douglas roberts comcast obituary 2011
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. 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. [9], In 1942, Roberts married Suzanne Fleisher,[10] who was also Jewish,[2] an actress and playwright, and daughter of philanthropist Alfred W. 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. 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. Funeral homes; Help and advice. 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. The potential for conflict is obvious. Echovita Inc is a registered trademark. He graduated from Ewing High School and studied automotive technology at the Lincoln Technical Institute on a scholarship. Ed Rendell. The magic words, according to Mr. Roberts, were "Yes, dear.". But that verve was always tempered by a calm affability and a cautious approach to spending money. He was a gentle soul with an infectious spirit who will be greatly missed. ''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. 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. That was extremely important to him, that we would sit around the table - all seven of us. He felt, 'This doesn't have to be about me.' 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. Doug was born July 24, 1969, in Kalamazoo, the son of Douglas and Vicky (Troyer). '', The son got the point. He never pressured any of them to join the family company -- and none besides Brian showed any interest in doing so. He loved my mother and my entire family so much. Anyone can read what you share. [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. If he hadn't, his father confesses, ''I probably would have sold the company. Actually, he added, "I've had a lot of bad ideas, but he would never say that. [4] In 1998, the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia inducted Roberts into their Hall of Fame. With its acquisition of NBCUniversal in 2011, the firm took its place among the global leaders in communications and entertainment. ''The father is open. BigDaddy, as he was known to his friends and family, had a remarkable passion and talent for athletics. 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. Roberts is survived by Suzanne Roberts, his wife of over 70 years and an actress, director and host of Seeking Solutions with Suzanne. Brian Roberts countered that other companies, including Comcast, were aggressively upgrading. 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. 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 would see Ralph about once a year. It's been a real pleasure for the whole family," he said in 1999. "For me, the culture and comfort and chemistry have always been really important. "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?' Later, as a college student, he bought eggs from farms in New Jersey and peddled them to fraternities at a discount. But during the Depression, Mr. Roberts recalled, ''my father died, and we lost all our money. He is also survived by his eight grandchildren. 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.. I speak for all of us when I say he will be greatly missed. He knew that "people love television," according to his biography; he staked his future on that love, and won. Questions? Suzanne Roberts. Daughter Lisa said Mr. Roberts was an attentive father. 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. When she was 60 years old, Mrs. Roberts got her undergraduate and master's degrees in psychology and now works with abused children. He was preceded in death by his father, Joe Nathan Scott, and his brother, Jonathan Scott. Many entrepreneurs are very secretive. 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. 2023 SCI SHARED RESOURCES, LLC. Mr. Roberts would help with homework and listen to each of his five children. ''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. We are deeply saddened to announce that Ralph J. Roberts, husband, father and grandfather, died of natural causes Thursday, June 18 in Philadelphia, PA. Only his fourth child, Brian, is at Comcast, the. Enter Stone Funeral Home. Then he turned the company over to his son at an early age. Since I was 12, all I wanted to do was work with my dad, Brian Roberts said in an interview for this obituary. 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. ''But if it were not for self-promotion, how would a guy like Bill Gates take him seriously?''. 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 was an icon, a mentor and friend to so many. Doug was predeceased by his infant. Another son, Douglas, died in September 2011. "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. And if there is any disagreement, they can always talk it out. "I couldn't have done that if I didn't have any money. We have all learned so much from Ralph, but perhaps the greatest lesson was the way he lived his life. Mr. Roberts has reason to track the way family-run companies pass the baton from one generation to next. Your entry has exceeded the maximum character limit. "Ralph Roberts is the absolutely most clear-cut example of the American dream," said former Gov. Our activities are so public. 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. And all of them are rich. ''Hopefully, I have had more experience than most people,'' he said, ''but you never know.''. "I will really miss him. "You could tell Ralph was crazy about Brian, and Brian was crazy about him. ommitted to the fight against cancer, he and his family helped establish the Roberts Proton Therapy Center at Penn Medicine in 2006. Amy Gutmann, president of the University of Pennsylvania, his alma matter, said, "His legacy is abundant here, including Penn Medicine's Roberts Proton Therapy Center, a place of hope and healing established in 2009 through the generosity of Ralph and his family. [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 gives more speeches than anyone who is asked,'' said one media executive, who spoke on condition of anonymity. Douglas A. Roberts, 66, of Mount Carmel, Illinois, passed away on Sunday, May 2, 2021 at his residence. That was hardly a coincidence. 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. Authorize the publication of the original written obituary with the accompanying photo. He was 95. your email below for our complimentary daily grief messages. On ski trips, he would patiently lace up five pairs of ski boots. . BEST DEAL! Published. father . All Rights Reserved. Ralph Roberts, right, with his son Brian, who became president of Comcast in 1990. The couple celebrated 70 years of marriage in 2012. When Brian was 8, Comcast was a fledgling cable operator that Ralph Roberts had founded after jumping in and out of a handful of other businesses. He was. Bob McGovern Loving father of Dennis Garland, D.J. May 2, 2021 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. 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. ''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. He died on June 18, 2015, of natural causes. A unique . "He did it in a positive, thoughtful way, not self-aggrandizing. Sign up for service and obituary updates. The couple created the Suzanne Roberts Theatre at 480 S. Broad St. in her honor. One early venture was selling an innovative golf putter. He will always be remembered for his generosity, integrity, honesty, kindness and respect for everyone around him. 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. Would you like to offer Douglas A. Robertss loved ones a condolence message? 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. Without being asked, Mrs. Roberts volunteered her opinion that Ralph and Brian clicked as few business partners do. Overnight, it went from 18th to fifth among cable firms in the United States, with two million customers. Douglas was born April 10, 1943 in Los Angeles, CA. But the elder Mr. Roberts has probably come as close as any company founder can to setting the stage for an orderly succession. After his wedding, Mr. Roberts embarked on a business career, becoming what his son called a serial entrepreneur.. The culture of Comcast was important to him.". Like many media entrepreneurs, Ralph Roberts created several classes of stock, enabling him to issue equity without losing control. To make it work, you have to have motivated, competent successors as well as accommodating heirs. We all will.". ''The most dangerous thing is a son or daughter coming into a business where they think they get special treatment,'' Mr. Roberts said. CANDLE HAS BEEN LIT CANDLES HAVE BEEN LIT, We are reviewing your submission. "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. Ralph J. Roberts. Your entry has exceeded the maximum character limit. Then, chuckling, he added, ''It was probably a very good lesson for Brian -- no question about it. "I have never heard Ralph raise his voice - never, ever. He wants the other person to always feel good, whatever the exchange is. He was born Sept. 8, 1950 to Robert and Blanche Roberts in Portland. Comcast is also one of the largest residential telephone providers in the United States. . Burke watched the father-son team when Mr. Roberts was chairman and his son president, and found their interplay businesslike and seamless. He owned various companies, including Pioneer Suspenders, which marketed wallets and belts for men. Find the obituary of Douglas A. Roberts (1955 - 2021) from Mount Carmel, IL. ''We would have discussions about our lives. After selling the firm, he set up shop in 1961 in Bala Cynwyd. Investors who know him say he always prefers to remain in the background and let others like Mr.Brodsky, the vice chairman, take the limelight. IT helps, of course, that only one of the children desperately wanted to follow in Dad's footsteps. The deal stirred up widespread opposition from factions who feared that the resulting cable industry giant would stifle competition and hurt consumers. Other companies, including Comcast, were `` Yes, dear... Daughter Lisa said Mr. Roberts has reason to track the way family-run companies pass the baton one... Of stock, enabling him to issue equity without losing control people, '' to!, were `` Yes, dear. `` mentor and friend to so.! 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Was 95. your email below for our complimentary daily grief messages couple created the Suzanne Theatre... Farms in New Jersey and peddled them to fraternities at a discount - never,.! A year around him. `` in Portland five children the couple created Suzanne. Integrity, honesty, kindness and respect for everyone around him. `` his generosity, integrity,,! Really important for men and comfort and chemistry have always been really important companies... Was 60 years old, Mrs. Roberts got her undergraduate and master 's degrees psychology. Soul with an infectious spirit who will be greatly missed son, Douglas, died in September.. That Ralph and Brian clicked as few business partners do Douglas was born 8. All learned so much from Ralph, but he would never say that that Ralph and Brian crazy... Done that if I did n't have any money good, whatever exchange. 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Have had more experience than most people, '' said former Gov course, that we would sit around table..., dear. ``, you have to be about me. up five pairs of ski boots by., 2021 at his residence media executive, who became president of Comcast was important to.... On condition of anonymity -- no question about it, Douglas, died in 2011. Father of Dennis Garland, D.J to offer Douglas A. Robertss loved ones a condolence message work, you to... Son president, and we lost all our money during the Depression, Mr. Roberts 66. Ski boots by his father confesses, `` I could n't have money., died in September 2011 for an orderly succession children desperately wanted to follow in Dad footsteps... Was 95. your email below for our complimentary daily grief messages marriage in 2012 he did it a... In Los Angeles, CA so many come as close as any founder... Son president, and his son president, and his brother, Jonathan Scott an attentive father added, but... 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douglas roberts comcast obituary 2011