As Gregory B. Maffei, Microsoft's treasurer, sees it, the younger Mr. Roberts is no pawn of his father. 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. 1-800-896-5587 (Mon-Fri, 7am-6pm MDT) Annual Membership . your email below for our complimentary daily grief messages. Born in Trenton, Doug was a longtime Ewing resident. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. father . He also sold advertising on ink blotters. 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. Moving to Germantown with his family from New Rochelle, N.Y., after his father's death, he graduated from Germantown High School and in 1941 from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, where he received a bachelor's degree. His main goal at the time was to make a lot of money. 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. 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.''. Like many other cable companies, Comcast peaked in late 1993, at $28.17 a share. Burial will follow at Oak Ridge Cemetery in Hillside, IL. 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 Roberts Family Remembers Ralph J. Roberts. Doug was predeceased by his infant. Your email will not be used for any other purpose. He helped his wife, an actress, practice her lines and attended every performance no matter how many days the show ran. spouse. 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. Comcast, a name Roberts coined from the words communications and broadcasting,was incorporated in 1969. Ed Rendell. 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. I went to the University of Pennsylvania. In 1963, the year he founded the company, he created Comcast class B shares, of which there are 8.8 million, each with 15 votes. "Ralph served as a longtime member of the Penn Medicine board, and actively supported athletics, undergraduate financial aid, and his class." In 1994, for example, Ralph Roberts scuttled a bid by Barry Diller, then the chairman of QVC, the home-shopping cable channel, to acquire CBS. 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. 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 never pressured any of them to join the family company -- and none besides Brian showed any interest in doing so. ommitted to the fight against cancer, he and his family helped establish the Roberts Proton Therapy Center at Penn Medicine in 2006. He was always a stickler for table manners," she said. [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. And the other children, who declined to be interviewed, are said to be knowledgeable about the plan and favorable to it. 2023 WWB Holdings, LLC. ''I was probably the one to pull the curtain,'' he said. Doug graduated from Hillsborough High School in Tampa and went on to attend Hobart School of Welding. Penn honored him in 2005 with the Doctor of Laws honoris causa. ''There is something about wanting to pass things on,'' he said. The deal put the cable company on a far larger corporate map. Make a life-giving gesture. He was 95. There was plenty of room to give the son a shot. 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. Mr. Roberts, who had been in declining health, died of natural causes. Despite that, Mr. Roberts named the club the Bob Hope Centric putter and began selling it around the country. He was the most optimistic man I ever knew. A unique and lasting tribute for a loved one. Obituary Roberts, Douglas David It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Douglas Roberts on August 1, 2013 at The Wellington Nursing Home in his 89th year. 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. "The amazing genius of my father is that there was not a one-size-fits-all for parenting. ''We moved into an apartment with my aunt in Philadelphia. '', See the article in its original context from. In 2001, the father and son made an audacious but successful $45 billion bid to acquire AT&Ts cable business. Leave a memory or share a photo or video below to show your support. He was an icon, a mentor and friend to so many. He did this by encouraging free-flowing discussion, then focusing the issue with probing questions. Leave your condolences to the family on this memorial page or send flowers to show you care. One early venture was selling an innovative golf putter. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.stonefuneralhomeupland.com for the ROBERTS family. Send a note, share a story or upload a photo. As an executive, Mr. Roberts had a knack for attracting talented people and giving them power, within limits. He is also survived by cousins, nieces and nephews. Then, chuckling, he added, ''It was probably a very good lesson for Brian -- no question about it. 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. Echovita Inc is a registered trademark. The magic words, according to Mr. Roberts, were "Yes, dear.". "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?' He came home each weeknight at 7 p.m. and left his briefcase by the door, along with business cares. Early life and education [ edit] Roberts was born on March 13, 1920, in New York City. ''Usually we have about 200.''. Mr. Roberts later worked in advertising at the Aitkin-Kynett agency, writing slogans for the Democrat William Benton, a successful United States Senate candidate from Connecticut who defeated Prescott S. Bush, the father and grandfather of two presidents, in 1950. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. "He did it in a positive, thoughtful way, not self-aggrandizing. 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. In 2014, Comcast proposed a $45.2 billion acquisition of Time Warner Cable. California residents do not sell my data request. Prepare a personalized obituary for someone you loved.. January 6, 1955 - 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. Help tell the story of your loved ones unique life. TimesMachine is an exclusive benefit for home delivery and digital subscribers. ", "He had a wonderful sense of humor, and he was very inspirational to me personally," Snider said in a statement. [4] In 1998, the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia inducted Roberts into their Hall of Fame. He has five children, aged 36 to 47. 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. He was needed there because of his business acumen, his superiors 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.'' The Gettys or that family in Texas,'' he continued, referring to Harold Simmons, the Texas investor who is at war with his daughters. Your entry has exceeded the maximum character limit. Burke watched the father-son team when Mr. Roberts was chairman and his son president, and found their interplay businesslike and seamless. 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. 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. I didn't want it to appear that he was just his father's son.''. Anyone can read what you share. After his wedding, Mr. Roberts embarked on a business career, becoming what his son called a serial entrepreneur.. 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. ", Mr. Roberts met his wife at a dance in 1937 when he was 17, she 16. In a statement, Mayor Michael Nutter remembered the business visionary and family man. If he hadn't, his father confesses, ''I probably would have sold the company. 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. 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. Brian Roberts countered that other companies, including Comcast, were aggressively upgrading. 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. All Rights Reserved. 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. . The couple celebrated 70 years of marriage in 2012. ", Mayor Nutter called Mr. Roberts a "consummate gentleman, kind and gentle husband and father, and a great business leader.". But the elder Mr. Roberts has probably come as close as any company founder can to setting the stage for an orderly succession. "Our city has lost a wonderful champion with his passing.". BigDaddy, as he was known to his friends and family, had a remarkable passion and talent for athletics. It's been a real pleasure for the whole family," he said in 1999. A Funeral Service will begin at Noon at the Funeral Home. In the meantime, he and his wife had five children. Authorize the publication of the original written obituary with the accompanying photo. Overnight, it went from 18th to fifth among cable firms in the United States, with two million customers. 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. Sign Up Today! His father, Robert Max Roberts, was a Russian-Jewish immigrant who prospered with a string of pharmacies in the city. Flush with cash, Comcast went on a buying spree in the mid-1980s, acquiring part of the Group W cable system. He was born Sept. 8, 1950 to Robert and Blanche Roberts in Portland. Mr. Roberts later took jobs with the Muzak Corporation and the Pioneer Suspender Company, which sold mens belts and cologne. Published. ''I would see Ralph about once a year. He moved his family to New Rochelle, N.Y., when Ralph was 5. There are too many other combatants, and it becomes another deal. He was 95. (66 years old). Send a note, share a story or upload a photo. Echovita offers a solidarity program that gives back the funds generated to families. "His vision was always to create a little IBM," Rudnay said. He always treated me with respect from a very young age.". She was not amused. Would you like to offer Douglas A. Robertss loved ones a condolence message? Mr. Roberts bought a small cable service in Tupelo, Miss., and built it into Comcast. Now Brian typically takes the lead.''. ''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. DOUGLAS ROBERTS OBITUARY ROBERTS, DOUGLAS M. Lawton Passed away July 28, 2012 at his residence. ''The father is open. This site is provided as a service of SCI Shared Resources, LLC. '', The son got the point. Only his fourth child, Brian, is at Comcast, the. Private. 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. He was preceded in death by his father, Joe Nathan Scott, and his brother, Jonathan Scott. 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. Douglas was born April 10, 1943 in Los Angeles, CA. When the club proved to be poorly made, however the shaft bent like a pretzel, Mr. Roberts said he quickly exited the business. A remembrance ceremony to celebrate Roberts' life will follow at a future date. 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. can stop at any time. ''It's a pretty close family. Doug was predeceased by his infant. That was extremely important to him, that we would sit around the table - all seven of us. Soon after buying the Flyers, Mr. Roberts admitted that he had just seen his first hockey game. Douglas graduated from Holy Trinity High School in 1977 where he was an accomplished student, basketball & track star, and leader. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. His father's greatest skill, he said, ''is the ability to make the hard decision at the crucial moment.''. The couple created the Suzanne Roberts Theatre at 480 S. Broad St. in her honor. Douglas McArthur ROBERTS, age 79, of Rancho Cucamonga, California passed away on Monday, May 16, 2022. "These guys go out there and kill each other!". I lived at home.'' 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. ''Hopefully, I have had more experience than most people,'' he said, ''but you never know.''. ''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. 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. The five children and their parents jointly own the holding company that owns Comcast's supervoting shares. 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. Most of his pay, he said, came from $43 million in profit from expiring stock options he had to exercise. As Comcast prospered, so did the Roberts family. mother. It shows the power of Ralph's influence, that he has been able to keep that feeling alive over 50 years," Cohen said. Only his fourth child, Brian, is at Comcast, the nation's fourth-largest cable television operator with $4 billion in revenue last year. Roberts was born on March 13, 1920, in New York City. Another son, Douglas, died in September 2011. 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. He recalled in a 1996 interview digging up his mother's marigolds and selling them to the neighbors. Ralph Joel Roberts was born on March 13, 1920, in New York City, and was an entrepreneur from an early age. 2023 SCI SHARED RESOURCES, LLC. "He was the greatest influence in my life and a joy for me to work side by side with for over three decades. The appeal was the Roberts team, the challenge, and the firm's culture. It is always business. He was a gentle soul with an infectious spirit who will be greatly missed. Mr. Roberts would help with homework and listen to each of his five children. [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. But they talk all the time. It also sells those services to businesses. Sign up for service and obituary updates. ''We had 650 analysts on the conference call to discuss the deal,'' recalled Brian Roberts, who handled the call for Comcast. 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. [12] They had five children: Catherine, Lisa, Ralph Jr. (Rob), Brian, and Douglas (who died in 2011);[2] and eight grandchildren. I knew a lot of people at Comcast. But the son wanted to stay in the family business, so Mr. Roberts started him off in the trenches, stringing cable in New Kensington, Pa. ''We were lucky because the cable business was growing and growing, '' Mr. Roberts recalled. It may take up to 1 hour for your comment to appear on the website. He was a wonderful husband, father and grandfather and perhaps most importantly, a kind and humble human being. What is more common is that this kind of agreement does not happen. JUST as important, family-business experts say the apparent harmony within the Roberts family bodes well for the chances of a smooth transition. Douglas P. Roberts LEESBURG, FL Douglas P. Roberts, 54, of Leesburg, FL, passed away Aug, 18, 2014. ''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. Ralph J. 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