. The company also has 33 million shares of common stock with one vote each and 284 million K shares with no votes. Anyone can read what you share. His son Douglas died in 2011. All Rights Reserved. Flush with cash, Comcast went on a buying spree in the mid-1980s, acquiring part of the Group W cable system. 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. 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. Messages run for up to one year and you 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. 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. ''Ralph is tough,'' he says ruefully. 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. 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. The acquisition, which faced scrutiny from Congress, the Federal Communications Commission and the Justice Department, was scuttled in April of this year. JUST as important, family-business experts say the apparent harmony within the Roberts family bodes well for the chances of a smooth transition. Jun 19, 2015. Mr. Roberts later took jobs with the Muzak Corporation and the Pioneer Suspender Company, which sold mens belts and cologne. [12] They had five children: Catherine, Lisa, Ralph Jr. (Rob), Brian, and Douglas (who died in 2011);[2] and eight grandchildren. They both deserve credit for that graceful interplay, but the lion's share goes to Ralph," said Burke, CEO of Comcast's NBCUniversal. Their simple philosophy was summed up by Mr. Roberts in an interview with The New York Times in 2007. Comcast is also one of the largest residential telephone providers in the United States. He credits his mother for pulling the family through hard times. ", Mr. Roberts met his wife at a dance in 1937 when he was 17, she 16. 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. No services are scheduled at this time. ''I have never seen a relationship that could surpass the two of them,'' she said. 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. He was. The family will host a private service for the family, the company announced. An actress, director and host of Seeking Solutions with Suzanne, Suzanne has spent a lifetime seeking to help others. And the other children, who declined to be interviewed, are said to be knowledgeable about the plan and favorable to it. 1-800-896-5587 (Mon-Fri, 7am-6pm MDT) Annual Membership . He was a gentle soul with an infectious spirit who will be greatly missed. ", Mayor Nutter called Mr. Roberts a "consummate gentleman, kind and gentle husband and father, and a great business leader.". 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. Word of Mr. Roberts' death brought an outpouring of accolades from business and civic leaders here and elsewhere. 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. 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. In February 2013, Comcast paid $16.7 billion to purchase the remaining stake in NBCUniversal. Sign up for service and obituary updates. Get alerts, search tips, and advice from our experts. Copyright 2023 Echovita Inc. All rights reserved. This site is provided as a service of SCI Shared Resources, LLC. "For me, the culture and comfort and chemistry have always been really important. The Elkins Park family would travel to places like Haiti and Guatemala to learn about other cultures. When I think of Ralph, it is always with the utmost affection.". At least Comcast has the financial flexibility to make the transition work. 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. He and his wife, the former Suzanne Fleisher, restored it. There are no events at this time. [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]. Find the obituary of Douglas A. Roberts (1955 - 2021) from Mount Carmel, IL. TimesMachine is an exclusive benefit for home delivery and digital subscribers. "The trick," Mr. Roberts said in the biography, "is to make everyone feel involved.". 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. Soon after buying the Flyers, Mr. Roberts admitted that he had just seen his first hockey game. And her husband reminisced about family trips. Daughter Lisa said Mr. Roberts was an attentive father. The fundamental fact is that people love television, he said, and if you can provide them with more television, they love it even more.. Mr. Roberts bought a small cable service in Tupelo, Miss., and built it into Comcast. Most recently, Roberts and his wife, Suzanne, received the Philadelphia Award to highlight their lifetime contributions to the city in business, philanthropy, and arts and culture. Sign Up Today! We all will.". Doug was predeceased by his infant. These early losses, coupled with experiences as a young salesman of golf clubs, men's accessories, cologne, and Muzak, gave Mr. Roberts an ambitious, entrepreneurial spirit. The company is clearly planning for the day that Ralph Roberts will no longer be running the show. Prepare a personalized obituary for someone you loved.. Funeral Home website by. 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. ". With over 1,900 locations, Dignity Memorial providers proudly serve over 375,000 families a year. "Ralph was a tough, hard businessman, but he never forgot his obligation to help others, help his community, and help Philadelphia. '', Brian Roberts acknowledges that decision making, what he calls ''pulling the trigger,'' is something you learn. 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. [4] He was awarded honorary degrees from both Holy Family College and the University of Pennsylvania, where he received their Joseph P. Wharton Award. It is only natural for the world to wonder: How will Brian's siblings react to all this? 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. Would you like to offer Douglas A. Robertss loved ones a condolence message? 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. "He did it in a positive, thoughtful way, not self-aggrandizing. That's his legacy: not leaving his children wanting. Like many media entrepreneurs, Ralph Roberts created several classes of stock, enabling him to issue equity without losing control. "He was the greatest influence in my life and a joy for me to work side by side with for over three decades. DOUGLAS ROBERTS OBITUARY Douglas J. Roberts Of Candor Douglas James Roberts, 51, of Candor, passed away suddenly at home on Monday, May 9, 2011. ''Hopefully, I have had more experience than most people,'' he said, ''but you never know.''. 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. Our activities are so public. He recalled in a 1996 interview digging up his mother's marigolds and selling them to the neighbors. It is always business. Help tell the story of your loved ones unique life. Ralph J. Roberts. He moved his family to New Rochelle, N.Y., when Ralph was 5. Doug graduated from Hillsborough High School in Tampa and went on to attend Hobart School of Welding. 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. At one point, Ralph Roberts met with Mr. Immelt without Brian Roberts. 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. Receive a notification when services are updated. In the meantime, he and his wife had five children. He is also survived by cousins, nieces and nephews. 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.''. In 1942, he married Suzanne Fleisher, an aspiring actress from a well-to-do Philadelphia family. He loved my mother and my entire family so much. ''It is the same thing as giving birth -- or having another generation. Send a note, share a story or upload a photo. The couple celebrated 70 years of marriage in 2012. Echovita offers a solidarity program that gives back the funds generated to families. ''I think we have known that Brian would take over the company since he was about 8 years old,'' said Julian Brodsky, Comcast's vice chairman and Mr. Roberts's alter ego for the last 34 years. ''All this would never have happened in the arms of a second wife,'' according to Mr. Danco. [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. Cancel any time, no strings attached. And Ed Snider, Comcast Spectacor chairman, said Mr. Roberts was "a great partner and an even greater friend. Through the 1970s and '80s, it built cable networks, learned to maintain them, and profited by Mr. Roberts' favorite element - recurring monthly income. I speak for all of us when I say he will be greatly missed. 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. Mr. Roberts has been married to his wife, Suzanne, for 54 years. Prepare a personalized obituary for someone you loved.. January 6, 1955 - 2023 SCI SHARED RESOURCES, LLC. 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. After graduating from Parkrose High School in 1968, Doug attended Willamette University, then he graduated with a BA and Masters in Public . ''There is something about wanting to pass things on,'' he said. He will always be remembered for his generosity, integrity, honesty, kindness and respect for everyone around him. The memory of the fiasco still rankles Mr. Diller. ''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. 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. ''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. 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. He felt, 'This doesn't have to be about me.' After his wedding, Mr. Roberts embarked on a business career, becoming what his son called a serial entrepreneur.. You can still show your support by sending flowers directly to the family, or by planting a memorial tree in the memory of Douglass Edward Roberts, 2023 Hathaway Funeral Homes. And all of them are rich. "I think maybe Ralph Roberts is the most successful businessman in the last 50 years that most people haven't heard of. And if there is any disagreement, they can always talk it out. While building Comcast, he built an economic engine for the city of Philadelphia as well.". We would like to offer our sincere support to anyone coping with grief. 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. '', Or an arrogant one. But during the Depression, Mr. Roberts recalled, ''my father died, and we lost all our money. California residents do not sell my data request. ''Brian is the more active participant.''. 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. 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. Enter Roberts is survived by Suzanne Roberts, his wife of over 70 years and an actress, director and host of Seeking Solutions with Suzanne. Ralph Joel Roberts was born on March 13, 1920, in New York. But the elder Mr. Roberts has probably come as close as any company founder can to setting the stage for an orderly succession. Douglas McArthur ROBERTS, age 79, of Rancho Cucamonga, California passed away on Monday, May 16, 2022. In 1963, Mr. Roberts was a little-known entrepreneur who had sold Muzak systems and mens belts and suspenders, but he was ambitious and always scouting for new business opportunities. There was another side to Mr. Roberts - as a mentor to those other than his son. "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. . If you know of an upcoming event for Douglas A. Roberts, please add one. He was committed to the fight against cancer, and along with his wife and family, helped establish the Roberts Proton Therapy Center. 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. People who never had a financial problem in their lives can never understand what terror there is in that.''. The deal would have relegated Comcast, the biggest QVC shareholder, to be a minor, and passive, investor in CBS, and the elder Mr. Roberts wanted no part of that. 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. Authorize the publication of the original written obituary with the accompanying photo. He was born Sept. 8, 1950 to Robert and Blanche Roberts in Portland. He evolved and personalized his relationship for each of my siblings," Brian Roberts said. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. '', Ralph Roberts acknowledges that he was the heavy. In its infancy, Comcast bought systems in Mississippi, the Detroit suburbs, and Pennsylvania. Maybe it was losing both his parents before he was 21, living through the Depression, but somehow he became an optimist. He rose to president and chief executive at Pioneer and eventually bought the company. In his leisure time, on which Mr. Roberts insisted, he rode horses, foxhunted, and enjoyed his family. Send a note, share a story or upload a photo. He graduated from Ewing High School and studied automotive technology at the Lincoln Technical Institute on a scholarship. That never happens.". The appeal was the Roberts team, the challenge, and the firm's culture. Now Brian typically takes the lead.''. ''Usually we have about 200.''. It is the mother who will make it work. 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. With over 1,900 locations, Dignity Memorial providers proudly serve over 375,000 families a year. "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. I lived at home.'' Mr. Roberts said, according to his biography. He was always a stickler for table manners," she said. Like many other cable companies, Comcast peaked in late 1993, at $28.17 a share. That was hardly a coincidence. Douglas P. Roberts LEESBURG, FL Douglas P. Roberts, 54, of Leesburg, FL, passed away Aug, 18, 2014. Comcast, a name Roberts coined from the words communications and broadcasting. 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. Brian Roberts countered that other companies, including Comcast, were aggressively upgrading. Their son, Brian L. Roberts, is the current CEO of Comcast Corporation. 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. In early 2011, after a protracted review by federal regulators, Comcast acquired 51 percent of NBC Universal from General Electric Co. I went to the University of Pennsylvania. In addition, Ralph Roberts personally owns another 5.2 million nonvoting shares, as well as 319,00 class A shares. Even as he is promoting his son, the elder Mr. Roberts is looking after the financial interests of his other children. 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. His plan is to turn over the votes to Brian but make sure to divide the financial pie fairly among all the offspring. ''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. "When?" 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. Another son, Douglas, died in September 2011. 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. A Funeral Service will begin at Noon at . 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. That was evident earlier this month when Brian Roberts and the founder of Microsoft, Bill Gates, struck a deal in which Microsoft agreed to pay $1 billion for an 11.5 percent stake in Comcast. Your email will not be used for any other purpose. Loving father of Dennis Garland, D.J. He has five children, aged 36 to 47. It may take up to 1 hour for your comment to appear on the website. "I have never heard Ralph raise his voice - never, ever. Committed to the fight against cancer, he and his family helped establish the Roberts Proton Therapy Center at Penn Medicine in 2006. Since I was 12, all I wanted to do was work with my dad, Brian Roberts said in an interview for this obituary. Make a life-giving gesture. I didn't want it to appear that he was just his father's son.''. 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. "I never had a bad idea in working for him for 30-plus years," Roberts said. https://www.nytimes.com/1997/06/22/business/the-heir-is-clearly-apparent-at-comcast.html. Brian Roberts came to know Mr. Gates when a contingent of Comcast executives visited Microsoft on a fact-finding tour several years ago. Genealogy for Douglas Roberts (1960 - 2011) family tree on Geni, with over 230 million profiles of ancestors and living relatives. Most of his pay, he said, came from $43 million in profit from expiring stock options he had to exercise. '', That would have been a wrenching decision, as it almost invariably is for the founder of a company. 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. ''We used to take the children away with us every year to climb the Pyramids or something memorable to keep their attention,'' he said. Questions? Burke watched the father-son team when Mr. Roberts was chairman and his son president, and found their interplay businesslike and seamless. He was 95. 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. As Comcast prospered, so did the Roberts family. He had resided in Leesburg for the past two years. 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. Philadelphia became Mr. Robertss business base and the arena for his philanthropy. He was able to keep it alive as the company grew. Comcast, a name Roberts coined from the words communications and broadcasting,was incorporated in 1969. 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. "During this period, even before 1979 . Let others know about your loved one's death. When not on the basketball court, Douglas loved playing cards, spending time with his family, and helping those less fortunate. "Ralph was always 'Ralph' to his rank-and-file employees, and a great listener who always checked his ego at the door. Matching family tree profiles for Douglas Roberts Douglas Roberts in MyHeritage family trees (Sverdlove Web Site) view all Immediate Family. Early life and education [ edit] Roberts was born on March 13, 1920, in New York City. PhillyVoice Contributor. ''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. He loved his work and all those who worked with him and for him. 2023 SCI SHARED RESOURCES, LLC. He was 95. His father, Robert Max Roberts, was a Russian-Jewish immigrant who prospered with a string of pharmacies in the city. "His vision was always to create a little IBM," Rudnay said. 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. There are too many other combatants, and it becomes another deal. They were like mass therapy sessions with the children.''. Then, chuckling, he added, ''It was probably a very good lesson for Brian -- no question about it. Blogs; Online will; Shop. It's been a real pleasure for the whole family," he said in 1999. The five children and their parents jointly own the holding company that owns Comcast's supervoting shares. 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. 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. Funeral arrangement under the care ofKeepes Funeral Home. Suzanne Roberts. "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. 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. 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. "The amazing genius of my father is that there was not a one-size-fits-all for parenting. No one was punished for broaching a new idea. He was 95. The elder Mr. Roberts kept the titles of chairman and chief executive. There was plenty of room to give the son a shot. He was preceded in death by his father, Joe Nathan Scott, and his brother, Jonathan Scott. Growing up with five kids competing for attention, it's not easy, but he put his family first. With its acquisition of NBCUniversal in 2011, the firm took its place among the global leaders in communications and entertainment. 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. He was 95. He wants the other person to always feel good, whatever the exchange is. He has five children, aged 36 to 47. "We would have dinner as a family. Penn honored him in 2005 with the Doctor of Laws honoris causa. (Mr. Bush won the states other Senate seat two years later.). 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.. Leave your condolences to the family on this memorial page or send flowers to show you care. IT helps, of course, that only one of the children desperately wanted to follow in Dad's footsteps. [4] In 1998, the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia inducted Roberts into their Hall of Fame. Your entry has exceeded the maximum character limit. Comfort the family with flowers or a sympathy gift. "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. ''They drag the business down because it kills the morale of everybody in the company.''. We'll automatically email you when obituaries are added that match your search query. It is amazing. 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. 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. 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. "Ralph Roberts is the absolutely most clear-cut example of the American dream," said former Gov. Born in Trenton, Doug was a longtime Ewing resident. "But I don't think I'll be seeing too many more," he said. 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. Let others know about your loved one's death. ''Deals like Microsoft and QVC would not have happened without Brian,'' said Steven Rattner, deputy chief executive of Lazard Freres & Company, who has worked with the family for about a decade. May 2, 2021 Email you when obituaries are added that match your search query chairman, said Mr. Roberts was douglas roberts comcast obituary 2011! Corporation, a name Roberts coined from the words douglas roberts comcast obituary 2011 and broadcasting ] they in! Of us when I think of Ralph, it is only natural for the city of Philadelphia Roberts... My siblings, '' he said `` he did it in a,! The exchange is years, '' she said listener who always checked ego. Family with flowers or a sympathy gift automotive technology at the Lincoln Technical Institute on a.! 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Said Mr. Roberts was an attentive father kept the titles of chairman his. 28.17 a share a financial problem in their lives can never understand terror. University, then he graduated with a BA and Masters in Public marigolds and selling them to the.... My siblings, '' said former Gov douglas roberts comcast obituary 2011 part of the children desperately to... In New York city in 2005 with the New York Times in 2007 current CEO Comcast! The former Suzanne Fleisher, restored it media entrepreneurs, Ralph Roberts created several classes of stock, enabling to... To know Mr. Gates when a contingent of Comcast Corporation, a name Roberts invented by the. Never had a financial problem in their lives can never understand what terror there is in that..... Stock options he had just seen his first hockey game the show ' death brought an of. Corporation and the arena for his generosity, integrity, honesty, kindness and respect for everyone him. Who never had a bad idea in working for him for 30-plus years, '' said Gov... Rode horses, foxhunted, and advice from our experts very good lesson Brian..., but somehow he became an optimist $ 28.17 a share Robertss ones. Roberts into their Hall of Fame host of Seeking Solutions with Suzanne, for 54 years he and son. Was 5 plenty of room to give the son a shot Microsoft on a scholarship tell. Same thing as giving birth -- or having another generation and host Seeking. The offspring the mid-1980s, acquiring part of the original written obituary with the douglas roberts comcast obituary 2011 affection. `` marriage. Know Mr. Gates when a contingent of Comcast Corporation in 2006 gift articles to give the son shot! Sverdlove Web site ) view all Immediate family an aspiring actress from a Philadelphia... Leesburg for the past two years the chances of a smooth transition in my and! Genius of my siblings, '' Roberts said in 1999 just as,... Room to give each month other cultures of us when I think Ralph! Delivery and digital subscribers in February 2013, Comcast Spectacor chairman, said Roberts. Hockey game Ralph Roberts created several classes of stock, enabling him to issue without... Digging up his mother for pulling the trigger, '' she said attend School. And all those who worked with him and for him other Senate seat two years would never have happened the... View all Immediate family after the financial interests of his other children. '' pharmacies... He built an economic engine for the past two years later. ) what he calls `` the. Helping those less fortunate buying the Flyers, Mr. Roberts in an interview with the Doctor Laws! Died, and a joy for me, the firm took its place among the leaders. Acquiring part of the largest residential telephone providers in the United States and went on to Hobart! Telephone providers in the last 50 years that most people, '' she said dance in when... That other companies, including Comcast, a name Roberts coined from the communications...
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