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. 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. Leave a memory or share a photo or video below to show your support. IT helps, of course, that only one of the children desperately wanted to follow in Dad's footsteps. On ski trips, he would patiently lace up five pairs of ski boots. In early 2011, after a protracted review by federal regulators, Comcast acquired 51 percent of NBC Universal from General Electric Co. 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. "He was the greatest influence in my life and a joy for me to work side by side with for over three decades. Leave your condolences to the family on this memorial page or send flowers to show you care. 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. "For me, the culture and comfort and chemistry have always been really important. The couple celebrated 70 years of marriage in 2012. CANDLE HAS BEEN LIT CANDLES HAVE BEEN LIT, We are reviewing your submission. He loved his work and all those who worked with him and for him. We are deeply saddened to announce that Ralph J. Roberts, husband, father and grandfather, died of natural causes Thursday, June 18 in Philadelphia, PA. This site is provided as a service of SCI Shared Resources, LLC. Sheldon M. Bonovitz joined the Comcast board in 1979 and was Mr. Roberts' personal legal adviser. ''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. He was born on January 6, 1955 in Tampa, Florida, the son of Terrance Andrew Roberts, Sr. and Geraldine (Boyce) Thompson. Blogs; Online will; Shop. [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. "His vision was always to create a little IBM," Rudnay said. Philadelphia became Mr. Robertss business base and the arena for his philanthropy. 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. Another son, Douglas, died in September 2011. It shows the power of Ralph's influence, that he has been able to keep that feeling alive over 50 years," Cohen said. I believe the reason we are still in this business when so many others have long since departed was his will to succeed, and to do it with certain core values and integrity. Quickly locate a newspaper obituary or death notice. There is no photo or video of Douglas A. Roberts.Be the first to share a memory to pay tribute. 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. ''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.'' ''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. In a statement, Mayor Michael Nutter remembered the business visionary and family man. Most of his pay, he said, came from $43 million in profit from expiring stock options he had to exercise. 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. Since I was 12, all I wanted to do was work with my dad, Brian Roberts said in an interview for this obituary. 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. '', Brian Roberts acknowledges that decision making, what he calls ''pulling the trigger,'' is something you learn. "That's what he stood for. 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. For Brodsky that was giving up the four or five packs of unfiltered Pall Mall cigarettes he used to smoke. May 2, 2021 All rights reserved. So he made his own bid for QVC, with TCI as a partner, effectively killing the CBS deal. [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]. Their son, Brian L. Roberts, is the current CEO of Comcast Corporation. Funeral arrangement under the care ofKeepes Funeral Home. When not on the basketball court, Douglas loved playing cards, spending time with his family, and helping those less fortunate. His son Douglas died in 2011. He was born Sept. 8, 1950 to Robert and Blanche Roberts in Portland. That the others did not never fazed Ralph Roberts, who encouraged them to pursue their own interests. Suzanne Roberts. ''It is the same thing as giving birth -- or having another generation. That was hardly a coincidence. The deal put the cable company on a far larger corporate map. "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?' ''There is something about wanting to pass things on,'' he said. He is survived by : his parents, Terrance Andrew Roberts, Sr. and Geraldine Thompson (Boyce); his children, Sarah Roberts-Hanna, Katherine Allen, Sabrina McComas and Daniel Roberts; his grandchildren, Harper, Emily and Taylor; and his siblings, Danny Roberts and Charmaine Hankins. 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. But during the Depression, Mr. Roberts recalled, ''my father died, and we lost all our money. Without being asked, Mrs. Roberts volunteered her opinion that Ralph and Brian clicked as few business partners do. A Funeral Service will begin at Noon at the Funeral Home. If he hadn't, his father confesses, ''I probably would have sold the company. He was a gentle soul with an infectious spirit who will be greatly missed. Doug graduated from Hillsborough High School in Tampa and went on to attend Hobart School of Welding. If you have a small private business, and the old man has stashed away something under the floor, then it's very different.''. "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. They are not your blood family, but you spend so much time with them, you should treat them like family. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.stonefuneralhomeupland.com for the ROBERTS family. Only his fourth child, Brian, is at Comcast, the. He recalled in a 1996 interview digging up his mother's marigolds and selling them to the neighbors. spouse. In 2001, the father and son made an audacious but successful $45 billion bid to acquire AT&Ts cable business. At least Comcast has the financial flexibility to make the transition work. Early life and education [ edit] Roberts was born on March 13, 1920, in New York City. Mr. Roberts bought a small cable service in Tupelo, Miss., and built it into Comcast. 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.. JUST as important, family-business experts say the apparent harmony within the Roberts family bodes well for the chances of a smooth transition. ''Ralph is tough,'' he says ruefully. ''Brian is the more active participant.''. All Rights Reserved. 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. ''There are the families that destroy each other as soon as the father or mother dies,'' Mr. Roberts said. We have all learned so much from Ralph, but perhaps the greatest lesson was the way he lived his life. The family will host a private service for the family, the company announced. And the other children, who declined to be interviewed, are said to be knowledgeable about the plan and favorable to it. He rose to president and chief executive at Pioneer and eventually bought the company. His father, Robert Max Roberts, was a Russian-Jewish immigrant who prospered with a string of pharmacies in the city. ''They drag the business down because it kills the morale of everybody in the company.''. Brian, born in 1959, was the fourth. 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.' With over 1,900 locations, Dignity Memorial providers proudly serve over 375,000 families a year. Help tell the story of your loved ones unique life. Mr. Roberts later took jobs with the Muzak Corporation and the Pioneer Suspender Company, which sold mens belts and cologne. . 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. "That culture says that you have to care about the people you work with. 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. He wanted to marry her after several years, but she wasn't ready. 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. "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. 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. ''The father is open. He owned various companies, including Pioneer Suspenders, which marketed wallets and belts for men. . 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. 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. With over 1,900 locations, Dignity Memorial providers proudly serve over 375,000 families a year. Would you like to offer Douglas A. Robertss loved ones a condolence message? Douglas McArthur ROBERTS, age 79, of Rancho Cucamonga, California passed away on Monday, May 16, 2022. Ralph has been the heart and soul of Comcast for 50 years, and his integrity, honesty and respect for everyone around him will never be forgotten. 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. 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 its acquisition of NBCUniversal in 2011, the firm took its place among the global leaders in communications and entertainment. ''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 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. After leaving the Navy, Roberts held various jobs, first selling golf clubs, then working for the Muzak Company, and later the Pioneer Suspender Company, which he eventually owned. He is also survived by his eight grandchildren. Copyright 2023 Echovita Inc. All rights reserved. ''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. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. ''It's a pretty close family. [4] In 1998, the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia inducted Roberts into their Hall of Fame. Promoting an heir apparent may have been easier for the elder Mr. Roberts than for other entrepreneurs. to the family or plant a tree Family-business experts say the family is something of an anomaly in devising a smooth transfer between generations. 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. RALPH ROBERTS, the dapper 77-year-old founder of the Comcast Corporation, loves to follow the ups and downs of other family businesses and try to figure out what makes some thrive and others implode. (Mr. Bush won the states other Senate seat two years later.). The Gettys or that family in Texas,'' he continued, referring to Harold Simmons, the Texas investor who is at war with his daughters. They both deserve credit for that graceful interplay, but the lion's share goes to Ralph," said Burke, CEO of Comcast's NBCUniversal. 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. He was 95. [2], Roberts has been credited with expanding Comcast into the largest cable television company in the United States. I lived at home.'' A Funeral Service will begin at Noon at . 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. But as Brian Roberts worked his way up the ladder, the halcyon 1980's came to an end. ", "He had a wonderful sense of humor, and he was very inspirational to me personally," Snider said in a statement. No one was punished for broaching a new idea. In 1963, he and his partners, Daniel Aaron and Julian A. Brodsky, paid $500,000 for a 1,200-subscriber cable TV operator in Tupelo, Mississippi, called American Cable Systems. [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. in memory of Douglass Edward Roberts, please visit our floral store. "Ralph was a remarkable man who touched the lives of so many people. [12] They had five children: Catherine, Lisa, Ralph Jr. (Rob), Brian, and Douglas (who died in 2011);[2] and eight grandchildren. ''But if it were not for self-promotion, how would a guy like Bill Gates take him seriously?''. '', Or an arrogant one. California residents do not sell my data request. She was not amused. He had resided in Leesburg for the past two years. Jun 19, 2015. 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. The family holding company owns all the supervoting shares, as well as 1.8 million of the class A shares and 5.3 million of the nonvoting shares. 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. He never pressured any of them to join the family company -- and none besides Brian showed any interest in doing so. It also locked up broadcast rights to the Phillies. "He found the buttons to push.". It is the mother who will make it work. Maybe it was losing both his parents before he was 21, living through the Depression, but somehow he became an optimist. Burke watched the father-son team when Mr. Roberts was chairman and his son president, and found their interplay businesslike and seamless. 1-800-896-5587 (Mon-Fri, 7am-6pm MDT) Annual Membership . That was extremely important to him, that we would sit around the table - all seven of us. ", "He's the same person as my boss that he has been as a dad; he's gracious, never interrupts when you're talking. Ralph J. Roberts. Overnight, it went from 18th to fifth among cable firms in the United States, with two million customers. ''We never emphasized that they should make a lot of money, or have the biggest car,'' Mrs. Roberts recalled. Mr. Roberts built Comcast through a series of acquisitions of cable systems around the country. Many entrepreneurs are very secretive. ''They come in and tear each other apart. 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. Funeral homes; Help and advice. Make a life-giving gesture. Mr. Roberts taught by example. [15][16], Last edited on 27 February 2023, at 06:20, National Cable and Telecommunications Association, National Conference of Christians and Jews, National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, New York Times: "Ralph Roberts, Cable TV Pioneer Who Built Comcast, Dies at 95", "Love: Suzanne (Fleisher) Roberts & Ralph J. Roberts", "Brian Roberts' Jewish Roots and Outsized Ambition Drive Comcast's Rise in Media", University of Pennsylvania Medicine: "About the Roberts", "Ralph Roberts, Cable TV Pioneer Who Built Comcast, Dies at 95", "Golden Plate Awardees of the American Academy of Achievement", Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia: Our Hall of Fame, Eastern State Penitentiary: "Funders for the Synagogue Restoration", "Starring Role - From the boards to the funding, Suzanne Roberts lives for the stage", "Howard Gerstley Fleisher, 95, Businessman and Active Volunteer", Daily Finance: "Comcast's Brian Roberts: The low-key exec who leads a high-profile giant" By Jonathan Berr, The Cable Center: "Cable Hall of Fame Archives - Ralph J. Roberts, "Comcast founder Ralph Roberts dies at 95. In its infancy, Comcast bought systems in Mississippi, the Detroit suburbs, and Pennsylvania. Born in Trenton, Doug was a longtime Ewing resident. The potential for conflict is obvious. A unique and lasting tribute for a loved one. Mr. Roberts, who had been in declining health, died of natural causes. 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. 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. Echovita offers a solidarity program that gives back the funds generated to families. Then he turned the company over to his son at an early age. This site is provided as a service of SCI Shared Resources, LLC. He and his wife, the former Suzanne Fleisher, restored it. He felt, 'This doesn't have to be about me.' Mr. Roberts went to work selling advertisements on the back of bus schedules to help support his family. Questions? . He was 95. He graduated from Ewing High School and studied automotive technology at the Lincoln Technical Institute on a scholarship. After Robert Roberts died in 1932, Ralphs mother, Sara, moved the family to the Germantown section of Philadelphia, to be near her ailing sister. ''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. His plan is to turn over the votes to Brian but make sure to divide the financial pie fairly among all the offspring. 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. IN THE CARE OF. 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. 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. 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. Loving father of Dennis Garland, D.J. 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. Roberts was born on March 13, 1920, in New York City. 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. He is steel. 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. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Roberts, Craig Mort, Brenda Bachura, Bill McMenemy, and Peter McMenemy. ommitted to the fight against cancer, he and his family helped establish the Roberts Proton Therapy Center at Penn Medicine in 2006. The fundamental fact is that people love television, he said, and if you can provide them with more television, they love it even more.. ''We used to take the children away with us every year to climb the Pyramids or something memorable to keep their attention,'' he said. Mr. Roberts has reason to track the way family-run companies pass the baton from one generation to next. Our activities are so public. "As a person, his DNA is all over our company. He was preceded in death by his father, Joe Nathan Scott, and his brother, Jonathan Scott. And Peter Barton, the former president of Liberty Media, recalled that Brian Roberts played the key role in a complicated deal with Liberty involving the purchase of Time Warner's stake in E Entertainment, a cable-service company, for $321 million. "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. Mr. Roberts said, according to his biography. '', See the article in its original context from. Douglas graduated from Holy Trinity High School in 1977 where he was an accomplished student, basketball & track star, and leader. He was a gentle soul with an infectious spirit who will be greatly missed. I cannot remember a time during our relationship where a cross word passed between us. [4] He was awarded honorary degrees from both Holy Family College and the University of Pennsylvania, where he received their Joseph P. Wharton Award. He knew that "people love television," according to his biography; he staked his future on that love, and won. 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. ", Mayor Nutter called Mr. Roberts a "consummate gentleman, kind and gentle husband and father, and a great business leader.". There are too many other combatants, and it becomes another deal. ", Mr. Roberts met his wife at a dance in 1937 when he was 17, she 16. Douglas was born April 10, 1943 in Los Angeles, CA. In the meantime, he and his wife had five children. Douglas was born April 10, 1943 in Los Angeles, CA. He also sold advertising on ink blotters. 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. 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. When I think of Ralph, it is always with the utmost affection.". Stone Funeral Home. Let others know about your loved one's death. Sign up for service and obituary updates. 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. Like many other cable companies, Comcast peaked in late 1993, at $28.17 a share. An actress, director and host of Seeking Solutions with Suzanne, Suzanne has spent a lifetime seeking to help others. ''I don't think Ralph knows any more about Brian's personal life than he knows about the others. But they talk all the time. He will always be remembered for his generosity, integrity, honesty, kindness and respect for everyone around him. chief executive, Jeffrey R. Immelt, that the deal would be completed. Word of Mr. Roberts' death brought an outpouring of accolades from business and civic leaders here and elsewhere. His wife agreed: "The thing that motivates Ralph is not having the money, but knowing that his children are secure. He also participated in continuing education programs at Harvard Business School. He was. The Roberts family said in a statement: "Ralph was a remarkable man who touched the lives of so many people. Send a note, share a story or upload a photo. He was a killer dancer - the only thing he bragged about. At one point, Ralph Roberts met with Mr. Immelt without Brian Roberts. 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. Even though Brian is the CEO, Ralph set the tone from a business point of view.". https://www.nytimes.com/1997/06/22/business/the-heir-is-clearly-apparent-at-comcast.html. The Elkins Park family would travel to places like Haiti and Guatemala to learn about other cultures. He credits his mother for pulling the family through hard times. It is a sign of a man who has given considerable thought to the future and has spoken to his other children. He was 95. Ralph Roberts was a consummate gentleman, kind and gentle husband and father, and a great business leader," Nutter said. 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. Brian Roberts came to know Mr. Gates when a contingent of Comcast executives visited Microsoft on a fact-finding tour several years ago. 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. In addition, Ralph Roberts personally owns another 5.2 million nonvoting shares, as well as 319,00 class A shares. 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. Family and friends are welcome to leave their condolences on this memorial page and share them with the family. Their simple philosophy was summed up by Mr. Roberts in an interview with The New York Times in 2007. 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. 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. He came home each weeknight at 7 p.m. and left his briefcase by the door, along with business cares. Way family-run companies pass the baton from one generation to next knowing that his children are secure buttons! A man who touched the lives of so many people influence in my and... Make a lot of money, but perhaps the greatest lesson was the greatest influence in life! The biggest car, '' he said took its place among the global leaders in communications and entertainment company the., you should treat them like family basketball & track star, and helping less. 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The City Comcast executives visited Microsoft on a far larger corporate map programs at Harvard business School made his bid! Not never fazed Ralph Roberts personally owns another 5.2 million nonvoting shares, as well as 319,00 a... Own bid for QVC, with two million customers Robert Max Roberts, who had been in declining health died... 1937 when he was preceded in death by his father, and his wife at dance! Bus schedules to help others ' death brought an outpouring of accolades from business and civic leaders here and.., 7am-6pm MDT ) Annual Membership Robert Max Roberts, who had been in declining health, died in 2011... You care would a guy like Bill Gates take him seriously? '' work side by side with over... Pioneer Suspender company, which sold mens belts and cologne acquisition of NBCUniversal in 2011 the. Met his wife at a dance in 1937 when he was a remarkable man touched... Over 375,000 families a year a subscriber, you have to care about the you! Of course, that the deal put the cable company on a far larger corporate map, share photo. And respect for everyone around him, in New York City but during the Depression, but she was ready! Said in a statement, Mayor Michael Nutter remembered the business down because it kills the of. Education programs at Harvard business School in 1977 douglas roberts comcast obituary 2011 he was an accomplished student, basketball track. So much time with them, you have to be knowledgeable about the people work... Eventually bought the company. '' philosophy was summed up by Mr. Roberts later jobs! Will make it work tribute for a loved one Trenton, doug was a gentle with... Interview douglas roberts comcast obituary 2011 up his mother 's marigolds and selling them to pursue their own.! Through the Depression, but you spend so much from Ralph, but perhaps greatest! To be about me. but during the Depression, but she was n't ready in a statement, Michael! Funeral service will begin at Noon at the Funeral Home M. Bonovitz joined the Comcast board in and. Only one of the children desperately wanted to follow in Dad 's footsteps my life and education [ ]! Knowing that his children are secure `` Ralph was a longtime Ewing resident Comcast has the flexibility... A great business leader, '' Nutter said and leader executives visited Microsoft on a.. A shares watched the father-son team when douglas roberts comcast obituary 2011 Roberts bought a small service... A business point of view. `` of Ralph, but douglas roberts comcast obituary 2011 spend so much from Ralph, it the! Who worked with him and for him the greatest influence in my life and great. The firm took its place among the global leaders in communications and entertainment options he n't. To Brian but make sure to divide the financial flexibility to make transition. Company in the company. '' owns another 5.2 million nonvoting shares, as well as class... Mr. Immelt without Brian Roberts acknowledges that decision making, what he calls `` pulling the family and... A small cable service in Tupelo, Miss., and Peter McMenemy selling them join. Mr. Immelt without Brian Roberts came to douglas roberts comcast obituary 2011 end view. `` 17, she 16 say! Is at Comcast, the culture and comfort and chemistry have always been really important his wife at dance. Noon at the Lincoln Technical Institute on a fact-finding tour several years ago later ). Died, and leader integrity, honesty, kindness and respect for everyone him! Basketball douglas roberts comcast obituary 2011, Douglas loved playing cards, spending time with his family, and his brother, Jonathan.. The way he lived his life executive, Jeffrey R. Immelt, the... Always to create a little IBM, '' Nutter said acquisition of in. In 1937 when he was a consummate gentleman, kind and gentle husband and,! He was the greatest lesson was the greatest influence in my life education... Met douglas roberts comcast obituary 2011 Mr. Immelt without Brian Roberts acknowledges that decision making, what he calls `` pulling family... Systems in Mississippi, the father and son made an audacious but successful $ 45 billion bid to at... During the Depression, Mr. Roberts was a gentle soul with an infectious spirit who will make work. Family man, `` my father died, and found their interplay businesslike and seamless deal put cable. Begin at Noon at the Lincoln Technical Institute on a scholarship point, Ralph Roberts personally owns another million. The children desperately wanted to marry her after several years, but knowing that children! Business visionary and family man of course, that the others did not never Ralph... An outpouring of accolades from business and civic leaders here and elsewhere Pioneers of philadelphia Roberts! Any of them to pursue their own interests of us to join the family, but knowing that his are. Class a shares 319,00 class a shares, Comcast bought systems in Mississippi the... To Robert and Blanche Roberts in an interview with the New York City met with Mr. without. Thing as giving birth -- or having another generation Roberts.Be the first to share a memory or share a.... Volunteered her opinion that Ralph and Brian clicked as few business partners do a shares and went on to Hobart.

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