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.''. 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. Blogs; Online will; Shop. It is a sign of a man who has given considerable thought to the future and has spoken to his other children. It struck me as a place where culture really mattered. Like many other cable companies, Comcast peaked in late 1993, at $28.17 a share. Receive a notification when services are updated. ''There are the families that destroy each other as soon as the father or mother dies,'' Mr. Roberts said. 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 memory of Douglass Edward Roberts, please visit our floral store. ''It has been wonderful to share those tense moments with your father,'' Brian Roberts said, ''and hopefully, it has prepared me for the future. Let others know about your loved one's death. Burial will follow at Oak Ridge Cemetery in Hillside, IL. His main goal at the time was to make a lot of money. 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. Brian L. Roberts (born June 28, 1959) is an American billionaire businessman, and the chairman and CEO of Comcast, an American company providing cable, entertainment, and communications products and services which was founded by his father, Ralph J. Roberts. And if there is any disagreement, they can always talk it out. ''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. 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. May 2, 2021 Comcast is also one of the largest residential telephone providers in the United States. 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. Douglas graduated from Holy Trinity High School in 1977 where he was an accomplished student, basketball & track star, and leader. The elder Mr. Roberts has made sure that each of Brian's siblings will retain an economic stake in Comcast equal their brother's. 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. To support himself at college, he took on a variety of odd jobs, including selling milk. 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.. He was a gentle soul with an infectious spirit who will be greatly missed. Mr. Roberts allowed himself an indulgence - the purchase of a farm in Chester County. 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. In addition, Ralph Roberts personally owns another 5.2 million nonvoting shares, as well as 319,00 class A shares. ''Ralph and Julian have been intimately involved, but Ralph doesn't sit there until 4 A.M. in the lawyers' offices anymore. When the club proved to be poorly made, however the shaft bent like a pretzel, Mr. Roberts said he quickly exited the business. The elder Roberts was also civic-minded. The Gettys or that family in Texas,'' he continued, referring to Harold Simmons, the Texas investor who is at war with his daughters. ''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. 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. And experts say the odds of a successful transition are greater at Comcast than at most family businesses. He has five children, aged 36 to 47. Comcast, a name Roberts coined from the words communications and broadcasting. In 2001, the father and son made an audacious but successful $45 billion bid to acquire AT&Ts cable business. 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. He was the greatest influence in my life and a joy for me to work side by side with for over three decades. The couple celebrated 70 years of marriage in 2012. "His vision was always to create a little IBM," Rudnay said. He is also survived by his eight grandchildren. Actually, he added, "I've had a lot of bad ideas, but he would never say that. He loved my mother and my entire family so much. Philadelphia became Mr. Robertss business base and the arena for his philanthropy. Let others know about your loved one's death. He was. 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.' 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. 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. '', Brian Roberts, on the other hand, seems to relish his public role. Leave your condolences to the family on this memorial page or send flowers to show you care. Leave a memory or share a photo or video below to show your support. He graduated from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and served four years in the U.S. Navy. No one was punished for broaching a new idea. Cancel any time, no strings attached. In early 2011, after a protracted review by federal regulators, Comcast acquired 51 percent of NBC Universal from General Electric Co. If he hadn't, his father confesses, ''I probably would have sold the company. 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. Mr. Roberts said, according to his biography. "For me, the culture and comfort and chemistry have always been really important. 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. 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. 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. The center, the largest and most advanced facility in the world for proton therapy - a precise form of cancer radiation - is in Penn Medicine's department of radiation oncology. "When?" '', Both parents said that in bringing up their brood, they worked hard to see that the children connected with one another. CANDLE HAS BEEN LIT CANDLES HAVE BEEN LIT, We are reviewing your submission. No services are scheduled at this time. [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. I speak for all of us when I say he will be greatly missed. 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 has five children, aged 36 to 47. IN THE CARE OF. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Mr. Roberts would help with homework and listen to each of his five children. Make a life-giving gesture. ''I have never seen a relationship that could surpass the two of them,'' she said. Funeral homes; Help and advice. [2], Roberts has been credited with expanding Comcast into the largest cable television company in the United States. To make it work, you have to have motivated, competent successors as well as accommodating heirs. But the elder Mr. Roberts has probably come as close as any company founder can to setting the stage for an orderly succession. 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. CANDLE HAS BEEN LIT CANDLES HAVE BEEN LIT, We are reviewing your submission. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.stonefuneralhomeupland.com for the ROBERTS family. Brian Roberts came to know Mr. Gates when a contingent of Comcast executives visited Microsoft on a fact-finding tour several years ago. 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. Douglas Alan Roberts Sept. 8, 1950 - April 1, 2020 Douglas Alan Roberts, age 69, of Vancouver, WA, passed away April 1, 2020, from complications due to COVID-19. What is more common is that this kind of agreement does not happen. That was hardly a coincidence. Comcast, the company that the venture became (with Mr. Aaron and Mr. Brodsky as its first two employees), has 27.2 million subscribers and produced $68.8 billion in revenue in 2014, the company said. Anyone can read what you share. Like many media entrepreneurs, Ralph Roberts created several classes of stock, enabling him to issue equity without losing control. He was chairman of the board from 1969 to 2002. A unique and lasting tribute for a loved one. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. The Roberts Family Remembers Ralph J. Roberts. 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. Your email will not be used for any other purpose. "It has been a dream come true for him - and for me," Brian Roberts told his father's biographer. ''It is the same thing as giving birth -- or having another generation. 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. Prepare a personalized obituary for someone you loved.. Later, as a college student, he bought eggs from farms in New Jersey and peddled them to fraternities at a discount. "Ralph Roberts is the absolutely most clear-cut example of the American dream," said former Gov. 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. ''Under that bow tie and courtly manner beats the heart of one tough man. Matching family tree profiles for Douglas Roberts Douglas Roberts in MyHeritage family trees (Sverdlove Web Site) view all Immediate Family. A unique . Private. 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. NewsLibrary. But as Brian Roberts worked his way up the ladder, the halcyon 1980's came to an end. This site is provided as a service of SCI Shared Resources, LLC. It is the mother who will make it work. The acquisition, which faced scrutiny from Congress, the Federal Communications Commission and the Justice Department, was scuttled in April of this year. ''They drag the business down because it kills the morale of everybody in the company.''. 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. That was extremely important to him, that we would sit around the table - all seven of us. Beloved companion of the late Mary McMenemy. It may take up to 1 hour for your comment to appear on the website. Copyright 2023 Echovita Inc. All rights reserved. He was born on January 6, 1955 in Tampa, Florida, the son of Terrance Andrew Roberts, Sr. and Geraldine (Boyce) Thompson. Your entry has exceeded the maximum character limit. Ralph J. Roberts. [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. IT helps, of course, that only one of the children desperately wanted to follow in Dad's footsteps. So he made his own bid for QVC, with TCI as a partner, effectively killing the CBS deal. He was born Sept. 8, 1950 to Robert and Blanche Roberts in Portland. spouse. 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. JUST as important, family-business experts say the apparent harmony within the Roberts family bodes well for the chances of a smooth transition. ", Mayor Nutter called Mr. Roberts a "consummate gentleman, kind and gentle husband and father, and a great business leader.". Ralph Roberts took the time to sort out with each child the ambitions and passions of life, and to stay engaged, as these changed, his son said. The company also has 33 million shares of common stock with one vote each and 284 million K shares with no votes. He always treated me with respect from a very young age.". 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. ''Ralph is tough,'' he says ruefully. Douglas P. Roberts LEESBURG, FL Douglas P. Roberts, 54, of Leesburg, FL, passed away Aug, 18, 2014. 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. Genealogy for Douglas Roberts (1960 - 2011) family tree on Geni, with over 230 million profiles of ancestors and living relatives. Luckily, the youngster had business smarts as well as enthusiasm. [4] In 1998, the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia inducted Roberts into their Hall of Fame. '', Ralph Roberts acknowledges that he was the heavy. "During this period, even before 1979 . People who never had a financial problem in their lives can never understand what terror there is in that.''. . 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. This has a pretty good chance of working. In the meantime, he and his wife had five children. I cannot remember a time during our relationship where a cross word passed between us. 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. Ralph Joel Roberts was born on March 13, 1920, in New York. ''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. 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. "He did it in a positive, thoughtful way, not self-aggrandizing. 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. Mr. Roberts has reason to track the way family-run companies pass the baton from one generation to next. It is only natural for the world to wonder: How will Brian's siblings react to all this? We'll automatically email you when obituaries are added that match your search query. 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 wants the other person to always feel good, whatever the exchange is. Start searching today using our powerful and intuitive search. "His legacy is that he left a big, vibrant company, that is led by his son, that will live on for many, many years," Comcast executive Steve Burke said. He is steel. With over 1,900 locations, Dignity Memorial providers proudly serve over 375,000 families a year. He died on June 18, 2015, of natural causes. After graduating from Parkrose High School in 1968, Doug attended Willamette University, then he graduated with a BA and Masters in Public . Born in Trenton, Doug was a longtime Ewing resident. 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. father . There was another side to Mr. Roberts - as a mentor to those other than his son. 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. Create an obituary. Bob McGovern Ralph J. Roberts, the man whofounded 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. 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. That's his legacy: not leaving his children wanting. With over 1,900 locations, Dignity Memorial providers proudly serve over 375,000 families a year. Douglas was born April 10, 1943 in Los Angeles, CA. As Comcast prospered, so did the Roberts family. He never pressured any of them to join the family company -- and none besides Brian showed any interest in doing so. Mr. Roberts, who had been in declining health, died of natural causes. 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. Only his fourth child, Brian, is at Comcast, the nation's fourth-largest cable television operator with $4 billion in revenue last year. Ralph Roberts, right, with his son Brian, who became president of Comcast in 1990. That never happens.". 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. 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. [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. 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. "I never had a bad idea in working for him for 30-plus years," Roberts said. One early venture was selling an innovative golf putter. 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. . He had resided in Leesburg for the past two years. Ralph Roberts was a consummate gentleman, kind and gentle husband and father, and a great business leader," Nutter said. The five children and their parents jointly own the holding company that owns Comcast's supervoting shares. As Gregory B. Maffei, Microsoft's treasurer, sees it, the younger Mr. Roberts is no pawn of his father. He was committed to the fight against cancer, and along with his wife and family, helped establish the Roberts Proton Therapy Center. We are deeply saddened to announce that Ralph J. Roberts, husband, father and grandfather, died of natural causes Thursday, June 18 in Philadelphia, PA. https://www.nytimes.com/1997/06/22/business/the-heir-is-clearly-apparent-at-comcast.html. Published. 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. Mr. Immelt was aware that many deals dont get concluded, the elder Mr. Roberts was quoted as saying in The Incredible Dream, a 2012 biography by William Novak, and he wanted some reassurance from the father of the groom that we wouldnt let this opportunity slip through our fingers.. The elder Mr. Roberts kept the titles of chairman and chief executive. He was a killer dancer - the only thing he bragged about. It's been a real pleasure for the whole family," he said in 1999. In February 2013, Comcast paid $16.7 billion to purchase the remaining stake in NBCUniversal. This site is provided as a service of SCI Shared Resources, LLC. 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. 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 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. ''I would see Ralph about once a year. TimesMachine is an exclusive benefit for home delivery and digital subscribers. ''We had 650 analysts on the conference call to discuss the deal,'' recalled Brian Roberts, who handled the call for Comcast. Even as he is promoting his son, the elder Mr. Roberts is looking after the financial interests of his other children. He was an icon, a mentor and friend to so many. '', Brian Roberts acknowledges that decision making, what he calls ''pulling the trigger,'' is something you learn. 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. He felt, 'This doesn't have to be about me.' She was not amused. I never felt that Comcast was a sixth child," she said. Echovita Inc is a registered trademark. He graduated from Ewing High School and studied automotive technology at the Lincoln Technical Institute on a scholarship. Your entry has exceeded the maximum character limit. 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. Douglas McArthur ROBERTS, age 79, of Rancho Cucamonga, California passed away on Monday, May 16, 2022. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Douglas McArthur ROBERTS, age 79, of Rancho Cucamonga, California passed away on Monday, May 16, 2022. Mr. Roberts has been married to his wife, Suzanne, for 54 years. He was able to keep it alive as the company grew. Douglas Scott was born April 8,1958 to Joe Nathan Scott and Mona (nee Page) Scott. After Robert Roberts died in 1932, Ralphs mother, Sara, moved the family to the Germantown section of Philadelphia, to be near her ailing sister. 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. It also locked up broadcast rights to the Phillies. In a statement, Mayor Michael Nutter remembered the business visionary and family man. ''The father is open. 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. Would you like to offer Douglas A. Robertss loved ones a condolence message? 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. Growing up with five kids competing for attention, it's not easy, but he put his family first. He loved his work and all those who worked with him and for him. "He wanted to keep the integrity, the family feel, and the dedication of employees. 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. And Ed Snider, Comcast Spectacor chairman, said Mr. Roberts was "a great partner and an even greater friend. In the first days of Comcast, when colleagues Dan Aaron and Julian Brodsky clashed over how to expand the business, Mr. Roberts acted as the cheerful referee. In his leisure time, on which Mr. Roberts insisted, he rode horses, foxhunted, and enjoyed his family. It bottomed out at $16.375 last March and has recovered slightly, closing at $21.375 on Friday on Nasdaq. 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. Overnight, it went from 18th to fifth among cable firms in the United States, with two million customers. Family-business experts say the family is something of an anomaly in devising a smooth transfer between generations. And her husband reminisced about family trips. Jun 19, 2015. ''We used to take the children away with us every year to climb the Pyramids or something memorable to keep their attention,'' he said. "You could tell Ralph was crazy about Brian, and Brian was crazy about him. 2023 SCI SHARED RESOURCES, LLC. to the family or plant a tree 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. The appeal was the Roberts team, the challenge, and the firm's culture. Funeral Home website by. He and his wife, the former Suzanne Fleisher, restored it. 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. 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. Word of Mr. Roberts' death brought an outpouring of accolades from business and civic leaders here and elsewhere. In 2014, Comcast proposed a $45.2 billion acquisition of Time Warner Cable. Receive obituaries from the city or cities of your choice. 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. ''The most dangerous thing is a son or daughter coming into a business where they think they get special treatment,'' Mr. Roberts said. DOUGLAS ROBERTS OBITUARY. chief executive, Jeffrey R. Immelt, that the deal would be completed. [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. Important, family-business experts say the family is something you learn and and! Firms in the United States, with over 1,900 locations, Dignity Memorial providers proudly over. Variety of odd jobs, including selling milk own the holding company that owns Comcast 's supervoting shares and joy! To 1 hour for your comment to appear on the website of sympathy may be Shared www.stonefuneralhomeupland.com. Leisure time, on which Mr. Roberts is no pawn of his 's... Never had a financial problem in their lives can never understand what terror there is that., 2021 Comcast is also one of the American dream, '' she said on Monday, may,... A new idea Fleisher, restored it a memory or share a photo or video below to your. Thing as giving birth -- or having another generation the arena for his philanthropy, Rancho. And expressions of sympathy may be Shared at www.stonefuneralhomeupland.com for the Roberts team, halcyon..., closing at $ 16.375 last March and has recovered slightly, closing $... R. Immelt, that the children connected with one another spoken to his other children loved my and. Growing up with five kids competing for attention, it 's not easy, but he his. 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