''All this would never have happened in the arms of a second wife,'' according to Mr. Danco. in memory of Douglass Edward Roberts, please visit our floral store. Now Brian typically takes the lead.''. JUST as important, family-business experts say the apparent harmony within the Roberts family bodes well for the chances of a smooth transition. 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. He is also survived by his eight grandchildren. ''The most dangerous thing is a son or daughter coming into a business where they think they get special treatment,'' Mr. Roberts said. "I never had a bad idea in working for him for 30-plus years," Roberts said. Anyone can read what you share. And if there is any disagreement, they can always talk it out. ''But if it were not for self-promotion, how would a guy like Bill Gates take him seriously?''. Despite that, Mr. Roberts named the club the Bob Hope Centric putter and began selling it around the country. ''I would see Ralph about once a year. Even though Brian is the CEO, Ralph set the tone from a business point of view.". He was a gentle soul with an infectious spirit who will be greatly missed. Douglas P. Roberts LEESBURG, FL Douglas P. Roberts, 54, of Leesburg, FL, passed away Aug, 18, 2014. Your email will not be used for any other purpose. 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. "I have never heard Ralph raise his voice - never, ever. Growing up with five kids competing for attention, it's not easy, but he put his family first. Comfort the family with flowers or a sympathy gift. That was hardly a coincidence. We would like to offer our sincere support to anyone coping with grief. '', Brian Roberts, on the other hand, seems to relish his public role. 1-800-896-5587 (Mon-Fri, 7am-6pm MDT) Annual Membership . 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. Like many media entrepreneurs, Ralph Roberts created several classes of stock, enabling him to issue equity without losing control. We have all learned so much from Ralph, but perhaps the greatest lesson was the way he lived his life. 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. 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. There are too many other combatants, and it becomes another deal. And all of them are rich. Matching family tree profiles for Douglas Roberts Douglas Roberts in MyHeritage family trees (Sverdlove Web Site) view all Immediate Family. https://www.nytimes.com/1997/06/22/business/the-heir-is-clearly-apparent-at-comcast.html. to the family or plant a tree Luckily, the youngster had business smarts as well as enthusiasm. Jun 19, 2015. Douglas was born April 10, 1943 in Los Angeles, CA. Authorize the publication of the original written obituary with the accompanying photo. ''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. 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. 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. 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. 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. He never pressured any of them to join the family company -- and none besides Brian showed any interest in doing so. ommitted to the fight against cancer, he and his family helped establish the Roberts Proton Therapy Center at Penn Medicine in 2006. "Our city has lost a wonderful champion with his passing.". 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. It's been a real pleasure for the whole family," he said in 1999. Although eager to serve on a ship, Mr. Roberts spent his World War II duty as matriel superintendent in the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard. 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. 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. Comcast, a name Roberts coined from the words communications and broadcasting. Your entry has exceeded the maximum character limit. 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. Doug was born July 24, 1969, in Kalamazoo, the son of Douglas and Vicky (Troyer). But as I began to look at what was happening, I realized the cable business was the best of all the ones I had invested in, and decided to go forward full boat.. 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. 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. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 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. It may take up to 1 hour for your comment to appear on the website. 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. Born in Trenton, Doug was a longtime Ewing resident. 2023 SCI SHARED RESOURCES, LLC. 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. He has five children, aged 36 to 47. With its acquisition of NBCUniversal in 2011, the firm took its place among the global leaders in communications and entertainment. 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. Mr. Roberts later took jobs with the Muzak Corporation and the Pioneer Suspender Company, which sold mens belts and cologne. ''Hopefully, I have had more experience than most people,'' he said, ''but you never know.''. The potential for conflict is obvious. can stop at any time. ", "He had a wonderful sense of humor, and he was very inspirational to me personally," Snider said in a statement. In February 2013, Comcast paid $16.7 billion to purchase the remaining stake in NBCUniversal. It may take up to 1 hour for your comment to appear on the website. [5] They incorporated in 1969 as Comcast Corporation, a name Roberts invented by combining the words communications and broadcasting. The elder Mr. Roberts has made sure that each of Brian's siblings will retain an economic stake in Comcast equal their brother's. ''They drag the business down because it kills the morale of everybody in the company.''. 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. Already in his 40s, he was approached by a Philadelphia acquaintance named Dan Aaron, who alerted him to a 1,200-subscriber cable television system for sale in Tupelo. ''The father is open. Later, as a college student, he bought eggs from farms in New Jersey and peddled them to fraternities at a discount. [4] In 1998, the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia inducted Roberts into their Hall of Fame. TimesMachine is an exclusive benefit for home delivery and digital subscribers. He recalled in a 1996 interview digging up his mother's marigolds and selling them to the neighbors. He came home each weeknight at 7 p.m. and left his briefcase by the door, along with business cares. 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. DOUGLAS ROBERTS OBITUARY Douglas J. Roberts Of Candor Douglas James Roberts, 51, of Candor, passed away suddenly at home on Monday, May 9, 2011. BigDaddy, as he was known to his friends and family, had a remarkable passion and talent for athletics. Ralph Joel Roberts was born on March 13, 1920, in New York City, and was an entrepreneur from an early age. ''It's a pretty close family. [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. For Brodsky that was giving up the four or five packs of unfiltered Pall Mall cigarettes he used to smoke. We are deeply saddened to announce that Ralph J. Roberts, husband, father and grandfather, died of natural causes Thursday, June 18 in Philadelphia, PA. IT helps, of course, that only one of the children desperately wanted to follow in Dad's footsteps. Roberts was born on March 13, 1920, in New York City. 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. "It has been a dream come true for him - and for me," Brian Roberts told his father's biographer. 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. 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. Ed Rendell. Comcast - the name borrowed from communications and broadcasting - was incorporated in 1969 and began its legendary climb. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.stonefuneralhomeupland.com for the ROBERTS family. But as Brian Roberts worked his way up the ladder, the halcyon 1980's came to an end. . Obituary Roberts, Douglas David It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Douglas Roberts on August 1, 2013 at The Wellington Nursing Home in his 89th year. mother. ", Mayor Nutter called Mr. Roberts a "consummate gentleman, kind and gentle husband and father, and a great business leader.". 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. 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. 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. ''It is the same thing as giving birth -- or having another generation. 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. 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. No one was punished for broaching a new idea. 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. He also sold advertising on ink blotters. "He was the greatest influence in my life and a joy for me to work side by side with for over three decades. "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?' That never happens.". 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. "I think maybe Ralph Roberts is the most successful businessman in the last 50 years that most people haven't heard of. On ski trips, he would patiently lace up five pairs of ski boots. 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 was. At one point, Ralph Roberts met with Mr. Immelt without Brian Roberts. He died on June 18, 2015, of natural causes. 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. Funeral arrangement under the care ofKeepes Funeral Home. "His vision was always to create a little IBM," Rudnay said. 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. 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. 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. Maybe it was losing both his parents before he was 21, living through the Depression, but somehow he became an optimist. There is no photo or video of Douglas A. Roberts.Be the first to share a memory to pay tribute. 2023 WWB Holdings, LLC. ''I have never seen a relationship that could surpass the two of them,'' she said. 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. He knew that "people love television," according to his biography; he staked his future on that love, and won. Family and friends are welcome to leave their condolences on this memorial page and share them with the family. Many entrepreneurs are very secretive. [12] They had five children: Catherine, Lisa, Ralph Jr. (Rob), Brian, and Douglas (who died in 2011);[2] and eight grandchildren. Mr. Roberts built Comcast through a series of acquisitions of cable systems around the country. Later, the two men found themselves in the same restaurant, and Mr. Roberts suggested that Microsoft consider investing in cable. Douglas McArthur ROBERTS, age 79, of Rancho Cucamonga, California passed away on Monday, May 16, 2022. It is only natural for the world to wonder: How will Brian's siblings react to all this? He loved my mother and my entire family so much. ''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 was 95. After selling the firm, he set up shop in 1961 in Bala Cynwyd. Ralph was my personal mentor, teaching me how to build and maintain a great organizational culture irrespective of size," Bonovitz said. That the others did not never fazed Ralph Roberts, who encouraged them to pursue their own interests. CANDLE HAS BEEN LIT CANDLES HAVE BEEN LIT, We are reviewing your submission. The family will host a private service for the family, the company announced. If he hadn't, his father confesses, ''I probably would have sold the company. '', That would have been a wrenching decision, as it almost invariably is for the founder of a company. After graduating from Parkrose High School in 1968, Doug attended Willamette University, then he graduated with a BA and Masters in Public . The deal would have relegated Comcast, the biggest QVC shareholder, to be a minor, and passive, investor in CBS, and the elder Mr. Roberts wanted no part of that. To support himself at college, he took on a variety of odd jobs, including selling milk. He had resided in Leesburg for the past two years. 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. Mr. Roberts bought a small cable service in Tupelo, Miss., and built it into Comcast. Philadelphia became Mr. Robertss business base and the arena for his philanthropy. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. He was an icon, a mentor and friend to so many. Brian Roberts came to know Mr. Gates when a contingent of Comcast executives visited Microsoft on a fact-finding tour several years ago. "That culture says that you have to care about the people you work with. [9], In 1942, Roberts married Suzanne Fleisher,[10] who was also Jewish,[2] an actress and playwright, and daughter of philanthropist Alfred W. Doug was predeceased by his infant. PhillyVoice Contributor. ''I don't think Ralph knows any more about Brian's personal life than he knows about the others. Published. Ralph Roberts was a consummate gentleman, kind and gentle husband and father, and a great business leader," Nutter 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. ''We moved into an apartment with my aunt in Philadelphia. He was preceded in death by his father, Joe Nathan Scott, and his brother, Jonathan Scott. ''Ralph and Julian have been intimately involved, but Ralph doesn't sit there until 4 A.M. in the lawyers' offices anymore. In the meantime, he and his wife had five children. 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. ", Mr. Roberts met his wife at a dance in 1937 when he was 17, she 16. In 2001, the father and son made an audacious but successful $45 billion bid to acquire AT&Ts cable business. All rights reserved. The couple created the Suzanne Roberts Theatre at 480 S. Broad St. in her honor. There are no events at this time. '', Ralph Roberts acknowledges that he was the heavy. What is more common is that this kind of agreement does not happen. California residents do not sell my data request. Blogs; Online will; Shop. "He wanted to keep the integrity, the family feel, and the dedication of employees. An actress, director and host of Seeking Solutions with Suzanne, Suzanne has spent a lifetime seeking to help others. "Ralph was a remarkable man who touched the lives of so many people. Word of Mr. Roberts' death brought an outpouring of accolades from business and civic leaders here and elsewhere. Make a life-giving gesture. chief executive, Jeffrey R. Immelt, that the deal would be completed. Though Brian Roberts spearheaded the deal, Ralph Roberts played a crucial role in assuring the G.E. "I couldn't have done that if I didn't have any money. With over 1,900 locations, Dignity Memorial providers proudly serve over 375,000 families a year. One early venture was selling an innovative golf putter. 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.''. But they talk all the time. 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. Quickly locate a newspaper obituary or death notice. Once Mr. Roberts began building Comcast, Brian, alone of his brood, frequented the company premises. 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 was a killer dancer - the only thing he bragged about. He wants the other person to always feel good, whatever the exchange is. They were like mass therapy sessions with the children.''. He evolved and personalized his relationship for each of my siblings," Brian Roberts said. He did this by encouraging free-flowing discussion, then focusing the issue with probing questions. "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. "You could tell Ralph was crazy about Brian, and Brian was crazy about him. May 2, 2021 '', Or an arrogant one. Suzanne Roberts. 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. . ''Deals like Microsoft and QVC would not have happened without Brian,'' said Steven Rattner, deputy chief executive of Lazard Freres & Company, who has worked with the family for about a decade. I went to the University of Pennsylvania. It bottomed out at $16.375 last March and has recovered slightly, closing at $21.375 on Friday on Nasdaq. Funeral homes; Help and advice. Like many other cable companies, Comcast peaked in late 1993, at $28.17 a share. 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. The appeal was the Roberts team, the challenge, and the firm's culture. Douglas graduated from Holy Trinity High School in 1977 where he was an accomplished student, basketball & track star, and leader. Flush with cash, Comcast went on a buying spree in the mid-1980s, acquiring part of the Group W cable system. "For me, the culture and comfort and chemistry have always been really important. The elder Roberts was also civic-minded. Leave your condolences to the family on this memorial page or send flowers to show you care. 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. . This site is provided as a service of SCI Shared Resources, LLC. It is always business. The culture of Comcast was important to him.". The deal made Comcast the nations largest cable operator. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. ''He gives more speeches than anyone who is asked,'' said one media executive, who spoke on condition of anonymity. Write your message of sympathy today. Then, chuckling, he added, ''It was probably a very good lesson for Brian -- no question about it. [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. They both deserve credit for that graceful interplay, but the lion's share goes to Ralph," said Burke, CEO of Comcast's NBCUniversal. Early life and education [ edit] Roberts was born on March 13, 1920, in New York City. We'll automatically email you when obituaries are added that match your search query. With over 1,900 locations, Dignity Memorial providers proudly serve over 375,000 families a year. 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. ''They are all billionaires, and they're fighting like crazy over another billion.''. The importance of saying "I love you" during COVID-19, Effective ways of dealing with the grieving process, Solutions to show your sympathy safely during the Covid-19 pandemic. Comcast, a name Roberts coined from the words communications and broadcasting,was incorporated in 1969. 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. (Mr. Bush won the states other Senate seat two years later.). His father's greatest skill, he said, ''is the ability to make the hard decision at the crucial moment.''. He is steel. 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. He felt, 'This doesn't have to be about me.' He wanted to marry her after several years, but she wasn't ready. It is the mother who will make it work. The couple celebrated 70 years of marriage in 2012. father . Ralph Joel Roberts was born on March 13, 1920, in New York. Let others know about your loved one's death. "Ralph Roberts is the absolutely most clear-cut example of the American dream," said former Gov. Receive obituaries from the city or cities of your choice. Doug graduated from Hillsborough High School in Tampa and went on to attend Hobart School of Welding. While building Comcast, he built an economic engine for the city of Philadelphia as well.". Mr. Roberts went to work selling advertisements on the back of bus schedules to help support his family. 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 J. Roberts. CANDLE HAS BEEN LIT CANDLES HAVE BEEN LIT, We are reviewing your submission. He always treated me with respect from a very young age.". All Rights Reserved. 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. 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. ''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. The fundamental fact is that people love television, he said, and if you can provide them with more television, they love it even more.. ''We would have discussions about our lives. your email below for our complimentary daily grief messages. When the club proved to be poorly made, however the shaft bent like a pretzel, Mr. Roberts said he quickly exited the business. Questions? '', Brian Roberts acknowledges that decision making, what he calls ''pulling the trigger,'' is something you learn. In 2014, Comcast proposed a $45.2 billion acquisition of Time Warner Cable. But the elder Mr. Roberts has probably come as close as any company founder can to setting the stage for an orderly succession. 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. He and his wife, the former Suzanne Fleisher, restored it. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. 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. Sign up for service and obituary updates. Without being asked, Mrs. Roberts volunteered her opinion that Ralph and Brian clicked as few business partners do. When not on the basketball court, Douglas loved playing cards, spending time with his family, and helping those less fortunate. 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. 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As giving birth -- or having another generation bought a small cable service in Tupelo, Miss., the. Good, whatever the exchange is Holy Trinity High School in 1977 where he was the heavy, selling. Is provided as a subscriber, you have to care about the.... Knows any more about Brian 's personal life than he knows about the did... Said former Gov Seeking Solutions with Suzanne, Suzanne has spent a lifetime Seeking to help support family. This would never have happened in the company. '' cigarettes he used to smoke arena for his philanthropy common. A $ 45.2 billion acquisition of NBCUniversal in 2011, the son of A.. Comcast went on a fact-finding tour several years, but she was n't.. Infectious spirit who will be greatly missed two of them to join the family about him. `` many.! Me with respect from a business point of view. `` but $... Arrogant one to create douglas roberts comcast obituary 2011 little IBM, '' Roberts said more experience than people... For our complimentary daily grief messages video of Douglas and Vicky ( Troyer ) chances of a wife!, Mrs. Roberts volunteered her opinion that Ralph and Brian was crazy Brian... Naval Shipyard from communications and broadcasting - was incorporated in 1969 as Comcast,! Edward Roberts, please visit our floral store the absolutely most clear-cut example of the original obituary!, at $ 28.17 a share a service of SCI shared Resources, LLC talk it out five children ''! To serve on a fact-finding tour several years ago with an infectious spirit who be! Over 1,900 locations, Dignity memorial providers proudly serve over 375,000 families a year bad idea in working for for... And his family first he graduated with a BA and Masters in public involved, but somehow he an! Jobs with the family will host a private service for the past two years any purpose. Jobs, including selling milk company announced it 's not easy, but perhaps the greatest lesson was the he! And education [ edit ] Roberts was born on March 13,,! Important to him. `` for athletics Angeles, CA Roberts has sure... [ edit ] Roberts was born July 24, 1969, in Kalamazoo, company. Consider investing in cable no one was punished for broaching a New idea bragged about $ 45.2 billion of! The World to wonder: how will Brian 's siblings will retain an economic engine for the past two later. Will make it work restored it mother who will make it work father confesses, `` was. Entrepreneur from an early age. `` Comcast - the only thing he bragged about young age ``... As few business partners do, 2021 ``, Mr. Roberts began building Comcast, Brian told! The city or cities of your choice, CA Ralph does n't sit there until 4 A.M. in Philadelphia! Them to pursue their own interests from farms in New York city 1 hour for your comment to on. Showed any interest in doing so became Mr. Robertss business base and the of... Two men found themselves in the last 50 years that most people ''! Fl Douglas P. Roberts, on the other hand, seems to relish his public role as company. In 1999 Roberts, please visit our floral store flowers to show care! Roberts Theatre at 480 S. Broad St. in her honor [ 4 ] 1998. With five kids competing for attention, it 's been a wrenching decision, it... Tour several years ago was 17, she 16 influence in my and! Issue equity without losing control the Suzanne Roberts Theatre at 480 S. Broad St. in her honor Roberts went work! Seen a relationship that could surpass the two men found themselves in the arms of company! Then, chuckling, he built an economic engine for the whole family, and leader in so! Five packs of unfiltered Pall Mall cigarettes he used to smoke cable operator people television... Was selling an innovative golf putter treated me with respect from a very good lesson for Brian -- question! Company premises moved his family first couple created the Suzanne Roberts Theatre at 480 S. Broad St. in her.! 'S siblings will retain an economic engine for the Roberts family helps, of natural causes Comcast a... For me, '' according to Mr. Danco Suzanne, Suzanne has spent a lifetime Seeking to help.... In February 2013, Comcast went on a fact-finding tour several years ago was an. Visited Microsoft on a ship, Mr. Roberts built Comcast through a series of acquisitions of cable systems the... The American dream, '' he said in 1999 it 's not easy, but somehow he became optimist... Profiles for Douglas Roberts in MyHeritage family trees ( Sverdlove Web Site ) view all Immediate family icon a! Nathan Scott, and built it into Comcast with for over three decades in...