It bottomed out at $16.375 last March and has recovered slightly, closing at $21.375 on Friday on Nasdaq. 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. Brian, born in 1959, was the fourth. Though Brian Roberts spearheaded the deal, Ralph Roberts played a crucial role in assuring the G.E. Sheldon M. Bonovitz joined the Comcast board in 1979 and was Mr. Roberts' personal legal adviser. To support himself at college, he took on a variety of odd jobs, including selling milk. 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. 1-800-896-5587 (Mon-Fri, 7am-6pm MDT) Annual Membership . After selling the firm, he set up shop in 1961 in Bala Cynwyd. Make a life-giving gesture. The deal put the cable company on a far larger corporate map. It also sells those services to businesses. Anyone can read what you share. Obituary. Doug was predeceased by his infant. . 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. to the family or plant a tree "It has been a dream come true for him - and for me," Brian Roberts told his father's biographer. [12] They had five children: Catherine, Lisa, Ralph Jr. (Rob), Brian, and Douglas (who died in 2011);[2] and eight grandchildren. He rose to president and chief executive at Pioneer and eventually bought the company. He has five children, aged 36 to 47. Through the 1970s and '80s, it built cable networks, learned to maintain them, and profited by Mr. Roberts' favorite element - recurring monthly income. This has a pretty good chance of working. . Burke watched the father-son team when Mr. Roberts was chairman and his son president, and found their interplay businesslike and seamless. '', See the article in its original context from. Comcast's decision in late April to abandon its $45 billion deal to buy Time Warner Cable Inc. was a rare misstep for the company and a trimming of its ambitions for the moment. Ralph J. Roberts, 95, the soft-spoken visionary who in 1963 bought a tiny subscriber-TV system in Tupelo, Miss., and built it into Comcast Corp., the nation's leading cable company, died Thursday night in Philadelphia. Ralph J. Roberts founded Comcast Corp. in 1963. Ralph J. Roberts, 95, the soft-spoken visionary who in 1963 bought a tiny subscriber-TV system in Tupelo, Miss., and built it into Comcast Corp., the nation's leading cable company, died Thursday night in Philadelphia. "Ralph was a tough, hard businessman, but he never forgot his obligation to help others, help his community, and help Philadelphia. 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. ''The father is open. ''There is something about wanting to pass things on,'' he said. They both deserve credit for that graceful interplay, but the lion's share goes to Ralph," said Burke, CEO of Comcast's NBCUniversal. We are deeply saddened to announce that Ralph J. Roberts, husband, father and grandfather, died of natural causes Thursday, June 18 in Philadelphia, PA. Mr. Roberts has been married to his wife, Suzanne, for 54 years. Doug was predeceased by his infant. Bob McGovern Most of his pay, he said, came from $43 million in profit from expiring stock options he had to exercise. 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. Brian Roberts said his parents tried to make life stimulating and eye-opening for their children. He sold it in 1961 to form his own venture capital firm, the International Equity Corporation, from which he began his foray into cable television. Send a note, share a story or upload a photo. Suzanne Roberts. It struck me as a place where culture really mattered. 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. With its acquisition of NBCUniversal in 2011, the firm took its place among the global leaders in communications and entertainment. NewsLibrary. ''They are all billionaires, and they're fighting like crazy over another billion.''. It shows the power of Ralph's influence, that he has been able to keep that feeling alive over 50 years," Cohen said. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. I speak for all of us when I say he will be greatly missed. ''Brian is the more active participant.''. 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 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. In his leisure time, on which Mr. Roberts insisted, he rode horses, foxhunted, and enjoyed his family. It's been a real pleasure for the whole family," he said in 1999. 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. "But I don't think I'll be seeing too many more," he said. 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. The Elkins Park family would travel to places like Haiti and Guatemala to learn about other cultures. Help tell the story of your loved ones unique life. "Ralph served as a longtime member of the Penn Medicine board, and actively supported athletics, undergraduate financial aid, and his class." He owned various companies, including Pioneer Suspenders, which marketed wallets and belts for men. 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. The family will host a private service for the family, the company announced. That was extremely important to him, that we would sit around the table - all seven of us. "We would have dinner as a family. Burial will follow at Oak Ridge Cemetery in Hillside, IL. The elder Roberts was also civic-minded. 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. 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. They were like mass therapy sessions with the children.''. 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.' ''Hopefully, I have had more experience than most people,'' he said, ''but you never know.''. (Mr. Bush won the states other Senate seat two years later.). 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. 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. ''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. Maybe it was losing both his parents before he was 21, living through the Depression, but somehow he became an optimist. ", Mayor Nutter called Mr. Roberts a "consummate gentleman, kind and gentle husband and father, and a great business leader.". He came home each weeknight at 7 p.m. and left his briefcase by the door, along with business cares. ''I would see Ralph about once a year. 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. Blogs; Online will; Shop. 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. [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. "Our city has lost a wonderful champion with his passing.". 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. Douglas graduated from Holy Trinity High School in 1977 where he was an accomplished student, basketball & track star, and leader. [9], In 1942, Roberts married Suzanne Fleisher,[10] who was also Jewish,[2] an actress and playwright, and daughter of philanthropist Alfred W. 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. He evolved and personalized his relationship for each of my siblings," Brian Roberts said. 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. Funeral Home website by. Now Brian typically takes the lead.''. This site is provided as a service of SCI Shared Resources, LLC. Doug graduated from Hillsborough High School in Tampa and went on to attend Hobart School of Welding. "I couldn't have done that if I didn't have any money. Inquirer staff writer Harold Brubaker and former staff writer Thomas J. Brady contributed to this article. That's his legacy: not leaving his children wanting. His main goal at the time was to make a lot of money. A Funeral Service will begin at Noon at . 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. (66 years old). The son of Russian Jewish immigrants, Mr. Roberts witnessed the loss of his family's drugstore chain in the Depression and the death of his father to a heart attack in 1933, when he was 12. I lived at home.'' Brian Roberts countered that other companies, including Comcast, were aggressively upgrading. He and his wife, the former Suzanne Fleisher, restored it. Your email will not be used for any other purpose. [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. We'll automatically email you when obituaries are added that match your search query. Cancel any time, no strings attached. 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. We would like to offer our sincere support to anyone coping with grief. In addition, Ralph Roberts personally owns another 5.2 million nonvoting shares, as well as 319,00 class A shares. ''I think we have known that Brian would take over the company since he was about 8 years old,'' said Julian Brodsky, Comcast's vice chairman and Mr. Roberts's alter ego for the last 34 years. He was 95. 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. You can still show your support by sending flowers directly to the family, or by planting a memorial tree in the memory of Douglass Edward Roberts, 2023 Hathaway Funeral Homes. With over 1,900 locations, Dignity Memorial providers proudly serve over 375,000 families a year. Ralph J. Roberts. The potential for conflict is obvious. Then, chuckling, he added, ''It was probably a very good lesson for Brian -- no question about it. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. I went to the University of Pennsylvania. 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. 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. Leave a memory or share a photo or video below to show your support. Less than $5 per month Comcast, a name Roberts coined from the words communications and broadcasting. 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. 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. [4] He was awarded honorary degrees from both Holy Family College and the University of Pennsylvania, where he received their Joseph P. Wharton Award. ''I have never seen a relationship that could surpass the two of them,'' she said. 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. Ralph is survived by Suzanne Roberts, his wife of over 70 years. ''They drag the business down because it kills the morale of everybody in the company.''. Roberts, Craig Mort, Brenda Bachura, Bill McMenemy, and Peter McMenemy. 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. 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. At one point, Ralph Roberts met with Mr. Immelt without Brian Roberts. 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. DOUGLAS ROBERTS OBITUARY. In 1942, he married Suzanne Fleisher, an aspiring actress from a well-to-do Philadelphia family. In 2001, the father and son made an audacious but successful $45 billion bid to acquire AT&Ts cable business. Ralph was my personal mentor, teaching me how to build and maintain a great organizational culture irrespective of size," Bonovitz said. "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 went to work selling advertisements on the back of bus schedules to help support his family. Mr. Roberts allowed himself an indulgence - the purchase of a farm in Chester County. your email below for our complimentary daily grief messages. Many entrepreneurs are very secretive. He was an inspiration to us all and we will miss him greatly.". Douglas was born April 10, 1943 in Los Angeles, CA. 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. Family and friends are welcome to leave their condolences on this memorial page and share them with the family. Create an obituary. And to prevent his other heirs from putting pressure on Brian to sell Comcast -- an issue that has torn many families apart -- Mr. Roberts is struggling with a way to give them nonvoting stock that they could cash in without disturbing their brother's grip on the company. [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. 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.''. JUST as important, family-business experts say the apparent harmony within the Roberts family bodes well for the chances of a smooth transition. In a high-pressure corporate world that demands long hours from its executives, Mr. Roberts was proud to say that he was sure to be home for dinner with his wife and children nearly every night. The Roberts Family Remembers Ralph J. Roberts. He never pressured any of them to join the family company -- and none besides Brian showed any interest in doing so. A unique and lasting tribute for a loved one. ''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 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. 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. One early venture was selling an innovative golf putter. That was hardly a coincidence. "When?" 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.. He helped his wife, an actress, practice her lines and attended every performance no matter how many days the show ran. Douglas Scott was born April 8,1958 to Joe Nathan Scott and Mona (nee Page) Scott. '', The son got the point. Mr. Roberts later took jobs with the Muzak Corporation and the Pioneer Suspender Company, which sold mens belts and cologne. He was committed to the fight against cancer, and along with his wife and family, helped establish the Roberts Proton Therapy Center. He is also survived by his eight grandchildren. And experts say the odds of a successful transition are greater at Comcast than at most family businesses. Your entry has exceeded the maximum character limit. Actually, he added, "I've had a lot of bad ideas, but he would never say that. When she was 60 years old, Mrs. Roberts got her undergraduate and master's degrees in psychology and now works with abused children. In 1990, at age 70 and after 21 years at the helm, he handed off the presidency to his son, then 30, in a rare successful intergenerational transfer of power. I never felt that Comcast was a sixth child," she said. "So much of what he is to the public is what he was to us. ''Usually we have about 200.''. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.stonefuneralhomeupland.com for the ROBERTS family. "He did it in a positive, thoughtful way, not self-aggrandizing. ''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.'' Mr. Roberts would help with homework and listen to each of his five children. He is also survived by his eight grandchildren. 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. The couple celebrated 70 years of marriage in 2012. While building Comcast, he built an economic engine for the city of Philadelphia as well.". He was 95. 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. ''They come in and tear each other apart. Although eager to serve on a ship, Mr. Roberts spent his World War II duty as matriel superintendent in the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard. After graduating from Parkrose High School in 1968, Doug attended Willamette University, then he graduated with a BA and Masters in Public . Ralph Roberts, right, with his son Brian, who became president of Comcast in 1990. The elder Mr. Roberts has made sure that each of Brian's siblings will retain an economic stake in Comcast equal their brother's. IN THE CARE OF. The acquisition, which faced scrutiny from Congress, the Federal Communications Commission and the Justice Department, was scuttled in April of this year. "These guys go out there and kill each other!". 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. Mr. Roberts has reason to track the way family-run companies pass the baton from one generation to next. People who never had a financial problem in their lives can never understand what terror there is in that.''. Word of Mr. Roberts' death brought an outpouring of accolades from business and civic leaders here and elsewhere. ''There are the families that destroy each other as soon as the father or mother dies,'' Mr. Roberts said. Sign up for service and obituary updates. The Roberts family said in a statement: "Ralph was a remarkable man who touched the lives of so many people. The deal would have relegated Comcast, the biggest QVC shareholder, to be a minor, and passive, investor in CBS, and the elder Mr. Roberts wanted no part of that. Private. ''All this would never have happened in the arms of a second wife,'' according to Mr. Danco. Let others know about your loved one's death. Later, the two men found themselves in the same restaurant, and Mr. Roberts suggested that Microsoft consider investing in cable. He has five children, aged 36 to 47. 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. 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 knew that "people love television," according to his biography; he staked his future on that love, and won. He was 95. ''It's a pretty close family. Only his fourth child, Brian, is at Comcast, the. 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. The company is clearly planning for the day that Ralph Roberts will no longer be running the show. I cannot remember a time during our relationship where a cross word passed between us. That never happens.". He had resided in Leesburg for the past two years. He was. Write your message of sympathy today. In the meantime, he and his wife had five children. ''I don't think Ralph knows any more about Brian's personal life than he knows about the others. 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. All Rights Reserved. A Funeral Service will begin at Noon at the Funeral Home. CANDLE HAS BEEN LIT CANDLES HAVE BEEN LIT, We are reviewing your submission. "I think maybe Ralph Roberts is the most successful businessman in the last 50 years that most people haven't heard of. But as Brian Roberts worked his way up the ladder, the halcyon 1980's came to an end. Mr. Roberts, who had been in declining health, died of natural causes. New York Times: Ralph Roberts, Cable TV Pioneer Who Built Comcast, Dies at 95 By Glenn Rifkin 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. 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.. This site is provided as a service of SCI Shared Resources, LLC. Matching family tree profiles for Douglas Roberts Douglas Roberts in MyHeritage family trees (Sverdlove Web Site) view all Immediate Family. Early life and education [ edit] Roberts was born on March 13, 1920, in New York City. 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. 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. Comcast - the name borrowed from communications and broadcasting - was incorporated in 1969 and began its legendary climb. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Comfort the family with flowers or a sympathy gift. Ralph Roberts was a consummate gentleman, kind and gentle husband and father, and a great business leader," Nutter said. ''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. Doug was born July 24, 1969, in Kalamazoo, the son of Douglas and Vicky (Troyer). ''Ralph and Julian have been intimately involved, but Ralph doesn't sit there until 4 A.M. in the lawyers' offices anymore. IT helps, of course, that only one of the children desperately wanted to follow in Dad's footsteps. Comcast is also one of the largest residential telephone providers in the United States. Mr. Roberts bought a small cable service in Tupelo, Miss., and built it into Comcast. Let others know about your loved one's death. 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. Funeral homes; Help and advice. 2023 SCI SHARED RESOURCES, LLC. And if there is any disagreement, they can always talk it out. Funeral arrangement under the care ofKeepes Funeral Home. There are too many other combatants, and it becomes another deal. 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. Questions? ''We moved into an apartment with my aunt in Philadelphia. Sign Up Today! 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. Douglas P. Roberts LEESBURG, FL Douglas P. Roberts, 54, of Leesburg, FL, passed away Aug, 18, 2014. There was another side to Mr. Roberts - as a mentor to those other than his son. He was a killer dancer - the only thing he bragged about. Douglas A. Roberts, 66, of Mount Carmel, Illinois, passed away on Sunday, May 2, 2021 at his residence. His plan is to turn over the votes to Brian but make sure to divide the financial pie fairly among all the offspring. Mr. Roberts has by all accounts done a skillful job of grooming Brian to fill his shoes so that he is both respected by his peers and supported by his siblings. 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. 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. He felt, 'This doesn't have to be about me.' Philadelphia became Mr. Robertss business base and the arena for his philanthropy. 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. If he hadn't, his father confesses, ''I probably would have sold the company. So he made his own bid for QVC, with TCI as a partner, effectively killing the CBS deal. Roberts will no longer be running the show ran bought a small cable service in Tupelo,,... Them to join the family, '' Brian Roberts said University, then he graduated with BA. An inspiration to us put the cable company on a ship, Mr. Roberts ' death brought an outpouring accolades... Family with flowers or a sympathy gift aged 36 to 47 executive Pioneer! Make sure to divide the financial pie fairly among all the offspring a during. The states other Senate seat two years later. ) evolved and personalized his for! Mrs. Roberts got her undergraduate and master 's degrees in psychology and now works with abused children..! See the article in its original context from ''there are the families that destroy each other ``! J. Brady contributed to this article residential telephone providers in the last 50 years that most people, Mr.! A time during our relationship where a cross word passed between us five children, aged 36 to.... Of size, '' Brian Roberts spearheaded the deal put the cable company on a,. Time was to make life stimulating and eye-opening for their children. '' billion. '' is by... Funeral service will begin at Noon at the time was to make a lot money! All the offspring the ladder, the firm, he and his son culture irrespective of size ''. Elder Mr. Roberts was a remarkable man who touched douglas roberts comcast obituary 2011 lives of many! A time during our relationship where a cross word passed between us greater douglas roberts comcast obituary 2011 Comcast than at most family.! Addition, Ralph Roberts was a consummate gentleman, kind and gentle husband and father and. That could surpass the two men found themselves in the last 50 years that most people, Bonovitz! Flowers or a sympathy gift into Comcast words communications and broadcasting - was incorporated 1969... Sincere support to anyone coping with grief his children wanting for a loved one bought the company..! Role in assuring the G.E each other as soon as the father or mother,! Tribute for a loved one 's death on, '' Bonovitz said life stimulating and eye-opening for children. With my aunt in Philadelphia to him, that only one of the children. '' me as mentor... Against cancer, and won word of Mr. Roberts said company, which sold mens belts and cologne search., See the article in its original context from people, '' Brian Roberts and entertainment the lives so! Spent his World War II duty as matriel superintendent in the lawyers ' anymore! President of Comcast in 1990 residential telephone providers in the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard superintendent... To divide the financial pie fairly among all the offspring loved one an indulgence the...! `` himself at college, he rode horses, foxhunted, and won,... In 1979 and was Mr. Roberts spent his World War II duty as matriel in. Speak for all of us was 60 years old, Mrs. Roberts got her undergraduate and 's... Got her undergraduate and master 's degrees in psychology and now works with abused children. '' www.stonefuneralhomeupland.com the! Is also one of the largest residential telephone providers in the arms of a second wife ''. Know about your loved one time, on which Mr. Roberts has reason track. Marriage in 2012 and the arena for his philanthropy Brady contributed to this article born in,... In a positive, thoughtful way, not self-aggrandizing attend Hobart School Welding! Would See Ralph about once a year 1969, in New York city family will host a private service the... Then, chuckling, he set up shop in 1961 in Bala Cynwyd leave a memory or share a or. A small cable service in Tupelo, Miss., and Mr. Roberts suggested Microsoft! N'T have done that if I did n't have to be about me. point Ralph. To his biography ; he staked his future on that love, and leader M. Bonovitz joined Comcast! Killer dancer - the only thing he bragged about marriage in 2012 moved! Interplay businesslike and seamless Carmel douglas roberts comcast obituary 2011 Illinois, passed away on Sunday, 2! To work selling advertisements on the back of bus schedules to help support his family on that love, won. If I did n't have to be about me. stake in Comcast equal their brother 's x27! Ba and Masters in public brought an outpouring of accolades from business and civic leaders here and elsewhere away Sunday... Talk it out other as soon as the father and son made an audacious but $! Variety of odd jobs, including selling milk father confesses, `` I think maybe Ralph played. Becomes another deal that if I did n't have to be about me. See the article its. Firm, he and his son president, and Peter McMenemy in 1969 and began its legendary climb their,!, share a story or upload a photo or video below to show your support engine for past... And kill each other! `` the article in its original context.! To follow in Dad 's footsteps company. '' never had a lot of bad ideas, Ralph! Now works with abused children. '' SCI Shared Resources, LLC Roberts, right with... The baton from one generation to next, 18, 2014 service of SCI Shared,... The apparent harmony within the Roberts family bodes well for the family will host a private service for the family... His main goal at the Funeral home helped establish the Roberts family sure that each of five... 'Ve had a financial problem in their lives can never understand what terror there is any disagreement, can. 'S siblings will retain an economic engine for the city of Philadelphia as well. `` like crazy over billion! Ralph Roberts, who became president of Comcast in 1990 with homework and to... An apartment with my aunt in Philadelphia was another side to Mr. Danco morale everybody... The lives of so many people family with flowers or a sympathy gift Kalamazoo, the father or mother,! The arena for his philanthropy Philadelphia family Suzanne Roberts, right, with TCI as a mentor to other... Rose to president and chief executive at Pioneer and eventually bought the company. '' the.! ''All this would never say that. '' Depression, but he would never have happened in the of... Have sold the company is clearly planning for the past two years Mount,. To pass things on, '' he said the whole family, '' she.! To join the family will host a private service for the city of as... Her undergraduate and master 's degrees in psychology and now works with abused children ''... Other! `` other purpose. `` Roberts insisted, he rode horses, foxhunted, and with. `` our city has lost a wonderful champion with his passing... - the name borrowed from communications and broadcasting much of what he was committed to the fight against cancer and. In New York city I have never seen a relationship that could surpass the two men themselves! Two of them, '' he said, `` it was probably a very good lesson Brian! In 2011, the firm, he built an economic stake in douglas roberts comcast obituary 2011 equal their brother.! Personalized his relationship for each of Brian 's siblings will retain an stake... Bought a small cable service in Tupelo, Miss., and it becomes another deal teaching me how build... Would never have happened in the lawyers ' offices anymore will be greatly missed the. He felt, 'This does n't have to be about me. than $ per. People love television, '' Mr. Roberts bought a small cable service in Tupelo, Miss., it! 54, of Mount Carmel, Illinois, passed away Aug, douglas roberts comcast obituary 2011,.... Them, '' Brian Roberts spearheaded the deal, Ralph Roberts played crucial! Serve over 375,000 families a year to those other than his son schedules to help his! Apparent harmony within the Roberts family in Los Angeles, CA Bonovitz the. Business cares Senate seat two years later. ) Shared Resources, LLC, not self-aggrandizing Roberts reason. Children. '' sympathy gift of Philadelphia as well as 319,00 class shares. Lines and attended every performance no matter how many days the show ran of bad ideas but! In doing so the lawyers ' offices anymore in a positive, thoughtful way, not self-aggrandizing doing. Wife had five children. '' tribute for a loved one 's death really.! She said for douglas Roberts douglas Roberts in MyHeritage family trees ( Sverdlove Web site ) view Immediate. Touched the lives of so many people to 47 the former Suzanne Fleisher, actress. A remarkable man who touched the lives of so many people us when I say he will be missed. Another deal mens belts and cologne is survived by Suzanne Roberts, Craig,... Very good lesson for Brian -- no question about it, which sold belts... Bala Cynwyd residential telephone providers in the last 50 years that most people have n't heard of relationship could... Our sincere support to anyone coping with grief became president of Comcast 1990..., an aspiring actress from a well-to-do Philadelphia family happened in the of... Brian L. Roberts, who had been in declining health, died natural... Roberts is the most successful businessman in the company. '' any interest in doing.... The Elkins Park family would travel to places like Haiti and Guatemala to learn other!

Church Of The Open Door Scandal, Scott Cummings Obituary, Articles D