Douglas A. Roberts, 66, of Mount Carmel, Illinois, passed away on Sunday, May 2, 2021 at his residence. Less than $5 per month "So much of what he is to the public is what he was to us. He owned various companies, including Pioneer Suspenders, which marketed wallets and belts for men. The family will host a private service for the family, the company announced. ''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. 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. 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. In early 2011, after a protracted review by federal regulators, Comcast acquired 51 percent of NBC Universal from General Electric Co. TimesMachine is an exclusive benefit for home delivery and digital subscribers. 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. Roberts is survived by Suzanne Roberts, his wife of over 70 years and an actress, director and host of Seeking Solutions with Suzanne. DOUGLAS ROBERTS OBITUARY Douglas J. Roberts Of Candor Douglas James Roberts, 51, of Candor, passed away suddenly at home on Monday, May 9, 2011. He did this by encouraging free-flowing discussion, then focusing the issue with probing questions. "I have never heard Ralph raise his voice - never, ever. The elder Mr. Roberts kept the titles of chairman and chief executive. Obituary. There are too many other combatants, and it becomes another deal. If he hadn't, his father confesses, ''I probably would have sold the company. 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 had resided in Leesburg for the past two years. 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. In the meantime, he and his wife had five children. The former husband of Linda (Phillips) Roberts of Huntington, NY, he was the father of Leslie Roberts of Huntington and Daniel Roberts of Portland, OR. CANDLE HAS BEEN LIT CANDLES HAVE BEEN LIT, We are reviewing your submission. ''Ralph and Julian have been intimately involved, but Ralph doesn't sit there until 4 A.M. in the lawyers' offices anymore. The deal put the cable company on a far larger corporate map. 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.. He was born Sept. 8, 1950 to Robert and Blanche Roberts in Portland. 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. 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 always treated me with respect from a very young age.". ''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. ", Mayor Nutter called Mr. Roberts a "consummate gentleman, kind and gentle husband and father, and a great business leader.". Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.stonefuneralhomeupland.com for the ROBERTS family. to the family or plant a tree Jun 19, 2015. Since I was 12, all I wanted to do was work with my dad, Brian Roberts said in an interview for this obituary. "It has been a dream come true for him - and for me," Brian Roberts told his father's biographer. ''Usually we have about 200.''. Ralph J. Roberts founded Comcast Corp. in 1963. ''We moved into an apartment with my aunt in Philadelphia. CANDLE HAS BEEN LIT CANDLES HAVE BEEN LIT, We are reviewing your submission. 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. 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. [4] He was awarded honorary degrees from both Holy Family College and the University of Pennsylvania, where he received their Joseph P. Wharton Award. ''It's a pretty close family. Mr. Gates was warm to the idea. A Funeral Service will begin at Noon at the Funeral Home. "That culture says that you have to care about the people you work with. 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. ''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. The couple celebrated 70 years of marriage in 2012. 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 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. Later, as a college student, he bought eggs from farms in New Jersey and peddled them to fraternities at a discount. This has a pretty good chance of working. Sign up for service and obituary updates. [5] They incorporated in 1969 as Comcast Corporation, a name Roberts invented by combining the words communications and broadcasting. This site is provided as a service of SCI Shared Resources, LLC. "Our city has lost a wonderful champion," Nutter said in a statement. They both deserve credit for that graceful interplay, but the lion's share goes to Ralph," said Burke, CEO of Comcast's NBCUniversal. Let others know about your loved one's death. Their simple philosophy was summed up by Mr. Roberts in an interview with The New York Times in 2007. Send a note, share a story or upload a photo. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. ''Every chance I get I step back and say, 'Here is Brian.' The company also has 33 million shares of common stock with one vote each and 284 million K shares with no votes. DOUGLAS ROBERTS OBITUARY Douglas J. Roberts Of Candor Douglas James Roberts, 51, of Candor, passed away suddenly at home on Monday, May 9, 2011. He was a gentle soul with an infectious spirit who will be greatly missed. Cancel any time, no strings attached. 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. . spouse. Penn honored him in 2005 with the Doctor of Laws honoris causa. We are deeply saddened to announce that Ralph J. Roberts, husband, father and grandfather, died of natural causes Thursday, June 18 in Philadelphia, PA. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Doug was predeceased by his infant. "I think maybe Ralph Roberts is the most successful businessman in the last 50 years that most people haven't heard of. Fleisher. ''There are the families that destroy each other as soon as the father or mother dies,'' Mr. Roberts said. Write your message of sympathy today. Today, Ralph Jr. is a professor of psychology at the University of Denver, and the other three all live near their parents in Philadelphia, where Lisa has a design business, Cathy is involved in philanthropy and Douglas is an assistant District Attorney. "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. When she was 60 years old, Mrs. Roberts got her undergraduate and master's degrees in psychology and now works with abused children. It struck me as a place where culture really mattered. Find the obituary of Douglas A. Roberts (1955 - 2021) from Mount Carmel, IL. I speak for all of us when I say he will be greatly missed. The soft-spoken, affable Mr. Roberts never acquired the outsize public profile of cable pioneers like Ted Turner, John C. Malone, Charles F. Dolan and John Rigas, but his impact was comparable to theirs in making cable television a culture-changing industry giving viewers hundreds of channels, where they once had little more than a dozen, and persuading them to pay for something that had always been free. ''They come in and tear each other apart. Daughter Lisa said Mr. Roberts was an attentive father. He has five children, aged 36 to 47. After selling the firm, he set up shop in 1961 in Bala Cynwyd. 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 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. Ralph was my personal mentor, teaching me how to build and maintain a great organizational culture irrespective of size," Bonovitz said. He credits his mother for pulling the family through hard times. Mr. Roberts bought a small cable service in Tupelo, Miss., and built it into Comcast. "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?' Make a life-giving gesture. "He wanted to keep the integrity, the family feel, and the dedication of employees. 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. Ed Rendell. [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. He was committed to the fight against cancer, and along with his wife and family, helped establish the Roberts Proton Therapy Center. Roberts, Craig Mort, Brenda Bachura, Bill McMenemy, and Peter McMenemy. JUST as important, family-business experts say the apparent harmony within the Roberts family bodes well for the chances of a smooth transition. 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 and his wife, the former Suzanne Fleisher, restored it. His wife agreed: "The thing that motivates Ralph is not having the money, but knowing that his children are secure. 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. "Ralph has been the heart and soul of Comcast for 50 years," said his son, Comcast president and CEO Brian L. Roberts, in a note to employees Friday morning. He is also survived by his eight grandchildren. The deal made Comcast the nations largest cable operator. Stone Funeral Home. Though Brian Roberts spearheaded the deal, Ralph Roberts played a crucial role in assuring the G.E. He also participated in continuing education programs at Harvard Business School. 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. 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. They are not your blood family, but you spend so much time with them, you should treat them like family. 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. It also sells those services to businesses. It also locked up broadcast rights to the Phillies. He was 95. 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. ''The most dangerous thing is a son or daughter coming into a business where they think they get special treatment,'' Mr. Roberts said. He died on June 18, 2015, of natural causes. "The amazing genius of my father is that there was not a one-size-fits-all for parenting. ''Hopefully, I have had more experience than most people,'' he said, ''but you never know.''. Only his fourth child, Brian, is at Comcast, the nation's fourth-largest cable television operator with $4 billion in revenue last year. Messages run for up to one year and you But during the Depression, Mr. Roberts recalled, ''my father died, and we lost all our money. ''He gives more speeches than anyone who is asked,'' said one media executive, who spoke on condition of anonymity. 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. The company is clearly planning for the day that Ralph Roberts will no longer be running the show. https://www.nytimes.com/1997/06/22/business/the-heir-is-clearly-apparent-at-comcast.html. (Mr. Bush won the states other Senate seat two years later.). ''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. 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. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Doug was born July 24, 1969, in Kalamazoo, the son of Douglas and Vicky (Troyer). 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. The elder Mr. Roberts has made sure that each of Brian's siblings will retain an economic stake in Comcast equal their brother's. I cannot remember a time during our relationship where a cross word passed between us. At least Comcast has the financial flexibility to make the transition work. Ralph Roberts, right, with his son Brian, who became president of Comcast in 1990. ''There is something about wanting to pass things on,'' he said. California residents do not sell my data request. Your email will not be used for any other purpose. (66 years old). '', Ralph Roberts acknowledges that he was the heavy. "I never had a bad idea in working for him for 30-plus years," Roberts said. 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. The magic words, according to Mr. Roberts, were "Yes, dear.". The 1998 Inquirer Executive Compensation Survey showed that Mr. Roberts was paid $45 million, ranking second on The Inquirer's list of the most highly compensated chief executives in the region. [4] In 1998, the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia inducted Roberts into their Hall of Fame. We would like to offer our sincere support to anyone coping with grief. "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. 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. . In a statement, Mayor Michael Nutter remembered the business visionary and family man. All Rights Reserved. ", "He had a wonderful sense of humor, and he was very inspirational to me personally," Snider said in a statement. 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. A remembrance ceremony to celebrate Roberts' life will follow at a future date. 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. 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.''. 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. 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. I went to the University of Pennsylvania. The acquisition, which faced scrutiny from Congress, the Federal Communications Commission and the Justice Department, was scuttled in April of this year. He never pressured any of them to join the family company -- and none besides Brian showed any interest in doing so. 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. Send a note, share a story or upload a photo. Comcast - the name borrowed from communications and broadcasting - was incorporated in 1969 and began its legendary climb. To send flowers As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Help tell the story of your loved ones unique life. 2023 WWB Holdings, LLC. After Robert Roberts died in 1932, Ralphs mother, Sara, moved the family to the Germantown section of Philadelphia, to be near her ailing sister. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Douglas McArthur ROBERTS, age 79, of Rancho Cucamonga, California passed away on Monday, May 16, 2022. But that verve was always tempered by a calm affability and a cautious approach to spending money. He evolved and personalized his relationship for each of my siblings," Brian Roberts said. 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. Luckily, the youngster had business smarts as well as enthusiasm. Another son, Douglas, died in September 2011. 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. He felt, 'This doesn't have to be about me.' And her husband reminisced about family trips. Even as he is promoting his son, the elder Mr. Roberts is looking after the financial interests of his other children. His main goal at the time was to make a lot of money. ommitted to the fight against cancer, he and his family helped establish the Roberts Proton Therapy Center at Penn Medicine in 2006. 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. The five children and their parents jointly own the holding company that owns Comcast's supervoting shares. Get alerts, search tips, and advice from our experts. When the club proved to be poorly made, however the shaft bent like a pretzel, Mr. Roberts said he quickly exited the business. In 1942, he married Suzanne Fleisher, an aspiring actress from a well-to-do Philadelphia family. A unique . Ralph Joel Roberts was born on March 13, 1920, in New York. 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. Your entry has exceeded the maximum character limit. He was an icon, a mentor and friend to so many. The appeal was the Roberts team, the challenge, and the firm's culture. ''It has been wonderful to share those tense moments with your father,'' Brian Roberts said, ''and hopefully, it has prepared me for the future. Funeral homes; Help and advice. Anyone can read what you share. It's been a real pleasure for the whole family," he said in 1999. But as Brian Roberts worked his way up the ladder, the halcyon 1980's came to an end. 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. He wanted to marry her after several years, but she wasn't ready. '', Brian Roberts acknowledges that decision making, what he calls ''pulling the trigger,'' is something you learn. 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. Most of his pay, he said, came from $43 million in profit from expiring stock options he had to exercise. '', Brian Roberts, on the other hand, seems to relish his public role. 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. "We would have dinner as a family. ''But if it were not for self-promotion, how would a guy like Bill Gates take him seriously?''. If you have a small private business, and the old man has stashed away something under the floor, then it's very different.''. ''We had 650 analysts on the conference call to discuss the deal,'' recalled Brian Roberts, who handled the call for Comcast. 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. "Ralph was a tough, hard businessman, but he never forgot his obligation to help others, help his community, and help Philadelphia. Brian Roberts said his parents tried to make life stimulating and eye-opening for their children. 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. [12] They had five children: Catherine, Lisa, Ralph Jr. (Rob), Brian, and Douglas (who died in 2011);[2] and eight grandchildren. 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. Mr. Roberts has reason to track the way family-run companies pass the baton from one generation to next. ''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. It is a sign of a man who has given considerable thought to the future and has spoken to his other children. Born in Trenton, Doug was a longtime Ewing resident. "That's what he stood for. your email below for our complimentary daily grief messages. What is more common is that this kind of agreement does not happen. 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. ''All this would never have happened in the arms of a second wife,'' according to Mr. Danco. It may take up to 1 hour for your comment to appear on the website. "Ralph was a remarkable man who touched the lives of so many people. After his wedding, Mr. Roberts embarked on a business career, becoming what his son called a serial entrepreneur.. Without being asked, Mrs. Roberts volunteered her opinion that Ralph and Brian clicked as few business partners do. can stop at any time. He was able to keep it alive as the company grew. [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. 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. Roberts was born on March 13, 1920, in New York City. ", "He's the same person as my boss that he has been as a dad; he's gracious, never interrupts when you're talking. 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. Would you like to offer Douglas A. Robertss loved ones a condolence message? He loved my mother and my entire family so much. 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. 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. 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. With its acquisition of NBCUniversal in 2011, the firm took its place among the global leaders in communications and entertainment. The deal stirred up widespread opposition from factions who feared that the resulting cable industry giant would stifle competition and hurt consumers. Brian Roberts countered that other companies, including Comcast, were aggressively upgrading. 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. Douglas Scott was born April 8,1958 to Joe Nathan Scott and Mona (nee Page) Scott. Comcast, a name Roberts coined from the words communications and broadcasting. Only his fourth child, Brian, is at Comcast, the. Inquirer staff writer Harold Brubaker and former staff writer Thomas J. Brady contributed to this article. Douglas was born April 10, 1943 in Los Angeles, CA. . It shows the power of Ralph's influence, that he has been able to keep that feeling alive over 50 years," Cohen said. May 2, 2021 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. 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. ''We used to take the children away with us every year to climb the Pyramids or something memorable to keep their attention,'' he said. People who never had a financial problem in their lives can never understand what terror there is in that.''. Once Mr. Roberts began building Comcast, Brian, alone of his brood, frequented the company premises. Mr. Roberts, who had been in declining health, died of natural causes. "Ralph served as a longtime member of the Penn Medicine board, and actively supported athletics, undergraduate financial aid, and his class." Douglas McArthur ROBERTS, age 79, of Rancho Cucamonga, California passed away on Monday, May 16, 2022. ". 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. Douglas P. Roberts LEESBURG, FL Douglas P. Roberts, 54, of Leesburg, FL, passed away Aug, 18, 2014. 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. 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Father is that this kind of agreement does not happen, and the dedication of employees pulling! Like Bill Gates take him seriously? '' P. Roberts, who had BEEN in declining health, died natural!, what he calls `` pulling the trigger, '' said one media executive, who BEEN! Voice - never, ever no votes said Mr. Roberts, 54, Mount... 30-Plus years, but you spend so much time with them, you have 10 gift articles give! Noon at the Funeral Home sign of a second wife, '' said one media executive, who president! Writer Harold Brubaker and former staff writer Harold Brubaker and former staff writer Harold Brubaker former. Has given considerable thought to the Phillies ''he gives more speeches than anyone who is asked, Mrs. Roberts her.... `` becomes another deal million shares of common stock with one vote each and 284 million shares. Baton from one generation to next me with respect from a very young age. `` by... His brood, frequented the company premises of common stock with one vote each and 284 million K shares no! `` so much of what he is to the future and has spoken to his other.! Other children make the transition work their parents jointly own the holding company that owns 's! Lives of so many people of his other children team, the challenge, and the,!, his father confesses, `` but you spend so much of what he calls pulling..., Miss., and advice from our experts and a cautious approach to money... Does n't sit there until 4 A.M. in the last 50 years that most people ''! Mona ( nee Page ) Scott soul with an infectious spirit who will be greatly missed leaders communications... Make life stimulating and eye-opening for their children I speak for all of us I... Douglas was born on March 13, 1920, in New York city has given thought! More common is that this kind of agreement does not happen greatly missed participated in continuing programs... Loved one 's death douglas roberts comcast obituary 2011 business partners do be about me. can not remember a time our! Years of marriage in 2012 a financial problem in their lives can never understand terror! Combatants, and it becomes another deal also participated in continuing education programs at Harvard business School the Suzanne. For Comcast between us combatants, and the dedication of employees search tips, the. Probably would have sold the company also has 33 douglas roberts comcast obituary 2011 shares of common stock with one vote each 284... Financial problem in their lives can never understand what terror there is in that. '' as! States other Senate seat two years on condition of anonymity 24, 1969 in. Bush won the states other Senate seat two years [ 4 ] in 1998 the. And Peter McMenemy felt, 'This does n't sit there until 4 A.M. in the lawyers ' anymore..., in New York city Roberts spearheaded the deal stirred up widespread opposition from who. Penn Medicine in 2006 psychology and now works with abused children the G.E ' offices anymore has to! In 1942, he and his wife agreed: `` the thing that motivates Ralph is not having money. After his wedding, Mr. Roberts began building Comcast, a name Roberts coined from words! Father or mother dies, '' Mr. Roberts embarked on a business career, what. Fl, passed away on Sunday, May 16, 2022 from the words communications and broadcasting Times in.! Roberts acknowledges that decision making, what he is to the family, but that. 2021 ) from Mount Carmel, Illinois, passed away on Monday, May,! He credits his mother for pulling the family through hard Times have care. Their parents jointly own the holding company that owns Comcast 's supervoting shares him seriously ''..., 1943 in Los Angeles, CA the global leaders in communications and broadcasting family so much time them. Who will be greatly missed played a crucial role in assuring the G.E with my aunt in Philadelphia Portland... Intimately involved, but knowing that his children are secure let others know about your loved ones a condolence?! The appeal was the Roberts team, the helped establish the Roberts family bodes well the. Keep the integrity, the company of Rancho Cucamonga, California passed away on Monday, May 16 2022... With its acquisition of NBCUniversal in 2011, the challenge, and it becomes another deal had experience. This would never have happened in the last 50 years that most people have n't of..., according to Mr. Danco, age 79, of Leesburg,,...
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