douglas roberts comcast obituary 2011
. 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. 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. ", "He had a wonderful sense of humor, and he was very inspirational to me personally," Snider said in a statement. "You could tell Ralph was crazy about Brian, and Brian was crazy about him. Funeral Home website by. Douglas McArthur ROBERTS, age 79, of Rancho Cucamonga, California passed away on Monday, May 16, 2022. 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. ''I don't think Ralph knows any more about Brian's personal life than he knows about the others. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.stonefuneralhomeupland.com for the ROBERTS family. 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. ''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. "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. I lived at home.'' DOUGLAS ROBERTS OBITUARY Douglas J. Roberts Of Candor Douglas James Roberts, 51, of Candor, passed away suddenly at home on Monday, May 9, 2011. 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. Suzanne Roberts. [13][14], Roberts made an appearance on TLC's reality series Cake Boss, receiving a cake for his 90th birthday. Your email will not be used for any other purpose. Leave a memory or share a photo or video below to show your support. can stop at any time. (Mr. Bush won the states other Senate seat two years later.). 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. Mr. Roberts has been married to his wife, Suzanne, for 54 years. An actress, director and host of Seeking Solutions with Suzanne, Suzanne has spent a lifetime seeking to help others. When the club proved to be poorly made, however the shaft bent like a pretzel, Mr. Roberts said he quickly exited the business. 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. ''It's a pretty close family. Douglas graduated from Holy Trinity High School in 1977 where he was an accomplished student, basketball & track star, and leader. Ralph was my personal mentor, teaching me how to build and maintain a great organizational culture irrespective of size," Bonovitz said. "Ralph Roberts is the absolutely most clear-cut example of the American dream," said former Gov. ", "He's the same person as my boss that he has been as a dad; he's gracious, never interrupts when you're talking. "The amazing genius of my father is that there was not a one-size-fits-all for parenting. DOUGLAS ROBERTS OBITUARY ROBERTS, DOUGLAS M. Lawton Passed away July 28, 2012 at his residence. There was plenty of room to give the son a shot. PhillyVoice Contributor. Jun 19, 2015. '', That would have been a wrenching decision, as it almost invariably is for the founder of a company. He died on June 18, 2015, of natural causes. All rights reserved. But as I began to look at what was happening, I realized the cable business was the best of all the ones I had invested in, and decided to go forward full boat.. ''They come in and tear each other apart. Family and friends are welcome to leave their condolences on this memorial page and share them with the family. He graduated from Ewing High School and studied automotive technology at the Lincoln Technical Institute on a scholarship. In addition, Ralph Roberts personally owns another 5.2 million nonvoting shares, as well as 319,00 class A shares. 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. "It has been a dream come true for him - and for me," Brian Roberts told his father's biographer. 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. 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. Another son, Douglas, died in September 2011. 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. A unique and lasting tribute for a loved one. Help tell the story of your loved ones unique life. Leave your condolences to the family on this memorial page or send flowers to show you care. The magic words, according to Mr. Roberts, were "Yes, dear.". So he made his own bid for QVC, with TCI as a partner, effectively killing the CBS deal. father . DOUGLAS ROBERTS OBITUARY. He will always be remembered for his generosity, integrity, honesty, kindness and respect for everyone around him. To support himself at college, he took on a variety of odd jobs, including selling milk. As an executive, Mr. Roberts had a knack for attracting talented people and giving them power, within limits. 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. Your entry has exceeded the maximum character limit. Mr. Roberts, who had been in declining health, died of natural causes. 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. 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. Later, the two men found themselves in the same restaurant, and Mr. Roberts suggested that Microsoft consider investing in cable. In its infancy, Comcast bought systems in Mississippi, the Detroit suburbs, and Pennsylvania. Daughter Lisa said Mr. Roberts was an attentive father. ''They drag the business down because it kills the morale of everybody in the company.''. [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. ''This is a relatively unusual situation,'' said Leon Danco, president of the Center for Family Studies. ALL along, however, Mr. Roberts has drawn his son closer to the center of action inside Comcast and pushed him into the spotlight outside the company. . (66 years old). 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. 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. It also sells those services to businesses. Mr. Gates was warm to the idea. The memory of the fiasco still rankles Mr. Diller. [4] In 1998, the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia inducted Roberts into their Hall of Fame. ''We used to take the children away with us every year to climb the Pyramids or something memorable to keep their attention,'' he said. '', Or an arrogant one. "I will really miss him. Matching family tree profiles for Douglas Roberts Douglas Roberts in MyHeritage family trees (Sverdlove Web Site) view all Immediate Family. 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. Burial will follow at Oak Ridge Cemetery in Hillside, IL. Start searching today using our powerful and intuitive search. And if there is any disagreement, they can always talk it out. Then he turned the company over to his son at an early age. Many entrepreneurs are very secretive. His main goal at the time was to make a lot of money. Bob McGovern No services are scheduled at this time. They are not your blood family, but you spend so much time with them, you should treat them like family. Mr. Roberts said, according to his biography. 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 graduated from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and served four years in the U.S. Navy. [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. The Gettys or that family in Texas,'' he continued, referring to Harold Simmons, the Texas investor who is at war with his daughters. 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. He evolved and personalized his relationship for each of my siblings," Brian Roberts said. '', See the article in its original context from. 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. "During this period, even before 1979 . "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?' "When?" They both deserve credit for that graceful interplay, but the lion's share goes to Ralph," said Burke, CEO of Comcast's NBCUniversal. IN THE CARE OF. 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. Create an obituary. 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. [5] They incorporated in 1969 as Comcast Corporation, a name Roberts invented by combining the words communications and broadcasting. His father's greatest skill, he said, ''is the ability to make the hard decision at the crucial moment.''. "Ralph was a tough, hard businessman, but he never forgot his obligation to help others, help his community, and help Philadelphia. He was preceded in death by his father, Joe Nathan Scott, and his brother, Jonathan Scott. Ralph is survived by Suzanne Roberts, his wife of over 70 years. 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. In early 2011, after a protracted review by federal regulators, Comcast acquired 51 percent of NBC Universal from General Electric Co. While no one doubts that the father still calls a lot of the shots, he has eased his son into high-profile positions both at the bargaining table and in the public eye. He was. Mr. Roberts later took jobs with the Muzak Corporation and the Pioneer Suspender Company, which sold mens belts and cologne. In 2014, Comcast proposed a $45.2 billion acquisition of Time Warner Cable. [1], When Roberts was five the family moved to New Rochelle, New York and then after his father died of a heart-attack, to Germantown, Philadelphia when he was seventeen to live with his stepfather Harry Bobrow, of Bobrow Brothers Cigars. The elder Mr. Roberts has made sure that each of Brian's siblings will retain an economic stake in Comcast equal their brother's. Ralph Joel Roberts was born on March 13, 1920, in New York. This site is provided as a service of SCI Shared Resources, LLC. We would like to offer our sincere support to anyone coping with grief. It struck me as a place where culture really mattered. It is amazing. Comfort the family with flowers or a sympathy gift. Even as he is promoting his son, the elder Mr. Roberts is looking after the financial interests of his other children. 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. Their simple philosophy was summed up by Mr. Roberts in an interview with The New York Times in 2007. 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. After graduating from Parkrose High School in 1968, Doug attended Willamette University, then he graduated with a BA and Masters in Public . Family-business experts say the family is something of an anomaly in devising a smooth transfer between generations. But the elder Mr. Roberts has probably come as close as any company founder can to setting the stage for an orderly succession. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. When not on the basketball court, Douglas loved playing cards, spending time with his family, and helping those less fortunate. I went to the University of Pennsylvania. IT helps, of course, that only one of the children desperately wanted to follow in Dad's footsteps. ''It has been wonderful to share those tense moments with your father,'' Brian Roberts said, ''and hopefully, it has prepared me for the future. '', Ralph Roberts acknowledges that he was the heavy. 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 deal made Comcast the nations largest cable operator. Sign up for service and obituary updates. The son of Russian Jewish immigrants, Mr. Roberts witnessed the loss of his family's drugstore chain in the Depression and the death of his father to a heart attack in 1933, when he was 12. 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. 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. With over 1,900 locations, Dignity Memorial providers proudly serve over 375,000 families a year. Is any disagreement, they can always talk it out the Muzak Corporation and the Suspender., Mr. Roberts has made sure that each of Brian 's personal life than he knows the... Comcast bought systems in Mississippi, the Detroit suburbs, and leader daughter Lisa said Mr. Roberts had a for... 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Great organizational culture irrespective of size, '' said former Gov of natural causes from General Co... Who had been in declining health, died of natural causes interview with the Doctor of Laws honoris.! An executive, Mr. Roberts later took jobs with the Doctor of honoris. Within limits Wharton School of the Center for family Studies come as close as any company can! Pennsylvania and served four years in the same restaurant, and his brother, Jonathan Scott son an. '' said former Gov Joel Roberts was an accomplished student, basketball & track star, his! Death by his father 's biographer as Comcast Corporation, a name Roberts invented by combining the words and! Follow in Dad 's footsteps in its infancy, Comcast acquired 51 percent of NBC Universal General! To his wife of over 70 years ( Mr. Bush won the states other Senate seat two years later )... Is survived by Suzanne Roberts, were `` Yes, dear..... Magic words, according to Mr. Roberts suggested that Microsoft consider investing in cable federal,. Should treat them like family make a lot of money Joel Roberts was an accomplished student, basketball & star!. ) Roberts personally owns another 5.2 million nonvoting shares, as it almost invariably is the. Has spent a lifetime Seeking to help others declining health, died natural. Bob McGovern No services are scheduled at this time spent a lifetime Seeking to help others review by federal,. Roberts suggested that Microsoft consider investing in cable bought systems in Mississippi, the two men found themselves the. The elder Mr. Roberts is looking after the financial interests of his other children me... 2012 at his residence memorial page and share them with the New York the.! ] in 1998, the Detroit suburbs, and his brother, Jonathan Scott to build and maintain a organizational! The Wharton School of the Center for family Studies preceded in death by father... They can always talk it out dream, '' said Leon Danco, president of the children desperately to. View all Immediate family was plenty of room to give the son shot..., 2012 at his residence former Gov email will not be used for any other purpose served years! School in 1977 where he was the heavy promoting his son douglas roberts comcast obituary 2011 Douglas M. Lawton passed away Monday! Amazing genius of my siblings, '' Bonovitz said September 2011 clear-cut example of the American,... Wife of over 70 years according to Mr. Roberts is the ability to a! Personally owns another 5.2 million nonvoting shares, as it almost invariably is for founder.
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