 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. He did this by encouraging free-flowing discussion, then focusing the issue with probing questions. The couple created the Suzanne Roberts Theatre at 480 S. Broad St. in her honor. Even though Brian is the CEO, Ralph set the tone from a business point of view.". Ralph J. Roberts founded Comcast Corp. in 1963. Soon after buying the Flyers, Mr. Roberts admitted that he had just seen his first hockey game. He helped his wife, an actress, practice her lines and attended every performance no matter how many days the show ran. 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. Their son, Brian L. Roberts, is the current CEO of Comcast Corporation. ''They come in and tear each other apart. He had resided in Leesburg for the past two years. And if there is any disagreement, they can always talk it out. "He was the greatest influence in my life and a joy for me to work side by side with for over three decades. That was hardly a coincidence. After graduating from Parkrose High School in 1968, Doug attended Willamette University, then he graduated with a BA and Masters in Public . A Funeral Service will begin at Noon at the Funeral Home. 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. 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. Like many media entrepreneurs, Ralph Roberts created several classes of stock, enabling him to issue equity without losing control. Comfort the family with flowers or a sympathy gift. 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. ''I was probably the one to pull the curtain,'' he said. ''I would see Ralph about once a year. When I think of Ralph, it is always with the utmost affection.". "Our city has lost a wonderful champion," Nutter said in a statement. Their simple philosophy was summed up by Mr. Roberts in an interview with The New York Times in 2007. BEST DEAL! Funeral homes; Help and advice. At one point, Ralph Roberts met with Mr. Immelt without Brian Roberts. ''Usually we have about 200.''. If you have a small private business, and the old man has stashed away something under the floor, then it's very different.''. There are no events at this time. It is only natural for the world to wonder: How will Brian's siblings react to all this? 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. father . Mr. Roberts, who had been in declining health, died of natural causes. A result was Microsoft's $1 billion investment in Comcast. 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. And Ed Snider, Comcast Spectacor chairman, said Mr. Roberts was "a great partner and an even greater friend. 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. I speak for all of us when I say he will be greatly missed. Fleisher. He and his wife, the former Suzanne Fleisher, restored it. For Brodsky that was giving up the four or five packs of unfiltered Pall Mall cigarettes he used to smoke. While building Comcast, he built an economic engine for the city of Philadelphia as well.". "Ralph was a tough, hard businessman, but he never forgot his obligation to help others, help his community, and help Philadelphia. It may take up to 1 hour for your comment to appear on the website. Mr. Roberts has been married to his wife, Suzanne, for 54 years. 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. 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. An actress, practice her lines and attended every performance no matter how many the... Cards, spending time with his family first view. `` Comcast Spectacor,... A. Roberts, was a Russian-Jewish immigrant who prospered with a string of pharmacies in the same restaurant and... I did n't want it to appear that he was just his father confesses, I! As enthusiasm with the New York Times in 2007 man who touched the lives of so people... Civic leaders here and elsewhere react to all this remarkable man who touched the lives so... 1968, Doug attended Willamette University, then focusing the issue with probing questions tips. 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