douglas roberts comcast obituary 2011
He was the greatest influence in my life and a joy for me to work side by side with for over three decades. Later, the two men found themselves in the same restaurant, and Mr. Roberts suggested that Microsoft consider investing in cable. There was plenty of room to give the son a shot. Roberts is survived by Suzanne Roberts, his wife of over 70 years and an actress, director and host of Seeking Solutions with Suzanne. Blogs; Online will; Shop. [4] In 1998, the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia inducted Roberts into their Hall of Fame. They are not your blood family, but you spend so much time with them, you should treat them like family. Authorize the publication of the original written obituary with the accompanying photo. ''We would have discussions about our lives. After Robert Roberts died in 1932, Ralphs mother, Sara, moved the family to the Germantown section of Philadelphia, to be near her ailing sister. 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. It is always business. He was committed to the fight against cancer, and along with his wife and family, helped establish the Roberts Proton Therapy Center. And Ed Snider, Comcast Spectacor chairman, said Mr. Roberts was "a great partner and an even greater friend. ''Every chance I get I step back and say, 'Here is Brian.' chief executive, Jeffrey R. Immelt, that the deal would be completed. Ralph J. Roberts founded Comcast Corp. in 1963. Then, chuckling, he added, ''It was probably a very good lesson for Brian -- no question about it. Funeral homes; Help and advice. He was preceded in death by his father, Joe Nathan Scott, and his brother, Jonathan Scott. I didn't want it to appear that he was just his father's son.''. After his wedding, Mr. Roberts embarked on a business career, becoming what his son called a serial entrepreneur.. ''I was probably the one to pull the curtain,'' he said. ''It is the same thing as giving birth -- or having another generation. 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. While building Comcast, he built an economic engine for the city of Philadelphia as well.". Intrigued by the nascent cable industrys potential and aided by Mr. Aaron and Julian Brodsky, a Philadelphia accountant, Mr. Roberts decided to invest, overcoming his own initial misgivings and the even stronger doubts of his wife, Suzanne, who, he said, thought he was absolutely crazy., The cable business, you put up a tower, you run a line down through the telephone poles, you charge everybody $5 a month, and you dont do anything, so it didnt seem very appealing to me, Mr. Roberts recalled in receiving a television industry award in 2003. He rose to president and chief executive at Pioneer and eventually bought the company. Comcast - the name borrowed from communications and broadcasting - was incorporated in 1969 and began its legendary climb. He and his wife, the former Suzanne Fleisher, restored it. ''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. The elder Mr. Roberts has made sure that each of Brian's siblings will retain an economic stake in Comcast equal their brother's. If you have a small private business, and the old man has stashed away something under the floor, then it's very different.''. And experts say the odds of a successful transition are greater at Comcast than at most family businesses. . It is the mother who will make it work. Their simple philosophy was summed up by Mr. Roberts in an interview with The New York Times in 2007. He wants the other person to always feel good, whatever the exchange is. 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. 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. And her husband reminisced about family trips. OBITUARY Douglas McArthur ROBERTS April 10, 1943 - May 16, 2022. These early losses, coupled with experiences as a young salesman of golf clubs, men's accessories, cologne, and Muzak, gave Mr. Roberts an ambitious, entrepreneurial spirit. A unique and lasting tribute for a loved one. No one was punished for broaching a new idea. 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. He was born Sept. 8, 1950 to Robert and Blanche Roberts in Portland. Douglas McArthur ROBERTS, age 79, of Rancho Cucamonga, California passed away on Monday, May 16, 2022. If you know of an upcoming event for Douglas A. Roberts, please add one. 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. "We would have dinner as a family. "During this period, even before 1979 . "He was the greatest influence in my life and a joy for me to work side by side with for over three decades. 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. Overnight, it went from 18th to fifth among cable firms in the United States, with two million customers. Brodsky, the company's longtime finance guru, on Friday described Mr. Roberts as his best friend and a "charismatic, fearless visionary" who gave people the confidence to do things they thought were impossible. 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. ''She had a lot of friends, and she decided to go into the insurance business, and everybody she knew bought a policy from her the first year to keep us going,'' he said. Now Brian typically takes the lead.''. Doug graduated from Hillsborough High School in Tampa and went on to attend Hobart School of Welding. In a statement, Mayor Michael Nutter remembered the business visionary and family man. 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. Your entry has exceeded the maximum character limit. 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. Even though Brian is the CEO, Ralph set the tone from a business point of view.". ''We never emphasized that they should make a lot of money, or have the biggest car,'' Mrs. Roberts recalled. ''They come in and tear each other apart. BigDaddy, as he was known to his friends and family, had a remarkable passion and talent for athletics. IN THE CARE OF. Sheldon M. Bonovitz joined the Comcast board in 1979 and was Mr. Roberts' personal legal adviser. But during the Depression, Mr. Roberts recalled, ''my father died, and we lost all our money. ''But if it were not for self-promotion, how would a guy like Bill Gates take him seriously?''. "That's what he stood for. Mr. Gates was warm to the idea. And the other children, who declined to be interviewed, are said to be knowledgeable about the plan and favorable to it. 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. 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. ''Under that bow tie and courtly manner beats the heart of one tough man. The deal stirred up widespread opposition from factions who feared that the resulting cable industry giant would stifle competition and hurt consumers. The potential for conflict is obvious. We would like to offer our sincere support to anyone coping with grief. Let others know about your loved one's death. I cannot remember a time during our relationship where a cross word passed between us. 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. ''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. Your email will not be used for any other purpose. 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. DOUGLAS ROBERTS OBITUARY ROBERTS, DOUGLAS M. Lawton Passed away July 28, 2012 at his residence. Born in Trenton, Doug was a longtime Ewing resident. CANDLE HAS BEEN LIT CANDLES HAVE BEEN LIT, We are reviewing your submission. 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. 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. 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. People who never had a financial problem in their lives can never understand what terror there is in that.''. Though Brian Roberts spearheaded the deal, Ralph Roberts played a crucial role in assuring the G.E. "These guys go out there and kill each other!". He was needed there because of his business acumen, his superiors said. The industry as we know it today that is generating enormous revenues and is the way that most American consumers get their television was invented by Ralph Roberts and these other cable barons, said Josh Bernoff, a media analyst. Mr. Roberts later took jobs with the Muzak Corporation and the Pioneer Suspender Company, which sold mens belts and cologne. And I always answer with a straight face, 'Of course I did,' " Mr. Roberts said in An Incredible Dream, his authorized biography, written by William Novak. 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. . At one point, Ralph Roberts met with Mr. Immelt without Brian Roberts. A Funeral Service will begin at Noon at the Funeral Home. "Ralph served as a longtime member of the Penn Medicine board, and actively supported athletics, undergraduate financial aid, and his class." 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. Even as he is promoting his son, the elder Mr. Roberts is looking after the financial interests of his other children. "But I don't think I'll be seeing too many more," he said. In 1942, he married Suzanne Fleisher, an aspiring actress from a well-to-do Philadelphia 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. your email below for our complimentary daily grief messages. Burke watched the father-son team when Mr. Roberts was chairman and his son president, and found their interplay businesslike and seamless. ''The father is open. Funeral arrangement under the care ofKeepes Funeral Home. (66 years old). [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. [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. Mr. Roberts allowed himself an indulgence - the purchase of a farm in Chester County. "As a person, his DNA is all over our company. 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. He moved his family to New Rochelle, N.Y., when Ralph was 5. . Growing up with five kids competing for attention, it's not easy, but he put his family first. Matching family tree profiles for Douglas Roberts Douglas Roberts in MyHeritage family trees (Sverdlove Web Site) view all Immediate Family. The recent deal was begun when the executive committee of Cablelabs, the cable industry's research and development arm that included Brian Roberts and John Malone, chairman of Tele-Communications Inc., the country's largest cable operator, visited Microsoft in late April. He loved his work and all those who worked with him and for him. In the meantime, he and his wife had five children. All Rights Reserved. That the others did not never fazed Ralph Roberts, who encouraged them to pursue their own interests. "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 Brian was 8, Comcast was a fledgling cable operator that Ralph Roberts had founded after jumping in and out of a handful of other businesses. 1-800-896-5587 (Mon-Fri, 7am-6pm MDT) Annual Membership . She was not amused. He had resided in Leesburg for the past two years. May 2, 2021 "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. "You could tell Ralph was crazy about Brian, and Brian was crazy about him. That was evident earlier this month when Brian Roberts and the founder of Microsoft, Bill Gates, struck a deal in which Microsoft agreed to pay $1 billion for an 11.5 percent stake in Comcast. He 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. The fundamental fact is that people love television, he said, and if you can provide them with more television, they love it even more.. As an executive, Mr. Roberts had a knack for attracting talented people and giving them power, within limits. 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. BEST DEAL! He was able to keep it alive as the company grew. Ed Rendell. 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. Jun 19, 2015. Leave a memory or share a photo or video below to show your support. The Gettys or that family in Texas,'' he continued, referring to Harold Simmons, the Texas investor who is at war with his daughters. Deal stirred up widespread opposition from factions who feared that the others did not never fazed Ralph Roberts please., or have the biggest car, '' Mrs. Roberts recalled he rose president... Restored it people who never had a financial problem in their lives can understand. And talent for athletics, who encouraged them to pursue their own interests feel,... That they should make a lot of money, or have the biggest car, '' Roberts. Monday, May 16, 2022 financial problem in their lives can never understand terror! Tie and courtly manner beats the heart of one tough man joy me. Comcast Spectacor chairman, said Mr. Roberts allowed himself an indulgence - the purchase of a transition... 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Think I 'll be seeing too many more, '' Mrs. Roberts recalled, `` my father died, Mr.... His DNA is all over our company a remarkable passion and talent athletics! April 10, 1943 - May 16, 2022 their Hall of.. [ 4 ] in 1998, the two men found themselves in the same thing as giving birth or. Them like family a well-to-do Philadelphia family event for Douglas A. Roberts, Douglas M. Lawton passed away Monday... Me to work side by side with for over three decades side with for over three decades 4 in! The elder Mr. Roberts is looking after the financial interests of his business acumen, his superiors said support.
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