Less than $5 per month We would like to offer our sincere support to anyone coping with grief. Philadelphia became Mr. Robertss business base and the arena for his philanthropy. Without being asked, Mrs. Roberts volunteered her opinion that Ralph and Brian clicked as few business partners do. Douglas McArthur ROBERTS, age 79, of Rancho Cucamonga, California passed away on Monday, May 16, 2022. He was the greatest influence in my life and a joy for me to work side by side with for over three decades. Your email will not be used for any other purpose. He was 95. Doug was predeceased by his infant. ''I was probably the one to pull the curtain,'' he said. After selling the firm, he set up shop in 1961 in Bala Cynwyd. '', Ralph Roberts acknowledges that he was the heavy. 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. Sign up for service and obituary updates. "That culture says that you have to care about the people you work with. Make a life-giving gesture. "The trick," Mr. Roberts said in the biography, "is to make everyone feel involved.". 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, who had been in declining health, died of natural causes. He helped his wife, an actress, practice her lines and attended every performance no matter how many days the show ran. 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. This site is provided as a service of SCI Shared Resources, LLC. 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. Douglas was born April 10, 1943 in Los Angeles, CA. 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 1990's have been far tougher, as regulation and skepticism about the industry's future in the face of rival technologies hurt cable stocks. Maybe it was losing both his parents before he was 21, living through the Depression, but somehow he became an optimist. DOUGLAS ROBERTS OBITUARY Douglas J. Roberts Of Candor Douglas James Roberts, 51, of Candor, passed away suddenly at home on Monday, May 9, 2011. He was. 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. ''But if it were not for self-promotion, how would a guy like Bill Gates take him seriously?''. He never pressured any of them to join the family company -- and none besides Brian showed any interest in doing so. Brian Roberts said his parents tried to make life stimulating and eye-opening for their children. He is also survived by his eight grandchildren. I went to the University of Pennsylvania. [5] They incorporated in 1969 as Comcast Corporation, a name Roberts invented by combining the words communications and broadcasting. '', Brian Roberts acknowledges that decision making, what he calls ''pulling the trigger,'' is something you learn. 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. He was born Sept. 8, 1950 to Robert and Blanche Roberts in Portland. Ralph Roberts was a consummate gentleman, kind and gentle husband and father, and a great business leader," Nutter said. California residents do not sell my data request. 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. A unique . His plan is to turn over the votes to Brian but make sure to divide the financial pie fairly among all the offspring. chief executive, Jeffrey R. Immelt, that the deal would be completed. ''Barry is very charismatic and hypnotic, but we were not going to lose our business and become a nonvoting stockholder of CBS to provide Barry with an entree to CBS.'' "I have never heard Ralph raise his voice - never, ever. ", "He's the same person as my boss that he has been as a dad; he's gracious, never interrupts when you're talking. Through the 1970s and '80s, it built cable networks, learned to maintain them, and profited by Mr. Roberts' favorite element - recurring monthly income. We are deeply saddened to announce that Ralph J. Roberts, husband, father and grandfather, died of natural causes Thursday, June 18 in Philadelphia, PA. 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. Now Brian typically takes the lead.''. Mr. Roberts has reason to track the way family-run companies pass the baton from one generation to next. ''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. Daughter Lisa said Mr. Roberts was an attentive father. ''Ralph is tough,'' he says ruefully. He was preceded in death by his father, Joe Nathan Scott, and his brother, Jonathan Scott. He will always be remembered for his generosity, integrity, honesty, kindness and respect for everyone around him. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.stonefuneralhomeupland.com for the ROBERTS family. ''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. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Then, chuckling, he added, ''It was probably a very good lesson for Brian -- no question about it. Comcast, a name Roberts coined from the words communications and broadcasting. He was an icon, a mentor and friend to so many. They both deserve credit for that graceful interplay, but the lion's share goes to Ralph," said Burke, CEO of Comcast's NBCUniversal. "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. Brian, born in 1959, was the fourth. The culture of Comcast was important to him.". [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. "For me, the culture and comfort and chemistry have always been really important. He was 95. But during the Depression, Mr. Roberts recalled, ''my father died, and we lost all our money. "I never had a bad idea in working for him for 30-plus years," Roberts said. "I couldn't have done that if I didn't have any money. He graduated from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and served four years in the U.S. Navy. Actually, he added, "I've had a lot of bad ideas, but he would never say that. 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.. 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. Since I was 12, all I wanted to do was work with my dad, Brian Roberts said in an interview for this obituary. To make it work, you have to have motivated, competent successors as well as accommodating heirs. And I always answer with a straight face, 'Of course I did,' " Mr. Roberts said in An Incredible Dream, his authorized biography, written by William Novak. Ralph J. Roberts. 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. Their simple philosophy was summed up by Mr. Roberts in an interview with The New York Times in 2007. It also sells those services to businesses. Bob McGovern "During this period, even before 1979 . In a statement to Comcast employees, his son, Brian L. Roberts, the chairman and chief executive officer, said Friday: Ralph will long be remembered as a kind, generous, and humble man and he was an inspiration to us all. ''The father is open. A remembrance ceremony to celebrate Roberts' life will follow at a future date. ''We would have discussions about our lives. 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. Stone Funeral Home. The family will host a private service for the family, the company announced. Promoting an heir apparent may have been easier for the elder Mr. Roberts than for other entrepreneurs. OBITUARY Douglas McArthur ROBERTS April 10, 1943 - May 16, 2022. Echovita Inc is a registered trademark. Luckily, the youngster had business smarts as well as enthusiasm. 1-800-896-5587 (Mon-Fri, 7am-6pm MDT) Annual Membership . He evolved and personalized his relationship for each of my siblings," Brian Roberts said. 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. When not on the basketball court, Douglas loved playing cards, spending time with his family, and helping those less fortunate. Help tell the story of your loved ones unique life. ''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. An actress, director and host of Seeking Solutions with Suzanne, Suzanne has spent a lifetime seeking to help others. Inquirer staff writer Harold Brubaker and former staff writer Thomas J. Brady contributed to this article. ''I used to talk to Julian all the time,'' recalled Gordon Crawford, a senior vice president at the Capital Group, whose funds hold 8.1 percent of Comcast's class A stock. [2], Roberts has been credited with expanding Comcast into the largest cable television company in the United States. 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. 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. Ralph J. Roberts, the man whofounded 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. Cancel any time, no strings attached. Comcast, a name Roberts coined from the words communications and broadcasting,was incorporated in 1969. 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. Obituary. 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. Douglas Alan Roberts Sept. 8, 1950 - April 1, 2020 Douglas Alan Roberts, age 69, of Vancouver, WA, passed away April 1, 2020, from complications due to COVID-19. ''It's a pretty close family. 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. Ed Rendell. 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. Anyone can read what you share. ''We never emphasized that they should make a lot of money, or have the biggest car,'' Mrs. Roberts recalled. . Published. But the elder Mr. Roberts has probably come as close as any company founder can to setting the stage for an orderly succession. [9], In 1942, Roberts married Suzanne Fleisher,[10] who was also Jewish,[2] an actress and playwright, and daughter of philanthropist Alfred W. . Questions? 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. Your entry has exceeded the maximum character limit. Funeral Home website by. ''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. Even as he is promoting his son, the elder Mr. Roberts is looking after the financial interests of his other children. Douglas McArthur ROBERTS, age 79, of Rancho Cucamonga, California passed away on Monday, May 16, 2022. '', Or an arrogant one. Beloved companion of the late Mary McMenemy. 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. At the time of his death, Mr. Roberts was past president and chairman emeritus of the public company, which has its headquarters on John F. Kennedy Boulevard. (Mr. Bush won the states other Senate seat two years later.). He also participated in continuing education programs at Harvard Business School. The Roberts family said in a statement: "Ralph was a remarkable man who touched the lives of so many people. Feel involved. `` I 've had a lot of bad ideas, but he never... Of bad ideas, but somehow he became an optimist lost all our.. 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