It's been a real pleasure for the whole family," he said in 1999. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. In 1942, he married Suzanne Fleisher, an aspiring actress from a well-to-do Philadelphia family. ", Mr. Roberts met his wife at a dance in 1937 when he was 17, she 16. That was extremely important to him, that we would sit around the table - all seven of us. He died on June 18, 2015, of natural causes. No services are scheduled at this time. [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. 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. In 2001, the father and son made an audacious but successful $45 billion bid to acquire AT&Ts cable business. 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. 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. Then in 1941, after seeing him twirling with another dance partner, she "grabbed Ralph, took him out on the golf course, and said, 'I want to marry you.' 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.''. mother. I never felt that Comcast was a sixth child," she said. In 2014, Comcast proposed a $45.2 billion acquisition of Time Warner Cable. He was the greatest influence in my life and a joy for me to work side by side with for over three decades. The appeal was the Roberts team, the challenge, and the firm's culture. 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. 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. After Robert Roberts died in 1932, Ralphs mother, Sara, moved the family to the Germantown section of Philadelphia, to be near her ailing sister. Loving father of Dennis Garland, D.J. After selling the firm, he set up shop in 1961 in Bala Cynwyd. I knew a lot of people at Comcast. Their son, Brian L. Roberts, is the current CEO of Comcast Corporation. His parents Robert Max Roberts (also known as Bob Roberts) and Sara Wahl were both Russian-Jewish immigrants who became wealthy in America through ownership of a number of pharmacies, the most notable of which was in the Biltmore Hotel. 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. It bottomed out at $16.375 last March and has recovered slightly, closing at $21.375 on Friday on Nasdaq. "He found the buttons to push.". Only his fourth child, Brian, is at Comcast, the nation's fourth-largest cable television operator with $4 billion in revenue last year. Create an obituary. 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. Receive obituaries from the city or cities of your choice. All Rights Reserved. ''He gives more speeches than anyone who is asked,'' said one media executive, who spoke on condition of anonymity. 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 1996, Comcast spent $240 million and agreed to pick up $170 million in debt to gain the majority interest in the Flyers, the 76ers, the Spectrum, and what was then the CoreStates Center. I went to the University of Pennsylvania. 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. 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. We'll automatically email you when obituaries are added that match your search query. 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. I cannot remember a time during our relationship where a cross word passed between us. Leave a memory or share a photo or video below to show your support. Mr. Roberts bought a small cable service in Tupelo, Miss., and built it into Comcast. IN THE CARE OF. He was 95. He felt, 'This doesn't have to be about me.' When the club proved to be poorly made, however the shaft bent like a pretzel, Mr. Roberts said he quickly exited the business. No one was punished for broaching a new idea. He had a way of leading and managing that is razor-smart, focused, intuitive, strong, but all with a velvet glove," said chief communications officer D'Arcy Rudnay. He will always be remembered for his generosity, integrity, honesty, kindness and respect for everyone around him. "It's just a miracle," Brodsky said. And the other children, who declined to be interviewed, are said to be knowledgeable about the plan and favorable to it. The company is clearly planning for the day that Ralph Roberts will no longer be running the show. 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. Matching family tree profiles for Douglas Roberts Douglas Roberts in MyHeritage family trees (Sverdlove Web Site) view all Immediate Family. 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. His wife agreed: "The thing that motivates Ralph is not having the money, but knowing that his children are secure. 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. "Ralph was a remarkable man who touched the lives of so many people. One early venture was selling an innovative golf putter. DOUGLAS ROBERTS OBITUARY Douglas J. Roberts Of Candor Douglas James Roberts, 51, of Candor, passed away suddenly at home on Monday, May 9, 2011. When not on the basketball court, Douglas loved playing cards, spending time with his family, and helping those less fortunate. "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. For Brodsky that was giving up the four or five packs of unfiltered Pall Mall cigarettes he used to smoke. 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. Burial will follow at Oak Ridge Cemetery in Hillside, IL. People who never had a financial problem in their lives can never understand what terror there is in that.''. spouse. 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. Penn honored him in 2005 with the Doctor of Laws honoris causa. It purchased for $30 billion controlling interest in the entertainment conglomerate's NBC and Telemundo broadcast networks; pay TV channels such as USA, CNBC, Bravo, and Syfy; the Universal movie studio; and Universal Studios theme parks in Florida and California. Douglas Scott was born April 8,1958 to Joe Nathan Scott and Mona (nee Page) Scott. If he hadn't, his father confesses, ''I probably would have sold the company. Comcast, a name Roberts coined from the words communications and broadcasting. It struck me as a place where culture really mattered. He moved his family to New Rochelle, N.Y., when Ralph was 5. 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. 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. "You could tell Ralph was crazy about Brian, and Brian was crazy about him. At least Comcast has the financial flexibility to make the transition work. 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. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.stonefuneralhomeupland.com for the ROBERTS 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. Ralph is survived by Suzanne Roberts, his wife of over 70 years. The deal put the cable company on a far larger corporate map. https://www.nytimes.com/1997/06/22/business/the-heir-is-clearly-apparent-at-comcast.html. "His vision was always to create a little IBM," Rudnay said. ''The father is open. 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. 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. 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. Your entry has exceeded the maximum character limit. He was an icon, a mentor and friend to so many. Mr. Roberts allowed himself an indulgence - the purchase of a farm in Chester County. 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. "We would have dinner as a family. And her husband reminisced about family trips. He loved my mother and my entire family so much. DOUGLAS ROBERTS OBITUARY. With over 1,900 locations, Dignity Memorial providers proudly serve over 375,000 families a year. "It has been a dream come true for him - and for me," Brian Roberts told his father's biographer. 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. Then, chuckling, he added, ''It was probably a very good lesson for Brian -- no question about it. The potential for conflict is obvious. [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. Ralph Roberts was a consummate gentleman, kind and gentle husband and father, and a great business leader," Nutter said. He recalled in a 1996 interview digging up his mother's marigolds and selling them to the neighbors. [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. 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. We are deeply saddened to announce that Ralph J. Roberts, husband, father and grandfather, died of natural causes Thursday, June 18 in Philadelphia, PA. His father's greatest skill, he said, ''is the ability to make the hard decision at the crucial moment.''. To support himself at college, he took on a variety of odd jobs, including selling milk. But they talk all the time. "That culture says that you have to care about the people you work with. . And experts say the odds of a successful transition are greater at Comcast than at most family businesses. Write your message of sympathy today. ''We moved into an apartment with my aunt in Philadelphia. He wanted to marry her after several years, but she wasn't ready. He was 95. He was preceded in death by his father, Joe Nathan Scott, and his brother, Jonathan Scott. But if Brian were not up to it, he would not have stood a chance because you can't sacrifice all the people in the place for a poor manager. The 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. Ralph Joel Roberts was born on March 13, 1920, in New York. Like many other cable companies, Comcast peaked in late 1993, at $28.17 a share. The elder Roberts was also civic-minded. He was needed there because of his business acumen, his superiors said. Many entrepreneurs are very secretive. He was born on January 6, 1955 in Tampa, Florida, the son of Terrance Andrew Roberts, Sr. and Geraldine (Boyce) Thompson. ", Mayor Nutter called Mr. Roberts a "consummate gentleman, kind and gentle husband and father, and a great business leader.". To make it work, you have to have motivated, competent successors as well as accommodating heirs. Mr. Gates told the group he believed the cable industry had been slow to upgrade its systems. The center, the largest and most advanced facility in the world for proton therapy - a precise form of cancer radiation - is in Penn Medicine's department of radiation oncology. A Funeral Service will begin at Noon at . 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. Brian Roberts came to know Mr. Gates when a contingent of Comcast executives visited Microsoft on a fact-finding tour several years ago. 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. ''All this would never have happened in the arms of a second wife,'' according to Mr. Danco. And all of them are rich. If you know of an upcoming event for Douglas A. Roberts, please add one. "As a person, his DNA is all over our company. He graduated from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and served four years in the U.S. Navy. May 2, 2021 "During this period, even before 1979 . ''I was probably the one to pull the curtain,'' he said. ''Under that bow tie and courtly manner beats the heart of one tough man. Even though Brian is the CEO, Ralph set the tone from a business point of view.". 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. Help tell the story of your loved ones unique life. 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. An actress, director and host of Seeking Solutions with Suzanne, Suzanne has spent a lifetime seeking to help others. After his wedding, Mr. Roberts embarked on a business career, becoming what his son called a serial entrepreneur.. 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. ''We never emphasized that they should make a lot of money, or have the biggest car,'' Mrs. Roberts recalled. Let others know about your loved one's death. "I couldn't have done that if I didn't have any money. There are no events at this time. 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. 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. [13][14], Roberts made an appearance on TLC's reality series Cake Boss, receiving a cake for his 90th birthday. Roberts is survived by Suzanne Roberts, his wife of over 70 years and an actress, director and host of Seeking Solutions with Suzanne. That never happens.". BEST DEAL! "For me, the culture and comfort and chemistry have always been really important. 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. The elder Mr. Roberts kept the titles of chairman and chief executive. 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. Leave your condolences to the family on this memorial page or send flowers to show you care. He was born Sept. 8, 1950 to Robert and Blanche Roberts in Portland. Through the 1970s and '80s, it built cable networks, learned to maintain them, and profited by Mr. Roberts' favorite element - recurring monthly income. 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. 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. BigDaddy, as he was known to his friends and family, had a remarkable passion and talent for athletics. Cancel any time, no strings attached. The Roberts family said in a statement: "Ralph was a remarkable man who touched the lives of so many people. 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. "He wanted to keep the integrity, the family feel, and the dedication of employees. Mr. Roberts would help with homework and listen to each of his five children. We have all learned so much from Ralph, but perhaps the greatest lesson was the way he lived his life. In early 2011, after a protracted review by federal regulators, Comcast acquired 51 percent of NBC Universal from General Electric Co. The memory of the fiasco still rankles Mr. Diller. Let others know about your loved one's death. The family will host a private service for the family, the company announced. He is steel. Though Brian Roberts spearheaded the deal, Ralph Roberts played a crucial role in assuring the G.E. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Suzanne Roberts. The company also has 33 million shares of common stock with one vote each and 284 million K shares with no votes. In February 2013, Comcast paid $16.7 billion to purchase the remaining stake in NBCUniversal. 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. Even as he is promoting his son, the elder Mr. Roberts is looking after the financial interests of his other children. '', The son got the point. For example, it was Brian Roberts who was on the board of Turner Broadcasting before Time Warner bought it in 1996, and it was Brian who was president of the National Cable Television Association's board in 1995. in memory of Douglass Edward Roberts, please visit our floral store. He was an inspiration to us all and we will miss him greatly.". 2023 SCI SHARED RESOURCES, LLC. Committed to the fight against cancer, he and his family helped establish the Roberts Proton Therapy Center at Penn Medicine in 2006. 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. They were like mass therapy sessions with the children.''. Published. Comcast, a name Roberts coined from the words communications and broadcasting,was incorporated in 1969. 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.. Flush with cash, Comcast went on a buying spree in the mid-1980s, acquiring part of the Group W cable system. 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. Another son, Douglas, died in September 2011. And if there is any disagreement, they can always talk it out. Messages run for up to one year and you Blogs; Online will; Shop. Private. ''It is the same thing as giving birth -- or having another generation. The acquisition, which faced scrutiny from Congress, the Federal Communications Commission and the Justice Department, was scuttled in April of this year. It may take up to 1 hour for your comment to appear on the website. 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. 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. "I have never heard Ralph raise his voice - never, ever. ''This is a relatively unusual situation,'' said Leon Danco, president of the Center for Family Studies. chief executive, Jeffrey R. Immelt, that the deal would be completed. 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 deal stirred up widespread opposition from factions who feared that the resulting cable industry giant would stifle competition and hurt consumers. 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. 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.. 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. Roberts taught by example. He is also survived by his eight grandchildren. In addition, Ralph Roberts personally owns another 5.2 million nonvoting shares, as well as 319,00 class A shares. But that verve was always tempered by a calm affability and a cautious approach to spending money. 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. Less than $5 per month He also sold advertising on ink blotters. It also locked up broadcast rights to the Phillies. Get alerts, search tips, and advice from our experts. But the firm wasn't always a giant, nor was its founder a scion. DOUGLAS ROBERTS OBITUARY Douglas J. Roberts Of Candor Douglas James Roberts, 51, of Candor, passed away suddenly at home on Monday, May 9, 2011. , they can always talk it out upcoming event for Douglas Roberts in MyHeritage family trees ( Sverdlove Site! Assuring the G.E a serial entrepreneur passed between us to acquire at & Ts cable.... Giving up the four or five packs of unfiltered Pall Mall cigarettes used... 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