'', Brian Roberts, on the other hand, seems to relish his public role. Once Mr. Roberts began building Comcast, Brian, alone of his brood, frequented the company premises. (Mr. Bush won the states other Senate seat two years later.). He did this by encouraging free-flowing discussion, then focusing the issue with probing questions. Comcast is also one of the largest residential telephone providers in the United States. '', Or an arrogant one. But they talk all the time. 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.. "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. Doug was predeceased by his infant. He also sold advertising on ink blotters. ''Brian is the more active participant.''. Mr. Roberts, who had been in declining health, died of natural causes. BEST DEAL! His father's greatest skill, he said, ''is the ability to make the hard decision at the crucial moment.''. 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. Roberts, Craig Mort, Brenda Bachura, Bill McMenemy, and Peter McMenemy. 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. "During this period, even before 1979 . (66 years old). As an executive, Mr. Roberts had a knack for attracting talented people and giving them power, within limits. ''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. There was plenty of room to give the son a shot. "So much of what he is to the public is what he was to us. I knew a lot of people at Comcast. The fundamental fact is that people love television, he said, and if you can provide them with more television, they love it even more.. 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. Send a note, share a story or upload a photo. Suzanne Roberts. . The deal made Comcast the nations largest cable operator. [12] They had five children: Catherine, Lisa, Ralph Jr. (Rob), Brian, and Douglas (who died in 2011);[2] and eight grandchildren. "It has been a dream come true for him - and for me," Brian Roberts told his father's biographer. Even though Brian is the CEO, Ralph set the tone from a business point of view.". ''We would have discussions about our lives. With over 1,900 locations, Dignity Memorial providers proudly serve over 375,000 families a year. Without being asked, Mrs. Roberts volunteered her opinion that Ralph and Brian clicked as few business partners do. "His vision was always to create a little IBM," Rudnay said. Ed Rendell. "Ralph was always 'Ralph' to his rank-and-file employees, and a great listener who always checked his ego at the door. The family will host a private service for the family, the company announced. Ralph is survived by Suzanne Roberts, his wife of over 70 years. 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 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 was 95. He has five children, aged 36 to 47. BigDaddy, as he was known to his friends and family, had a remarkable passion and talent for athletics. ''Ralph is tough,'' he says ruefully. Write your message of sympathy today. While building Comcast, he built an economic engine for the city of Philadelphia as well.". He always treated me with respect from a very young age.". '', That would have been a wrenching decision, as it almost invariably is for the founder of a company. Douglas P. Roberts LEESBURG, FL Douglas P. Roberts, 54, of Leesburg, FL, passed away Aug, 18, 2014. ". He rose to president and chief executive at Pioneer and eventually bought the company. No services are scheduled at this time. ''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.'' A remembrance ceremony to celebrate Roberts' life will follow at a future date. 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. 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. . CANDLE HAS BEEN LIT CANDLES HAVE BEEN LIT, We are reviewing your submission. Help tell the story of your loved ones unique life. 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. He had a way of leading and managing that is razor-smart, focused, intuitive, strong, but all with a velvet glove," said chief communications officer D'Arcy Rudnay. Brian Roberts said his parents tried to make life stimulating and eye-opening for their children. And experts say the odds of a successful transition are greater at Comcast than at most family businesses. [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. He died on June 18, 2015, of natural causes. But that verve was always tempered by a calm affability and a cautious approach to spending money. A result was Microsoft's $1 billion investment in Comcast. Comcast, a name Roberts coined from the words communications and broadcasting,was incorporated in 1969. That was hardly a coincidence. "Ralph served as a longtime member of the Penn Medicine board, and actively supported athletics, undergraduate financial aid, and his class." To be sure, he adds, ''At an important fork in the road, Brian will go off to his father'' to get the older man's stamp of approval. ''This is a relatively unusual situation,'' said Leon Danco, president of the Center for Family Studies. In addition, Ralph Roberts personally owns another 5.2 million nonvoting shares, as well as 319,00 class A shares. All rights reserved. ommitted to the fight against cancer, he and his family helped establish the Roberts Proton Therapy Center at Penn Medicine in 2006. https://www.nytimes.com/1997/06/22/business/the-heir-is-clearly-apparent-at-comcast.html. In addition to his wife, son, and daughter, Mr. Roberts is survived by daughter Catherine R. Clifton; son Ralph Jr.; and eight grandchildren. Less than $5 per month 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. It is always business. 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. ''We had 650 analysts on the conference call to discuss the deal,'' recalled Brian Roberts, who handled the call for Comcast. The Roberts Family Remembers Ralph J. Roberts. Your entry has exceeded the maximum character limit. 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. Mr. Roberts said, according to his biography. There are no events at this time. Then, chuckling, he added, ''It was probably a very good lesson for Brian -- no question about it. 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. He never pressured any of them to join the family company -- and none besides Brian showed any interest in doing so. 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. He felt, 'This doesn't have to be about me.' Growing up with five kids competing for attention, it's not easy, but he put his family first. He never told me anything I wanted to do at Comcast was a bad idea, and after more than 30 years, youd think Ive had a lot of bad ideas.. Only his fourth child, Brian, is at Comcast, the nation's fourth-largest cable television operator with $4 billion in revenue last year. Doug graduated from Hillsborough High School in Tampa and went on to attend Hobart School of Welding. 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. It is amazing. It struck me as a place where culture really mattered. Inquirer staff writer Harold Brubaker and former staff writer Thomas J. Brady contributed to this article. Since I was 12, all I wanted to do was work with my dad, Brian Roberts said in an interview for this obituary. What is more common is that this kind of agreement does not happen. ''Under that bow tie and courtly manner beats the heart of one tough man. "We would have dinner as a family. In a statement, Mayor Michael Nutter remembered the business visionary and family man. But if Brian were not up to it, he would not have stood a chance because you can't sacrifice all the people in the place for a poor manager. Messages run for up to one year and you As Gregory B. Maffei, Microsoft's treasurer, sees it, the younger Mr. Roberts is no pawn of his father. ''I was probably the one to pull the curtain,'' he said. He will always be remembered for his generosity, integrity, honesty, kindness and respect for everyone around him. "He wanted to keep the integrity, the family feel, and the dedication of employees. The elder Roberts was also civic-minded. TimesMachine is an exclusive benefit for home delivery and digital subscribers. His main goal at the time was to make a lot of money. Send a note, share a story or upload a photo. And all of them are rich. ''It is the same thing as giving birth -- or having another generation. Douglas McArthur ROBERTS, age 79, of Rancho Cucamonga, California passed away on Monday, May 16, 2022. They have met at the investment bank Allen & Company's annual Sun Valley Conference for media heavyweights, and they got together last summer when Mr. Gates came to speak at a United Way fund-raising event in Philadelphia. your email below for our complimentary daily grief messages. 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. After his wedding, Mr. Roberts embarked on a business career, becoming what his son called a serial entrepreneur.. 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. 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. "For me, the culture and comfort and chemistry have always been really important. Overnight, it went from 18th to fifth among cable firms in the United States, with two million customers. He is also survived by cousins, nieces and nephews. Early life and education [ edit] Roberts was born on March 13, 1920, in New York City. 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. Mr. Roberts later took jobs with the Muzak Corporation and the Pioneer Suspender Company, which sold mens belts and cologne. At one point, Ralph Roberts met with Mr. Immelt without Brian Roberts. I lived at home.'' Anyone can read what you share. ''They drag the business down because it kills the morale of everybody in the company.''. Ralph J. Roberts. His plan is to turn over the votes to Brian but make sure to divide the financial pie fairly among all the offspring. [4] He was awarded honorary degrees from both Holy Family College and the University of Pennsylvania, where he received their Joseph P. Wharton Award. The Gettys or that family in Texas,'' he continued, referring to Harold Simmons, the Texas investor who is at war with his daughters. Private. "But I don't think I'll be seeing too many more," he said. Bob McGovern ''It's a pretty close family. And the other children, who declined to be interviewed, are said to be knowledgeable about the plan and favorable to it. This site is provided as a service of SCI Shared Resources, LLC. "I think maybe Ralph Roberts is the most successful businessman in the last 50 years that most people haven't heard of. His son Douglas died in 2011. It is a sign of a man who has given considerable thought to the future and has spoken to his other children. Ralph was my personal mentor, teaching me how to build and maintain a great organizational culture irrespective of size," Bonovitz said. Family-business experts say the family is something of an anomaly in devising a smooth transfer between generations. In 1942, he married Suzanne Fleisher, an aspiring actress from a well-to-do Philadelphia family. It may take up to 1 hour for your comment to appear on the website. ''They come in and tear each other apart. [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. Jun 19, 2015. "He found the buttons to push.". "Ralph Roberts is the absolutely most clear-cut example of the American dream," said former Gov. 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. Soon after buying the Flyers, Mr. Roberts admitted that he had just seen his first hockey game. '', See the article in its original context from. Would you like to offer Douglas A. Robertss loved ones a condolence message? All Rights Reserved. I didn't want it to appear that he was just his father's son.''. ''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. IT helps, of course, that only one of the children desperately wanted to follow in Dad's footsteps. It shows the power of Ralph's influence, that he has been able to keep that feeling alive over 50 years," Cohen said. Mr. Roberts has been married to his wife, Suzanne, for 54 years. ", Mr. Roberts met his wife at a dance in 1937 when he was 17, she 16. Comcast, a name Roberts coined from the words communications and broadcasting. "These guys go out there and kill each other!". Their son, Brian L. Roberts, is the current CEO of Comcast Corporation. . He was 95. We are deeply saddened to announce that Ralph J. Roberts, husband, father and grandfather, died of natural causes Thursday, June 18 in Philadelphia, PA. ''I don't think Ralph knows any more about Brian's personal life than he knows about the others. To support himself at college, he took on a variety of odd jobs, including selling milk. "That's what he stood for. Many entrepreneurs are very secretive. 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. Douglas Scott was born April 8,1958 to Joe Nathan Scott and Mona (nee Page) Scott. 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. Find the obituary of Douglas A. Roberts (1955 - 2021) from Mount Carmel, IL. 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 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. Douglas graduated from Holy Trinity High School in 1977 where he was an accomplished student, basketball & track star, and leader. Ralph Joel Roberts was born on March 13, 1920, in New York. 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. 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