Mr. Roberts went to work selling advertisements on the back of bus schedules to help support his family. In the meantime, he and his wife had five children. Brian Roberts countered that other companies, including Comcast, were aggressively upgrading. Leave a memory or share a photo or video below to show your support. Now Brian typically takes the lead.''. And experts say the odds of a successful transition are greater at Comcast than at most family businesses. People who never had a financial problem in their lives can never understand what terror there is in that.''. 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 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. He was born on January 6, 1955 in Tampa, Florida, the son of Terrance Andrew Roberts, Sr. and Geraldine (Boyce) Thompson. He moved his family to New Rochelle, N.Y., when Ralph was 5. He loved his work and all those who worked with him and for him. The fundamental fact is that people love television, he said, and if you can provide them with more television, they love it even more.. That never happens.". The deal stirred up widespread opposition from factions who feared that the resulting cable industry giant would stifle competition and hurt consumers. 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 his leisure time, on which Mr. Roberts insisted, he rode horses, foxhunted, and enjoyed his family. 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. Beloved companion of the late Mary McMenemy. ''She had a lot of friends, and she decided to go into the insurance business, and everybody she knew bought a policy from her the first year to keep us going,'' he said. Ralph Joel Roberts was born on March 13, 1920, in New York. Brian Roberts came to know Mr. Gates when a contingent of Comcast executives visited Microsoft on a fact-finding tour several years ago. . Funeral Home website by. Start searching today using our powerful and intuitive search. The five children and their parents jointly own the holding company that owns Comcast's supervoting shares. 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. A result was Microsoft's $1 billion investment in Comcast. Copyright 2023 Echovita Inc. All rights reserved. Mr. Roberts, who had been in declining health, died of natural causes. Would you like to offer Douglas A. Robertss loved ones a condolence message? If he hadn't, his father confesses, ''I probably would have sold the company. DOUGLAS ROBERTS OBITUARY ROBERTS, DOUGLAS M. Lawton Passed away July 28, 2012 at his residence. The elder Mr. Roberts kept the titles of chairman and chief executive. 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. He came home each weeknight at 7 p.m. and left his briefcase by the door, along with business cares. It may take up to 1 hour for your comment to appear on the website. 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. 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. Funeral arrangement under the care ofKeepes Funeral Home. Bob McGovern The Roberts Family Remembers Ralph J. Roberts. ''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. He wants the other person to always feel good, whatever the exchange is. Mr. Roberts said, according to his biography. Sign up for service and obituary updates. Let others know about your loved one's death. And all of them are rich. May 2, 2021 It also sells those services to businesses. 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. I went to the University of Pennsylvania. It also locked up broadcast rights to the Phillies. That's his legacy: not leaving his children wanting. '', Brian Roberts acknowledges that decision making, what he calls ''pulling the trigger,'' is something you learn. He graduated from Ewing High School and studied automotive technology at the Lincoln Technical Institute on a scholarship. Help tell the story of your loved ones unique life. 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. He loved my mother and my entire family so much. That was extremely important to him, that we would sit around the table - all seven of 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. 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. Ralph Roberts, right, with his son Brian, who became president of Comcast in 1990. Mr. Gates was warm to the idea. Since I was 12, all I wanted to do was work with my dad, Brian Roberts said in an interview for this obituary. Douglas A. Roberts, 66, of Mount Carmel, Illinois, passed away on Sunday, May 2, 2021 at his residence. He was always a stickler for table manners," she said. He has five children, aged 36 to 47. "We would have dinner as a family. 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. Blogs; Online will; Shop. 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. Less than $5 per month Only his fourth child, Brian, is at Comcast, the nation's fourth-largest cable television operator with $4 billion in revenue last year. . ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Mr. Roberts allowed himself an indulgence - the purchase of a farm in Chester County. Moving to Germantown with his family from New Rochelle, N.Y., after his father's death, he graduated from Germantown High School and in 1941 from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, where he received a bachelor's degree. I knew a lot of people at Comcast. https://www.nytimes.com/1997/06/22/business/the-heir-is-clearly-apparent-at-comcast.html. This site is provided as a service of SCI Shared Resources, LLC. 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. We have all learned so much from Ralph, but perhaps the greatest lesson was the way he lived his life. Doug was predeceased by his infant. To support himself at college, he took on a variety of odd jobs, including selling milk. He was a gentle soul with an infectious spirit who will be greatly missed. The company also has 33 million shares of common stock with one vote each and 284 million K shares with no votes. But the elder Mr. Roberts has probably come as close as any company founder can to setting the stage for an orderly succession. Doug was born July 24, 1969, in Kalamazoo, the son of Douglas and Vicky (Troyer). "But I don't think I'll be seeing too many more," he said. Douglas was born April 10, 1943 in Los Angeles, CA. They both deserve credit for that graceful interplay, but the lion's share goes to Ralph," said Burke, CEO of Comcast's NBCUniversal. There was another side to Mr. Roberts - as a mentor to those other than his son. 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. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. The deal put the cable company on a far larger corporate map. [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. Make a life-giving gesture. When not on the basketball court, Douglas loved playing cards, spending time with his family, and helping those less fortunate. Mr. Roberts would help with homework and listen to each of his five children. He did this by encouraging free-flowing discussion, then focusing the issue with probing questions. ''We moved into an apartment with my aunt in Philadelphia. 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. "When?" He was 95. (66 years old). As Gregory B. Maffei, Microsoft's treasurer, sees it, the younger Mr. Roberts is no pawn of his father. ''We would have discussions about our lives. 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. Prepare a personalized obituary for someone you loved.. January 6, 1955 - 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. 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. '', Or an arrogant one. I lived at home.'' Their simple philosophy was summed up by Mr. Roberts in an interview with The New York Times in 2007. PhillyVoice Contributor. In 1963, the year he founded the company, he created Comcast class B shares, of which there are 8.8 million, each with 15 votes. Word of Mr. Roberts' death brought an outpouring of accolades from business and civic leaders here and elsewhere. To make it work, you have to have motivated, competent successors as well as accommodating heirs. "People often ask me, 'When you started in Tupelo with a few hundred customers, did you ever think that someday you'd have the largest cable company in the country?' "The trick," Mr. Roberts said in the biography, "is to make everyone feel involved.". Family and friends are welcome to leave their condolences on this memorial page and share them with the family. . Doug graduated from Hillsborough High School in Tampa and went on to attend Hobart School of Welding. Mr. Roberts, who had been in declining health, died of natural causes. Comcast - the name borrowed from communications and broadcasting - was incorporated in 1969 and began its legendary climb. 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. He is also survived by his eight grandchildren. With its acquisition of NBCUniversal in 2011, the firm took its place among the global leaders in communications and entertainment. DOUGLAS ROBERTS OBITUARY Douglas J. Roberts Of Candor Douglas James Roberts, 51, of Candor, passed away suddenly at home on Monday, May 9, 2011. "Our city has lost a wonderful champion with his passing.". Promoting an heir apparent may have been easier for the elder Mr. Roberts than for other entrepreneurs. Ralph J. Roberts founded Comcast Corp. in 1963. "Ralph was a tough, hard businessman, but he never forgot his obligation to help others, help his community, and help Philadelphia. 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. I speak for all of us when I say he will be greatly missed. Mr. Gates told the group he believed the cable industry had been slow to upgrade its systems. ''There are the families that destroy each other as soon as the father or mother dies,'' Mr. Roberts said. your email below for our complimentary daily grief messages. Ralph J. Roberts. "His legacy is that he left a big, vibrant company, that is led by his son, that will live on for many, many years," Comcast executive Steve Burke said. It may take up to 1 hour for your comment to appear on the website. The Gettys or that family in Texas,'' he continued, referring to Harold Simmons, the Texas investor who is at war with his daughters. TimesMachine is an exclusive benefit for home delivery and digital subscribers. 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. Echovita Inc is a registered trademark. No one was punished for broaching a new idea. In one generation, he started a company that is one of the 50 biggest companies in the U.S.," said Burke, one of a second wave of executives to join Comcast 15 years ago. We'll automatically email you when obituaries are added that match your search query. 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. We would like to offer our sincere support to anyone coping with grief. "It has been a dream come true for him - and for me," Brian Roberts told his father's biographer. ''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. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. "He wanted to keep the integrity, the family feel, and the dedication of employees. 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. A unique and lasting tribute for a loved one. She was not amused. One early venture was selling an innovative golf putter. He recalled in a 1996 interview digging up his mother's marigolds and selling them to the neighbors. There are too many other combatants, and it becomes another deal. 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. DOUGLAS ROBERTS OBITUARY Douglas J. Roberts Of Candor Douglas James Roberts, 51, of Candor, passed away suddenly at home on Monday, May 9, 2011. Later, the two men found themselves in the same restaurant, and Mr. Roberts suggested that Microsoft consider investing in cable. [9], In 1942, Roberts married Suzanne Fleisher,[10] who was also Jewish,[2] an actress and playwright, and daughter of philanthropist Alfred W. Although eager to serve on a ship, Mr. Roberts spent his World War II duty as matriel superintendent in the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard. 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. The memory of the fiasco still rankles Mr. Diller. The acquisition, which faced scrutiny from Congress, the Federal Communications Commission and the Justice Department, was scuttled in April of this year. A Funeral Service will begin at Noon at . ", Mayor Nutter called Mr. Roberts a "consummate gentleman, kind and gentle husband and father, and a great business leader.". Mr. Roberts later took jobs with the Muzak Corporation and the Pioneer Suspender Company, which sold mens belts and cologne. 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. Your entry has exceeded the maximum character limit. 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. 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. 2023 SCI SHARED RESOURCES, LLC. All rights reserved. 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. 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. 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. A Funeral Service will begin at Noon at the Funeral Home. But during the Depression, Mr. Roberts recalled, ''my father died, and we lost all our money. 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. Actually, he added, "I've had a lot of bad ideas, but he would never say that. Fleisher. 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. Of chairman and chief executive has been a dream come true for him - and him. 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