Mr. Roberts has reason to track the way family-run companies pass the baton from one generation to next. A remembrance ceremony to celebrate Roberts' life will follow at a future date. 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. 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. This site is provided as a service of SCI Shared Resources, LLC. ''Every chance I get I step back and say, 'Here is Brian.' Ralph J. Roberts. To support himself at college, he took on a variety of odd jobs, including selling milk. your email below for our complimentary daily grief messages. BigDaddy, as he was known to his friends and family, had a remarkable passion and talent for athletics. ''I would see Ralph about once a year. Mr. Roberts said, according to his biography. Mr. Roberts later took jobs with the Muzak Corporation and the Pioneer Suspender Company, which sold mens belts and cologne. In addition, Ralph Roberts personally owns another 5.2 million nonvoting shares, as well as 319,00 class A 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. He was born Sept. 8, 1950 to Robert and Blanche Roberts in Portland. Flush with cash, Comcast went on a buying spree in the mid-1980s, acquiring part of the Group W cable system. He was 95. It purchased for $30 billion controlling interest in the entertainment conglomerate's NBC and Telemundo broadcast networks; pay TV channels such as USA, CNBC, Bravo, and Syfy; the Universal movie studio; and Universal Studios theme parks in Florida and California. 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. 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. I lived at home.'' Published. 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.. With its acquisition of NBCUniversal in 2011, the firm took its place among the global leaders in communications and entertainment. 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. "He wanted to keep the integrity, the family feel, and the dedication of employees. Philadelphia became Mr. Robertss business base and the arena for his philanthropy. '', Both parents said that in bringing up their brood, they worked hard to see that the children connected with one another. 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. 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. He had resided in Leesburg for the past two years. While building Comcast, he built an economic engine for the city of Philadelphia as well.". No services are scheduled at this time. Ed Rendell. "As a person, his DNA is all over our company. Mr. Gates was warm to the idea. 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. As an executive, Mr. Roberts had a knack for attracting talented people and giving them power, within limits. 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. 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. JUST as important, family-business experts say the apparent harmony within the Roberts family bodes well for the chances of a smooth transition. His wife agreed: "The thing that motivates Ralph is not having the money, but knowing that his children are secure. Leave a memory or share a photo or video below to show your support. 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. California residents do not sell my data request. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. In the meantime, he and his wife had five children. The Gettys or that family in Texas,'' he continued, referring to Harold Simmons, the Texas investor who is at war with his daughters. Find the obituary of Douglas A. Roberts (1955 - 2021) from Mount Carmel, IL. The deal made Comcast the nations largest cable operator. It also sells those services to businesses. Growing up with five kids competing for attention, it's not easy, but he put his family first. Douglas McArthur ROBERTS, age 79, of Rancho Cucamonga, California passed away on Monday, May 16, 2022. People who never had a financial problem in their lives can never understand what terror there is in that.''. Douglas Scott was born April 8,1958 to Joe Nathan Scott and Mona (nee Page) Scott. Without being asked, Mrs. Roberts volunteered her opinion that Ralph and Brian clicked as few business partners do. in memory of Douglass Edward Roberts, please visit our floral store. ommitted to the fight against cancer, he and his family helped establish the Roberts Proton Therapy Center at Penn Medicine in 2006. He owned various companies, including Pioneer Suspenders, which marketed wallets and belts for men. That's his legacy: not leaving his children wanting. Enter Your entry has exceeded the maximum character limit. '', Ralph Roberts acknowledges that he was the heavy. 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 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. PhillyVoice Contributor. [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. The acquisition, which faced scrutiny from Congress, the Federal Communications Commission and the Justice Department, was scuttled in April of this year. Questions? Mr. Roberts allowed himself an indulgence - the purchase of a farm in Chester County. When I think of Ralph, it is always with the utmost affection.". With over 1,900 locations, Dignity Memorial providers proudly serve over 375,000 families a year. ", Mr. Roberts met his wife at a dance in 1937 when he was 17, she 16. Prepare a personalized obituary for someone you loved.. CANDLE HAS BEEN LIT CANDLES HAVE BEEN LIT, We are reviewing your submission. 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. . Get alerts, search tips, and advice from our experts. . '', Or an arrogant one. "The trick," Mr. Roberts said in the biography, "is to make everyone feel involved.". Comcast, a name Roberts coined from the words communications and broadcasting. But the elder Mr. Roberts has probably come as close as any company founder can to setting the stage for an orderly succession. Fleisher. Comcast, a name Roberts coined from the words communications and broadcasting,was incorporated in 1969. I never felt that Comcast was a sixth child," she said. Committed to the fight against cancer, he and his family helped establish the Roberts Proton Therapy Center at Penn Medicine in 2006. The deal put the cable company on a far larger corporate map. to the family or plant a tree Brian Roberts came to know Mr. Gates when a contingent of Comcast executives visited Microsoft on a fact-finding tour several years ago. It also locked up broadcast rights to the Phillies. 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. His main goal at the time was to make a lot of money. ''Under that bow tie and courtly manner beats the heart of one tough man. Luckily, the youngster had business smarts as well as enthusiasm. Private. To be sure, he adds, ''At an important fork in the road, Brian will go off to his father'' to get the older man's stamp of approval. He never pressured any of them to join the family company -- and none besides Brian showed any interest in doing so. ''It's a pretty close family. It bottomed out at $16.375 last March and has recovered slightly, closing at $21.375 on Friday on Nasdaq. He will always be remembered for his generosity, integrity, honesty, kindness and respect for everyone around him. An actress, director and host of Seeking Solutions with Suzanne, Suzanne has spent a lifetime seeking to help others. Burial will follow at Oak Ridge Cemetery in Hillside, IL. 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. can stop at any time. Since I was 12, all I wanted to do was work with my dad, Brian Roberts said in an interview for this obituary. 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. Then, chuckling, he added, ''It was probably a very good lesson for Brian -- no question about it. He came home each weeknight at 7 p.m. and left his briefcase by the door, along with business cares. In February 2013, Comcast paid $16.7 billion to purchase the remaining stake in NBCUniversal. In addition to his wife, he 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. Maybe it was losing both his parents before he was 21, living through the Depression, but somehow he became an optimist. There was another side to Mr. Roberts - as a mentor to those other than his son. . It is only natural for the world to wonder: How will Brian's siblings react to all this? "Our city has lost a wonderful champion," Nutter said in a statement. 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. 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. He was needed there because of his business acumen, his superiors said. Bob McGovern I speak for all of us when I say he will be greatly missed. 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. It is the mother who will make it work. To send flowers The couple celebrated 70 years of marriage in 2012. He managed to get a photograph of Bob Hope holding the club and asked him to endorse it, to help out a veteran, Mr. Roberts recalled, but there was never any formal agreement. But as Brian Roberts worked his way up the ladder, the halcyon 1980's came to an end. Ralph Roberts, right, with his son Brian, who became president of Comcast in 1990. [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]. 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. "I couldn't have done that if I didn't have any money. He wanted to marry her after several years, but she wasn't ready. Though his father called Comcast a family business, Brian was the only one of the children to show a serious interest in working with his father. 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. "It has been a dream come true for him - and for me," Brian Roberts told his father's biographer. Word of Mr. Roberts' death brought an outpouring of accolades from business and civic leaders here and elsewhere. "Ralph Roberts is the absolutely most clear-cut example of the American dream," said former Gov. . There was plenty of room to give the son a shot. To make it work, you have to have motivated, competent successors as well as accommodating heirs. Stone Funeral Home. As Comcast prospered, so did the Roberts family. This has a pretty good chance of working. There are no events at this time. 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. Leave a memory or share a photo or video below to show your support. [4] In 1998, the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia inducted Roberts into their Hall of Fame. 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. 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. He graduated with an economics degree from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and enlisted in the Navy as World War II was beginning, serving at the Philadelphia Navy Yard for the duration of the war. Though Brian Roberts spearheaded the deal, Ralph Roberts played a crucial role in assuring the G.E. Roberts, Craig Mort, Brenda Bachura, Bill McMenemy, and Peter McMenemy. His parents Robert Max Roberts (also known as Bob Roberts) and Sara Wahl were both Russian-Jewish immigrants who became wealthy in America through ownership of a number of pharmacies, the most notable of which was in the Biltmore Hotel. He evolved and personalized his relationship for each of my siblings," Brian Roberts said. He credits his mother for pulling the family through hard times. "Ralph served as a longtime member of the Penn Medicine board, and actively supported athletics, undergraduate financial aid, and his class." 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. [13][14], Roberts made an appearance on TLC's reality series Cake Boss, receiving a cake for his 90th birthday. 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. 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. A remembrance ceremony to celebrate Roberts ' death brought an outpouring of accolades from business civic. His philanthropy five kids competing for attention, it 's not easy, but knowing that his children are.. 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