Published. Then, chuckling, he added, ''It was probably a very good lesson for Brian -- no question about it. Brian, born in 1959, was the fourth. In February 2013, Comcast paid $16.7 billion to purchase the remaining stake in NBCUniversal. NewsLibrary. Sign up for service and obituary updates. Most of his pay, he said, came from $43 million in profit from expiring stock options he had to exercise. Actually, he added, "I've had a lot of bad ideas, but he would never say that. 2023 SCI SHARED RESOURCES, LLC. Funeral Home website by. There was another side to Mr. Roberts - as a mentor to those other than his son. 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. 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. With over 1,900 locations, Dignity Memorial providers proudly serve over 375,000 families a year. He was. He loved his work and all those who worked with him and for him. ''Hopefully, I have had more experience than most people,'' he said, ''but you never know.''. The Roberts family said in a statement: "Ralph was a remarkable man who touched the lives of so many people. The memory of the fiasco still rankles Mr. Diller. Ed Rendell. The elder Roberts was also civic-minded. 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. "His vision was always to create a little IBM," Rudnay said. Mr. Roberts allowed himself an indulgence - the purchase of a farm in Chester County. ''It has been wonderful to share those tense moments with your father,'' Brian Roberts said, ''and hopefully, it has prepared me for the future. ''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. Echovita Inc is a registered trademark. Now Brian typically takes the lead.''. I knew a lot of people at Comcast. His main goal at the time was to make a lot of money. The couple created the Suzanne Roberts Theatre at 480 S. Broad St. in her honor. OBITUARY Douglas McArthur ROBERTS April 10, 1943 - May 16, 2022. ''It's a pretty close family. In 1963, Mr. Roberts was a little-known entrepreneur who had sold Muzak systems and mens belts and suspenders, but he was ambitious and always scouting for new business opportunities. Once Mr. Roberts began building Comcast, Brian, alone of his brood, frequented the company premises. 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. mother. Mr. Roberts said, according to his biography. TimesMachine is an exclusive benefit for home delivery and digital subscribers. Douglas McArthur ROBERTS, age 79, of Rancho Cucamonga, California passed away on Monday, May 16, 2022. 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. Ralph Roberts was a consummate gentleman, kind and gentle husband and father, and a great business leader," Nutter said. It also sells those services to businesses. 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. ''We used to take the children away with us every year to climb the Pyramids or something memorable to keep their attention,'' he said. Beloved companion of the late Mary McMenemy. "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. Douglas Scott was born April 8,1958 to Joe Nathan Scott and Mona (nee Page) Scott. It struck me as a place where culture really mattered. 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. In 2011, fulfilling the Robertses long-held interest in NBC, Comcast acquired a majority stake in NBCUniversal from General Electric for $6.5 billion; in doing so, it became one of the industrys leading content producers. It's been a real pleasure for the whole family," he said in 1999. Doug graduated from Hillsborough High School in Tampa and went on to attend Hobart School of Welding. The deal stirred up widespread opposition from factions who feared that the resulting cable industry giant would stifle competition and hurt consumers. "For me, the culture and comfort and chemistry have always been really important. "The amazing genius of my father is that there was not a one-size-fits-all for parenting. . She was not amused. A unique . This has a pretty good chance of working. "When?" Ralph J. Roberts, the man who 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. IN THE CARE OF. "Our city has lost a wonderful champion," Nutter said in a statement. 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. "That culture says that you have to care about the people you work with. Stone Funeral Home. [5] They incorporated in 1969 as Comcast Corporation, a name Roberts invented by combining the words communications and broadcasting. To send flowers In his leisure time, on which Mr. Roberts insisted, he rode horses, foxhunted, and enjoyed his family. But they talk all the time. Doug was predeceased by his infant. He was a gentle soul with an infectious spirit who will be greatly missed. May 2, 2021 ''The father is open. 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. 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. In a statement, Mayor Michael Nutter remembered the business visionary and family man. 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. In early 2011, after a protracted review by federal regulators, Comcast acquired 51 percent of NBC Universal from General Electric Co. [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. CANDLE HAS BEEN LIT CANDLES HAVE BEEN LIT, We are reviewing your submission. Ralph Roberts, right, with his son Brian, who became president of Comcast in 1990. As Comcast prospered, so did the Roberts family. 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. After his wedding, Mr. Roberts embarked on a business career, becoming what his son called a serial entrepreneur.. [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]. Then he turned the company over to his son at an early age. That the others did not never fazed Ralph Roberts, who encouraged them to pursue their own interests. 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. But the firm wasn't always a giant, nor was its founder a scion. He was chairman of the board from 1969 to 2002. 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. Luckily, the youngster had business smarts as well as enthusiasm. Doug was born July 24, 1969, in Kalamazoo, the son of Douglas and Vicky (Troyer). 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. ", Mayor Nutter called Mr. Roberts a "consummate gentleman, kind and gentle husband and father, and a great business leader.". [4] In 1998, the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia inducted Roberts into their Hall of Fame. Leave a memory or share a photo or video below to show your support. "As a person, his DNA is all over our company. "I couldn't have done that if I didn't have any money. Word of Mr. Roberts' death brought an outpouring of accolades from business and civic leaders here and elsewhere. The culture of Comcast was important to him.". "But I don't think I'll be seeing too many more," he said. Ralph Joel Roberts was born on March 13, 1920, in New York City, and was an entrepreneur from an early age. 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. Daughter Lisa said Mr. Roberts was an attentive father. He was 95. "He did it in a positive, thoughtful way, not self-aggrandizing. 1-800-896-5587 (Mon-Fri, 7am-6pm MDT) Annual Membership . ''I was probably the one to pull the curtain,'' he said. 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. Ralph was my personal mentor, teaching me how to build and maintain a great organizational culture irrespective of size," Bonovitz said. ''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.'' Burke watched the father-son team when Mr. Roberts was chairman and his son president, and found their interplay businesslike and seamless. ''Ralph and Julian have been intimately involved, but Ralph doesn't sit there until 4 A.M. in the lawyers' offices anymore. [11] Her name appears on the Suzanne Roberts Theatre in Philadelphia and she hosted a TV program aimed at seniors called "Seeking Solutions with Suzanne" on Comcast's CN8 network. ". Leave a memory or share a photo or video below to show your support. Through the 1970s and '80s, it built cable networks, learned to maintain them, and profited by Mr. Roberts' favorite element - recurring monthly income. 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. . Like many media entrepreneurs, Ralph Roberts created several classes of stock, enabling him to issue equity without losing control. He evolved and personalized his relationship for each of my siblings," Brian Roberts said. The elder Mr. Roberts kept the titles of chairman and chief executive. If he hadn't, his father confesses, ''I probably would have sold the company. Funeral homes; Help and advice. 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. 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. Brian L. 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