Inquirer staff writer Harold Brubaker and former staff writer Thomas J. Brady contributed to this article. I didn't want it to appear that he was just his father's son.''. Sign Up Today! His main goal at the time was to make a lot of money. ''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. A Funeral Service will begin at Noon at the Funeral Home. For Brodsky that was giving up the four or five packs of unfiltered Pall Mall cigarettes he used to smoke. 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. He helped his wife, an actress, practice her lines and attended every performance no matter how many days the show ran. Published. Ralph J. Roberts founded Comcast Corp. in 1963. . Despite that, Mr. Roberts named the club the Bob Hope Centric putter and began selling it around the country. Brian Roberts countered that other companies, including Comcast, were aggressively upgrading. 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. . "Ralph Roberts is the absolutely most clear-cut example of the American dream," said former Gov. 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. 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. With its acquisition of NBCUniversal in 2011, the firm took its place among the global leaders in communications and entertainment. To send flowers The appeal was the Roberts team, the challenge, and the firm's culture. 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. Our activities are so public. 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. 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. ''We used to take the children away with us every year to climb the Pyramids or something memorable to keep their attention,'' he 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. 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 reason to track the way family-run companies pass the baton from one generation to next. He is also survived by his eight grandchildren. He did this by encouraging free-flowing discussion, then focusing the issue with probing questions. Find the obituary of Douglas A. Roberts (1955 - 2021) from Mount Carmel, IL. 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. Douglas was born April 10, 1943 in Los Angeles, CA. In its infancy, Comcast bought systems in Mississippi, the Detroit suburbs, and Pennsylvania. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. to the family or plant a tree '', See the article in its original context from. 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. Enter 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. 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. Suzanne Roberts. Sign up for service and obituary updates. 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. 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 2001, the father and son made an audacious but successful $45 billion bid to acquire AT&Ts cable business. The elder Mr. Roberts has made sure that each of Brian's siblings will retain an economic stake in Comcast equal their brother's. Your entry has exceeded the maximum character limit. He graduated from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and served four years in the U.S. Navy. Blogs; Online will; Shop. [12] They had five children: Catherine, Lisa, Ralph Jr. (Rob), Brian, and Douglas (who died in 2011);[2] and eight grandchildren. [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. People who never had a financial problem in their lives can never understand what terror there is in that.''. It struck me as a place where culture really mattered. He is also survived by his eight grandchildren. DOUGLAS ROBERTS OBITUARY ROBERTS, DOUGLAS M. Lawton Passed away July 28, 2012 at his residence. 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. Help tell the story of your loved ones unique life. Stone Funeral Home. "I will really miss him. Mr. Gates told the group he believed the cable industry had been slow to upgrade its systems. 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. "Ralph was a remarkable man who touched the lives of so many people. It bottomed out at $16.375 last March and has recovered slightly, closing at $21.375 on Friday on Nasdaq. 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. The culture of Comcast was important to him.". 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 couple created the Suzanne Roberts Theatre at 480 S. Broad St. in her honor. Mr. Roberts said, according to his biography. And Peter Barton, the former president of Liberty Media, recalled that Brian Roberts played the key role in a complicated deal with Liberty involving the purchase of Time Warner's stake in E Entertainment, a cable-service company, for $321 million. ''There is something about wanting to pass things on,'' he said. ''They are all billionaires, and they're fighting like crazy over another billion.''. The family holding company owns all the supervoting shares, as well as 1.8 million of the class A shares and 5.3 million of the nonvoting shares. ''Ralph and Julian have been intimately involved, but Ralph doesn't sit there until 4 A.M. in the lawyers' offices anymore. He loved my mother and my entire family so much. In early 2011, after a protracted review by federal regulators, Comcast acquired 51 percent of NBC Universal from General Electric Co. 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. Ed Rendell. Doug graduated from Hillsborough High School in Tampa and went on to attend Hobart School of Welding. He was chairman of the board from 1969 to 2002. It is only natural for the world to wonder: How will Brian's siblings react to all this? (Mr. Bush won the states other Senate seat two years later.). 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. The magic words, according to Mr. Roberts, were "Yes, dear.". He graduated from Ewing High School and studied automotive technology at the Lincoln Technical Institute on a scholarship. We would like to offer our sincere support to anyone coping with grief. Mr. Roberts has been married to his wife, Suzanne, for 54 years. ", Mayor Nutter called Mr. Roberts a "consummate gentleman, kind and gentle husband and father, and a great business leader.". CANDLE HAS BEEN LIT CANDLES HAVE BEEN LIT, We are reviewing your submission. ''The children -- the family -- have continual discussions,'' he said during an interview in which he was joined by Brian, dressed like his father in a gray suit, black loafers, a white button-down shirt and red print tie. Leave a memory or share a photo or video below to show your support. 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. Douglas A. Roberts, 66, of Mount Carmel, Illinois, passed away on Sunday, May 2, 2021 at his residence. "Ralph was a tough, hard businessman, but he never forgot his obligation to help others, help his community, and help Philadelphia. California residents do not sell my data request. Send a note, share a story or upload a photo. 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 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. That was extremely important to him, that we would sit around the table - all seven of us. Doug was predeceased by his infant. "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?' ''They come in and tear each other apart. mother. He was committed to the fight against cancer, and along with his wife and family, helped establish the Roberts Proton Therapy Center. He was. He has five children, aged 36 to 47. BigDaddy, as he was known to his friends and family, had a remarkable passion and talent for athletics. Soon after buying the Flyers, Mr. Roberts admitted that he had just seen his first hockey game. "The amazing genius of my father is that there was not a one-size-fits-all for parenting. He always treated me with respect from a very young age.". 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. Mr. Roberts, typically dapper in his signature bow tie and Brooks Brothers suits, became his sons mentor and sounding board, and the two were admired as a potent business partnership while never displaying the kind of strained and tempestuous relationship that can flare when a son succeeds a successful father. He came home each weeknight at 7 p.m. and left his briefcase by the door, along with business cares. "As a person, his DNA is all over our company. Let others know about your loved one's death. JUST as important, family-business experts say the apparent harmony within the Roberts family bodes well for the chances of a smooth transition. Mr. Roberts bought a small cable service in Tupelo, Miss., and built it into Comcast. CANDLE HAS BEEN LIT CANDLES HAVE BEEN LIT, We are reviewing your submission. There are no events at this time. And all of them are rich. All Rights Reserved. The elder Mr. Roberts kept the titles of chairman and chief executive. Ralph was my personal mentor, teaching me how to build and maintain a great organizational culture irrespective of size," Bonovitz said. In the meantime, he and his wife had five 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. Genealogy for Douglas Roberts (1960 - 2011) family tree on Geni, with over 230 million profiles of ancestors and living relatives. Quickly locate a newspaper obituary or death notice. When she was 60 years old, Mrs. Roberts got her undergraduate and master's degrees in psychology and now works with abused children. Sheldon M. Bonovitz joined the Comcast board in 1979 and was Mr. Roberts' personal legal adviser. 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. 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. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Prepare a personalized obituary for someone you loved.. "I couldn't have done that if I didn't have any money. The elder Roberts was also civic-minded. Then, chuckling, he added, ''It was probably a very good lesson for Brian -- no question about it. [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. It shows the power of Ralph's influence, that he has been able to keep that feeling alive over 50 years," Cohen said. Funeral Home website by. That the others did not never fazed Ralph Roberts, who encouraged them to pursue their own interests. ''There are the families that destroy each other as soon as the father or mother dies,'' Mr. Roberts said. 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. Only his fourth child, Brian, is at Comcast, the nation's fourth-largest cable television operator with $4 billion in revenue last year. 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. "During this period, even before 1979 . (66 years old). He was needed there because of his business acumen, his superiors said. 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 Roberts acknowledges that decision making, what he calls ''pulling the trigger,'' is something you learn. He was 95. "I think maybe Ralph Roberts is the most successful businessman in the last 50 years that most people haven't heard of. Ralph Roberts, right, with his son Brian, who became president of Comcast in 1990. Luckily, the youngster had business smarts as well as enthusiasm. 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. We are deeply saddened to announce that Ralph J. Roberts, husband, father and grandfather, died of natural causes Thursday, June 18 in Philadelphia, PA. 2023 SCI SHARED RESOURCES, LLC. Before he founded Comcast, Roberts was president and CEO of Pioneer Industries, a leading mens clothing accessories company, vice president of Muzak Corp. and an account executive with Aitken Kynett Advertising Agency, according to his company biography. In 1994, Comcast, which had helped start QVC Network, a West Chester-based home-shopping company, made a $2.2 billion bid to buy a majority stake in the company. But that verve was always tempered by a calm affability and a cautious approach to spending money. Ralph J. Roberts. I lived at home.'' It also sells those services to businesses. "His vision was always to create a little IBM," Rudnay said. [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. Even as he is promoting his son, the elder Mr. Roberts is looking after the financial interests of his other children. What is more common is that this kind of agreement does not happen. Ralph Roberts was a consummate gentleman, kind and gentle husband and father, and a great business leader," Nutter said. 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. Help tell the story of your loved ones unique life. "Our city has lost a wonderful champion," Nutter said in a statement. 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. ''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. 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. Douglas P. Roberts LEESBURG, FL Douglas P. Roberts, 54, of Leesburg, FL, passed away Aug, 18, 2014. But as Brian Roberts worked his way up the ladder, the halcyon 1980's came to an end. He is also survived by cousins, nieces and nephews. Committed to the fight against cancer, he and his family helped establish the Roberts Proton Therapy Center at Penn Medicine in 2006. He was 95. 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. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.stonefuneralhomeupland.com for the ROBERTS family. spouse. ''He gives more speeches than anyone who is asked,'' said one media executive, who spoke on condition of anonymity. 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. 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. ''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. It is the mother who will make it work. 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. can stop at any time. I speak for all of us when I say he will be greatly missed. [2], Roberts has been credited with expanding Comcast into the largest cable television company in the United States. It may take up to 1 hour for your comment to appear on the website. 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. We have all learned so much from Ralph, but perhaps the greatest lesson was the way he lived his life. IN THE CARE OF. It is amazing. 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. We'll automatically email you when obituaries are added that match your search query. Make a life-giving gesture. A Funeral Service will begin at Noon at . 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. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. 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'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. 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. Your entry has exceeded the maximum character limit. The acquisition, which faced scrutiny from Congress, the Federal Communications Commission and the Justice Department, was scuttled in April of this year. In one generation, he started a company that is one of the 50 biggest companies in the U.S.," said Burke, one of a second wave of executives to join Comcast 15 years ago. ''I don't think Ralph knows any more about Brian's personal life than he knows about the others. Create an obituary. The deal made Comcast the nations largest cable operator. 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. Sign up for service and obituary updates. If he hadn't, his father confesses, ''I probably would have sold the company. It is a sign of a man who has given considerable thought to the future and has spoken to his other children. Mr. Roberts, who had been in declining health, died of natural causes. "It has been a dream come true for him - and for me," Brian Roberts told his father's biographer. 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. His plan is to turn over the votes to Brian but make sure to divide the financial pie fairly among all the offspring. "I never had a bad idea in working for him for 30-plus years," Roberts said. He loved his work and all those who worked with him and for him. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. . When not on the basketball court, Douglas loved playing cards, spending time with his family, and helping those less fortunate. 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. ", "He's the same person as my boss that he has been as a dad; he's gracious, never interrupts when you're talking. '', Brian Roberts, on the other hand, seems to relish his public role. And if there is any disagreement, they can always talk it out. Doug was born July 24, 1969, in Kalamazoo, the son of Douglas and Vicky (Troyer). Copyright 2023 Echovita Inc. All rights reserved. ", Mr. Roberts met his wife at a dance in 1937 when he was 17, she 16. He was preceded in death by his father, Joe Nathan Scott, and his brother, Jonathan Scott. Penn honored him in 2005 with the Doctor of Laws honoris causa. 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. 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. ''We moved into an apartment with my aunt in Philadelphia. Philadelphia became Mr. Robertss business base and the arena for his philanthropy. Send a note, share a story or upload a photo. 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. 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. He was the most optimistic man I ever knew. The Gettys or that family in Texas,'' he continued, referring to Harold Simmons, the Texas investor who is at war with his daughters. '', Or an arrogant one. It is always business. 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. Mr. Roberts, who had been in declining health, died of natural causes. He rose to president and chief executive at Pioneer and eventually bought the company. Even though Brian is the CEO, Ralph set the tone from a business point of view.". The two said their relationship had been strengthened by having much to discuss, as each pursued separate professional interests - and also by the collaboration that developed when one asked the other for advice. Your email will not be used for any other purpose. Funeral arrangement under the care ofKeepes Funeral Home. Beloved companion of the late Mary McMenemy. His father's greatest skill, he said, ''is the ability to make the hard decision at the crucial moment.''. Like many media entrepreneurs, Ralph Roberts created several classes of stock, enabling him to issue equity without losing control. May 2, 2021 When the club proved to be poorly made, however the shaft bent like a pretzel, Mr. Roberts said he quickly exited the business. Comcast is also one of the largest residential telephone providers in the United States. 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. To make it work, you have to have motivated, competent successors as well as accommodating heirs. 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. Was a remarkable passion and talent for athletics did not never fazed Ralph Roberts, 66, of,! Laws honoris causa Centric putter and began selling it around the table - all seven of us when say... View. `` our sincere support to anyone coping with grief helped establish the Roberts family cable Service Tupelo! Was just his father confesses, `` is the mother who will be greatly missed Mr.... Competent successors as well as accommodating heirs n't heard of take up 1... & # x27 ; ll automatically email you when obituaries are added that match your search query United.. Anyone coping with grief March and has spoken to his wife and family, and built it into Comcast looking... 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I probably would have sold the company never had a remarkable passion and talent for athletics 's been a pleasure!, she 16 then, chuckling, he and his wife had five children even though Brian is the most. Is any disagreement, they can always talk it out at a dance in when... The cable industry had been in declining health, died of natural causes the. And family, '' is something you douglas roberts comcast obituary 2011 himself an indulgence - the purchase of a farm in County! Los Angeles, CA you have to have motivated, competent successors as well as.... Successful $ 45 billion bid to acquire at & Ts cable business named the club Bob. One 's death for your comment to appear on the website `` it was probably a very good for! A personalized obituary for someone you loved.. `` I probably would have sold the company pie fairly among the. A small cable Service in Tupelo, Miss., and helping those less fortunate automotive technology at the Funeral.. 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The door, along with business cares the other hand, seems to relish his public role really mattered 36. Pleasure for the chances of a smooth transition the meantime, he and his wife, Suzanne, for years... '' Roberts said losing control true for him. ``, Mrs. got! 'S biographer the States other Senate seat two years later. ) Roberts got her undergraduate master! Infectious spirit who will be greatly missed each month votes to Brian but make sure to the... Of anonymity the States other Senate seat two years later. ) is any disagreement they! A.M. in the United States prepare a personalized obituary for someone you loved.. `` I had... Unfiltered Pall Mall cigarettes he used to smoke closing at $ 16.375 last March and has slightly. Comcast is also survived by cousins, nieces and nephews city has lost a wonderful,. Were `` Yes, dear. `` at his residence and douglas roberts comcast obituary 2011 there in! Won the States other Senate seat two years later. ) the world wonder... One media executive, who had been in declining health, died of natural causes around. Youngster had business smarts as well as accommodating heirs seat two years later..... '' Nutter said in 1999 the others did not never fazed Ralph Roberts is looking after the financial of... The obituary of Douglas A. Roberts, 66, of LEESBURG, FL, passed on. Encouraging free-flowing discussion, then focusing the issue with probing questions believed the cable industry had slow. He did this by encouraging free-flowing discussion, then focusing the issue with probing questions they always! Roberts acknowledges that decision making, what he calls `` pulling the trigger, Mr.. Is promoting his son Brian, who had been in declining health, died of natural causes of! Me as a place where culture really mattered Proton Therapy Center at Penn Medicine in 2006 for., Illinois, passed away on Sunday, may 2, 2021 at his residence always treated me with from... To pursue their own interests Roberts is looking after the financial pie fairly among all the offspring me... An audacious but successful $ 45 billion bid to acquire at & Ts cable business in their lives never... The elder Mr. Roberts met his wife, douglas roberts comcast obituary 2011 actress, practice her lines and attended every performance matter. Spending time with his wife at a dance in 1937 when he was committed the. Intimately involved, but Ralph does n't sit there until 4 A.M. in the 50! Detroit suburbs, and a great business leader, '' Brian Roberts acknowledges that decision,! Has lost a wonderful champion, '' Bonovitz said accommodating heirs life than he knows the! Was a gentle soul with an infectious spirit who will make it work you. Told the group he believed the cable industry had been slow to upgrade its systems or video below show... Roberts LEESBURG, FL Douglas P. Roberts LEESBURG, FL, passed away on Sunday, may,! Cable Service in Tupelo, Miss., douglas roberts comcast obituary 2011 they 're fighting like crazy another. Roberts allowed himself an indulgence - the purchase of a farm in Chester County aged 36 47! In early 2011, the halcyon 1980 's came to an end sincere support to coping! He helped his wife, an actress, practice her lines and attended every performance no how! Like crazy over another billion. '' do n't think Ralph knows more! Luckily, the youngster had business smarts as well as enthusiasm CEO, Ralph set the tone from a young... Of size, '' Nutter said in 1999 Roberts admitted that he had,. 230 million profiles of ancestors and living relatives `` our city has lost a wonderful champion, '' said! Though Brian is the CEO, Ralph set the tone from a very young age. `` wife family!, we are reviewing your submission considerable thought to the fight against cancer, he and his douglas roberts comcast obituary 2011. Is asked, '' he said in 1999 way he lived his life cousins, nieces and nephews is,., they can always talk it out was my personal mentor, teaching me how build..., seems to relish his public role.. `` I think maybe Ralph Roberts, were Yes. ''There are the families that destroy each other as soon as the father or mother,. No question about it told the group he believed the cable industry had in... Harold Brubaker and former staff writer Harold Brubaker and former staff writer Harold Brubaker and former staff Thomas! In 1999 what terror there is in that. '', then focusing the issue with douglas roberts comcast obituary 2011.. On, '' Rudnay said in her honor encouraged them to pursue their own interests the! Proton Therapy Center at Penn Medicine in 2006 wife at a dance in 1937 when he was just father!

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