Mr. Roberts would help with homework and listen to each of his five children. 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. [5] They incorporated in 1969 as Comcast Corporation, a name Roberts invented by combining the words communications and broadcasting. This site is provided as a service of SCI Shared Resources, LLC. 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. Actually, he added, "I've had a lot of bad ideas, but he would never say that. '', Brian Roberts, on the other hand, seems to relish his public role. Mr. Roberts has reason to track the way family-run companies pass the baton from one generation to next. [4] In 1998, the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia inducted Roberts into their Hall of Fame. 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.''. 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. It is amazing. With over 1,900 locations, Dignity Memorial providers proudly serve over 375,000 families a year. Comfort the family with flowers or a sympathy gift. DOUGLAS ROBERTS OBITUARY Douglas J. Roberts Of Candor Douglas James Roberts, 51, of Candor, passed away suddenly at home on Monday, May 9, 2011. Douglas McArthur ROBERTS, age 79, of Rancho Cucamonga, California passed away on Monday, May 16, 2022. ''They come in and tear each other apart. "That culture says that you have to care about the people you work with. In 1990, at age 70 and after 21 years at the helm, he handed off the presidency to his son, then 30, in a rare successful intergenerational transfer of power. And all of them are rich. ''The father is open. Early life and education [ edit] Roberts was born on March 13, 1920, in New York City. He knew that "people love television," according to his biography; he staked his future on that love, and won. Sign up for service and obituary updates. When she was 60 years old, Mrs. Roberts got her undergraduate and master's degrees in psychology and now works with abused children. 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. IN THE CARE OF. He was a wonderful husband, father and grandfather and perhaps most importantly, a kind and humble human being. All Rights Reserved. His wife agreed: "The thing that motivates Ralph is not having the money, but knowing that his children are secure. I knew a lot of people at Comcast. 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. And the other children, who declined to be interviewed, are said to be knowledgeable about the plan and favorable to it. "So much of what he is to the public is what he was to us. Ralph Joel Roberts was born on March 13, 1920, in New York City, and was an entrepreneur from an early age. 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. The appeal was the Roberts team, the challenge, and the firm's culture. "The amazing genius of my father is that there was not a one-size-fits-all for parenting. "When?" "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. mother. May 2, 2021 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. He was a gentle soul with an infectious spirit who will be greatly missed. 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. When not on the basketball court, Douglas loved playing cards, spending time with his family, and helping those less fortunate. Under Brian Roberts, Comcast has built on its standing as a cable television power to become a media and entertainment giant in content creation and Internet and voice services. Prepare a personalized obituary for someone you loved.. Beloved companion of the late Mary McMenemy. With its acquisition of NBCUniversal in 2011, the firm took its place among the global leaders in communications and entertainment. He had been born into an affluent home, the son of the owner of a small drugstore chain in Westchester County, N.Y. For a time, the family even had a chauffeur. Fleisher. Later, the two men found themselves in the same restaurant, and Mr. Roberts suggested that Microsoft consider investing in cable. Comcast, a name Roberts coined from the words communications and broadcasting,was incorporated in 1969. "Our city has lost a wonderful champion with his passing.". Published. He was 95. We all will.". Their simple philosophy was summed up by Mr. Roberts in an interview with The New York Times in 2007. Suzanne Roberts. Soon after buying the Flyers, Mr. Roberts admitted that he had just seen his first hockey game. NewsLibrary. "He did it in a positive, thoughtful way, not self-aggrandizing. Mr. Roberts built Comcast through a series of acquisitions of cable systems around the country. Authorize the publication of the original written obituary with the accompanying photo. ''I was probably the one to pull the curtain,'' he said. 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. 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. Many entrepreneurs are very secretive. The elder Roberts was also civic-minded. There was plenty of room to give the son a shot. Promoting an heir apparent may have been easier for the elder Mr. Roberts than for other entrepreneurs. After Robert Roberts died in 1932, Ralphs mother, Sara, moved the family to the Germantown section of Philadelphia, to be near her ailing sister. 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. Would you like to offer Douglas A. Robertss loved ones a condolence message? . In 2001, the father and son made an audacious but successful $45 billion bid to acquire AT&Ts cable business. The elder Mr. Roberts kept the titles of chairman and chief executive. At one point, Ralph Roberts met with Mr. Immelt without Brian Roberts. Receive obituaries from the city or cities of your choice. 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.. Sign up for service and obituary updates. Mr. Roberts, typically dapper in his signature bow tie and Brooks Brothers suits, became his sons mentor and sounding board, and the two were admired as a potent business partnership while never displaying the kind of strained and tempestuous relationship that can flare when a son succeeds a successful father. 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. 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. DOUGLAS ROBERTS OBITUARY Douglas J. Roberts Of Candor Douglas James Roberts, 51, of Candor, passed away suddenly at home on Monday, May 9, 2011. Help tell the story of your loved ones unique life. Without being asked, Mrs. Roberts volunteered her opinion that Ralph and Brian clicked as few business partners do. He was 95. I didn't want it to appear that he was just his father's son.''. '', The son got the point. In a statement, Mayor Michael Nutter remembered the business visionary and family man. With over 1,900 locations, Dignity Memorial providers proudly serve over 375,000 families a year. "Ralph Roberts is the absolutely most clear-cut example of the American dream," said former Gov. 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. ''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. 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. Daughter Lisa said Mr. Roberts was an attentive father. 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. . Funeral Home website by. Anyone can read what you share. His plan is to turn over the votes to Brian but make sure to divide the financial pie fairly among all the offspring. "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. ", "He had a wonderful sense of humor, and he was very inspirational to me personally," Snider said in a statement. "For me, the culture and comfort and chemistry have always been really important. Intrigued by the nascent cable industrys potential and aided by Mr. Aaron and Julian Brodsky, a Philadelphia accountant, Mr. Roberts decided to invest, overcoming his own initial misgivings and the even stronger doubts of his wife, Suzanne, who, he said, thought he was absolutely crazy., The cable business, you put up a tower, you run a line down through the telephone poles, you charge everybody $5 a month, and you dont do anything, so it didnt seem very appealing to me, Mr. Roberts recalled in receiving a television industry award in 2003. [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. The Gettys or that family in Texas,'' he continued, referring to Harold Simmons, the Texas investor who is at war with his daughters. 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. She was not amused. They both deserve credit for that graceful interplay, but the lion's share goes to Ralph," said Burke, CEO of Comcast's NBCUniversal. Find the obituary of Douglas A. Roberts (1955 - 2021) from Mount Carmel, IL. ''I don't think Ralph knows any more about Brian's personal life than he knows about the others. In addition to his wife, he 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. He was an inspiration to us all and we will miss him greatly.". Bob McGovern We have all learned so much from Ralph, but perhaps the greatest lesson was the way he lived his life. He is steel. Doug was predeceased by his infant. It is only natural for the world to wonder: How will Brian's siblings react to all this? I speak for all of us when I say he will be greatly missed. Brian Roberts said his parents tried to make life stimulating and eye-opening for their children. Douglas was born April 10, 1943 in Los Angeles, CA. 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. Echovita Inc is a registered trademark. Ralph J. Roberts founded Comcast Corp. in 1963. 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. Anyone can read what you share. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. https://www.nytimes.com/1997/06/22/business/the-heir-is-clearly-apparent-at-comcast.html. 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. [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. 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. 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. 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's been a real pleasure for the whole family," he said in 1999. "Ralph was a remarkable man who touched the lives of so many people. He felt, 'This doesn't have to be about me.' ''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. ''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. Philadelphia became Mr. Robertss business base and the arena for his philanthropy. ''But if it were not for self-promotion, how would a guy like Bill Gates take him seriously?''. ", "He's the same person as my boss that he has been as a dad; he's gracious, never interrupts when you're talking. '', Or an arrogant one. Enter He wants the other person to always feel good, whatever the exchange is. 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. 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. The couple created the Suzanne Roberts Theatre at 480 S. Broad St. in her honor. ''It has been wonderful to share those tense moments with your father,'' Brian Roberts said, ''and hopefully, it has prepared me for the future. Throughout his life, Roberts was involved in numerous community and civic activities, serving the boards of the Council of Emeritus Directors of the Philadelphia Orchestra and the Brandywine Museum and Conservancy, among others. A remembrance ceremony to celebrate Roberts' life will follow at a future date. He has five children, aged 36 to 47. After his wedding, Mr. Roberts embarked on a business career, becoming what his son called a serial entrepreneur.. CANDLE HAS BEEN LIT CANDLES HAVE BEEN LIT, We are reviewing your submission. He is also survived by his eight grandchildren. The fundamental fact is that people love television, he said, and if you can provide them with more television, they love it even more.. Their son, Brian L. Roberts, is the current CEO of Comcast Corporation. "Ralph was a tough, hard businessman, but he never forgot his obligation to help others, help his community, and help Philadelphia. Douglas Scott was born April 8,1958 to Joe Nathan Scott and Mona (nee Page) Scott. Doug graduated from Hillsborough High School in Tampa and went on to attend Hobart School of Welding. chief executive, Jeffrey R. Immelt, that the deal would be completed. Although eager to serve on a ship, Mr. Roberts spent his World War II duty as matriel superintendent in the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard. He was born on January 6, 1955 in Tampa, Florida, the son of Terrance Andrew Roberts, Sr. and Geraldine (Boyce) Thompson. Mr. Roberts said, according to his biography. 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. He has five children, aged 36 to 47. 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. [12] They had five children: Catherine, Lisa, Ralph Jr. (Rob), Brian, and Douglas (who died in 2011);[2] and eight grandchildren. "Our city has lost a wonderful champion," Nutter said in a statement. He was the greatest influence in my life and a joy for me to work side by side with for over three decades. Genealogy for Douglas Roberts (1960 - 2011) family tree on Geni, with over 230 million profiles of ancestors and living relatives. DOUGLAS ROBERTS OBITUARY ROBERTS, DOUGLAS M. Lawton Passed away July 28, 2012 at his residence. 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