", "He's the same person as my boss that he has been as a dad; he's gracious, never interrupts when you're talking. Your entry has exceeded the maximum character limit. 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. Many entrepreneurs are very secretive. Mr. Gates told the group he believed the cable industry had been slow to upgrade its systems. 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. The deal stirred up widespread opposition from factions who feared that the resulting cable industry giant would stifle competition and hurt consumers. A unique and lasting tribute for a loved one. 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. He was 95. 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. BigDaddy, as he was known to his friends and family, had a remarkable passion and talent for athletics. The elder Mr. Roberts kept the titles of chairman and chief executive. ", Mr. Roberts met his wife at a dance in 1937 when he was 17, she 16. ", "He had a wonderful sense of humor, and he was very inspirational to me personally," Snider said in a statement. Mr. Roberts would help with homework and listen to each of his five children. "As a person, his DNA is all over our company. Would you like to offer Douglas A. Robertss loved ones a condolence message? Maybe it was losing both his parents before he was 21, living through the Depression, but somehow he became an optimist. 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. After his wedding, Mr. Roberts embarked on a business career, becoming what his son called a serial entrepreneur.. Committed to the fight against cancer, he and his family helped establish the Roberts Proton Therapy Center at Penn Medicine in 2006. 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 was always a stickler for table manners," she said. '', Ralph Roberts acknowledges that he was the heavy. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Mr. Gates was warm to the idea. 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. 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. There are too many other combatants, and it becomes another deal. Receive obituaries from the city or cities of your choice. He knew that "people love television," according to his biography; he staked his future on that love, and won. Word of Mr. Roberts' death brought an outpouring of accolades from business and civic leaders here and elsewhere. Despite that, Mr. Roberts named the club the Bob Hope Centric putter and began selling it around the country. Douglas A. Roberts, 66, of Mount Carmel, Illinois, passed away on Sunday, May 2, 2021 at his residence. 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. "It's just a miracle," Brodsky said. [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. He was an inspiration to us all and we will miss him greatly.". Comcast - the name borrowed from communications and broadcasting - was incorporated in 1969 and began its legendary climb. Without being asked, Mrs. Roberts volunteered her opinion that Ralph and Brian clicked as few business partners do. 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. 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. Even as he is promoting his son, the elder Mr. Roberts is looking after the financial interests of his other children. Anyone can read what you share. 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. 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. Doug was predeceased by his infant. Fleisher. 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. In early 2011, after a protracted review by federal regulators, Comcast acquired 51 percent of NBC Universal from General Electric Co. 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. ''They are all billionaires, and they're fighting like crazy over another billion.''. to the family or plant a tree 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. One early venture was selling an innovative golf putter. He was a gentle soul with an infectious spirit who will be greatly missed. 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. All rights reserved. He recalled in a 1996 interview digging up his mother's marigolds and selling them to the neighbors. "Ralph served as a longtime member of the Penn Medicine board, and actively supported athletics, undergraduate financial aid, and his class." That was extremely important to him, that we would sit around the table - all seven of us. Messages run for up to one year and you Comcast is also one of the largest residential telephone providers in the United States. 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. It is amazing. We would like to offer our sincere support to anyone coping with grief. The five children and their parents jointly own the holding company that owns Comcast's supervoting shares. Ralph Joel Roberts was born on March 13, 1920, in New York. Your entry has exceeded the maximum character limit. "Ralph was always 'Ralph' to his rank-and-file employees, and a great listener who always checked his ego at the door. Ralph Roberts was a consummate gentleman, kind and gentle husband and father, and a great business leader," Nutter said. ''We moved into an apartment with my aunt in Philadelphia. 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. Mr. Roberts has been married to his wife, Suzanne, for 54 years. 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. He was preceded in death by his father, Joe Nathan Scott, and his brother, Jonathan Scott. To make it work, you have to have motivated, competent successors as well as accommodating heirs. May 2, 2021 This site is provided as a service of SCI Shared Resources, LLC. Most of his pay, he said, came from $43 million in profit from expiring stock options he had to exercise. He was 95. Actually, he added, "I've had a lot of bad ideas, but he would never say that. [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. In addition to his wife, Ralph is survived by four of his children and their spouses: Catherine R. Clifton and Anthony A. Clifton, Lisa S. Roberts and David Seltzer, Ralph Roberts Jr. and Kim Roberts, Brian L. Roberts and Aileen K. Roberts and Diane Roberts, widow of Ralph and Suzannes son Douglas Roberts, who passed away in September 2011. The culture of Comcast was important to him.". [13][14], Roberts made an appearance on TLC's reality series Cake Boss, receiving a cake for his 90th birthday. 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. 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. Brian Roberts said his parents tried to make life stimulating and eye-opening for their children. '', Both parents said that in bringing up their brood, they worked hard to see that the children connected with one another. ''This is a relatively unusual situation,'' said Leon Danco, president of the Center for Family Studies. Let others know about your loved one's death. Another son, Douglas, died in September 2011. 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. Send a note, share a story or upload a photo. your email below for our complimentary daily grief messages. [5] They incorporated in 1969 as Comcast Corporation, a name Roberts invented by combining the words communications and broadcasting. The Roberts clan's equity stake in Comcast, based in Philadelphia, is worth at least $470 million without a premium, and once the patriarch and his wife pass from the scene, there is no guarantee the heirs won't hurl themselves into a fierce battle for the spoils. In a statement, Mayor Michael Nutter remembered the business visionary and family man. What is more common is that this kind of agreement does not happen. He never pressured any of them to join the family company -- and none besides Brian showed any interest in doing so. With over 1,900 locations, Dignity Memorial providers proudly serve over 375,000 families a year. He was 95. He was 95. Leave a memory or share a photo or video below to show your support. I never felt that Comcast was a sixth child," she said. Send a note, share a story or upload a photo. "I will really miss him. His plan is to turn over the votes to Brian but make sure to divide the financial pie fairly among all the offspring. The acquisition, which faced scrutiny from Congress, the Federal Communications Commission and the Justice Department, was scuttled in April of this year. 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. "So much of what he is to the public is what he was to us. 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. ''They come in and tear each other apart. It may take up to 1 hour for your comment to appear on the website. Quickly locate a newspaper obituary or death notice. We are deeply saddened to announce that Ralph J. Roberts, husband, father and grandfather, died of natural causes Thursday, June 18 in Philadelphia, PA. [12] They had five children: Catherine, Lisa, Ralph Jr. (Rob), Brian, and Douglas (who died in 2011);[2] and eight grandchildren. 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. 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. PhillyVoice Contributor. Like many media entrepreneurs, Ralph Roberts created several classes of stock, enabling him to issue equity without losing control. The fundamental fact is that people love television, he said, and if you can provide them with more television, they love it even more.. Even though Brian is the CEO, Ralph set the tone from a business point of view.". Mr. Roberts has reason to track the way family-run companies pass the baton from one generation to next. He did this by encouraging free-flowing discussion, then focusing the issue with probing questions. 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. mother. Penn honored him in 2005 with the Doctor of Laws honoris causa. IN THE CARE OF. "It has been a dream come true for him - and for me," Brian Roberts told his father's biographer. father . The Roberts Family Remembers Ralph J. Roberts. I cannot remember a time during our relationship where a cross word passed between us. And if there is any disagreement, they can always talk it out. 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.' Mr. Roberts bought a small cable service in Tupelo, Miss., and built it into Comcast. ''All this would never have happened in the arms of a second wife,'' according to Mr. Danco. Loving father of Dennis Garland, D.J. He was 95. hairman emeritus of the companys board of directors, created a. small, regional cable outfit that is now the largest cable and home Internet provider in the United States and the largest broadcasting and cable company in the world. Anyone can read what you share. At least Comcast has the financial flexibility to make the transition work. ''There is something about wanting to pass things on,'' he said. (Mr. Bush won the states other Senate seat two years later.). The elder Roberts was also civic-minded. (66 years old). As an executive, Mr. Roberts had a knack for attracting talented people and giving them power, within limits. 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. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.stonefuneralhomeupland.com for the ROBERTS family. Enter Funeral arrangement under the care ofKeepes Funeral Home. He felt, 'This doesn't have to be about me.' Leave your condolences to the family on this memorial page or send flowers to show you care. I knew a lot of people at Comcast. Douglas was born April 10, 1943 in Los Angeles, CA. In 2014, Comcast proposed a $45.2 billion acquisition of Time Warner Cable. Promoting an heir apparent may have been easier for the elder Mr. Roberts than for other entrepreneurs. 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. If you know of an upcoming event for Douglas A. Roberts, please add one. Mr. Roberts, who had been in declining health, died of natural causes. I speak for all of us when I say he will be greatly missed. ''They drag the business down because it kills the morale of everybody in the company.''. Ralph J. Roberts. A Funeral Service will begin at Noon at the Funeral Home. Leave a memory or share a photo or video below to show your support. Later, the two men found themselves in the same restaurant, and Mr. Roberts suggested that Microsoft consider investing in cable. He rose to president and chief executive at Pioneer and eventually bought the company. Suzanne Roberts. It is the mother who will make it work. 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. Funeral Home website by. 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. 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