[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. While no one doubts that the father still calls a lot of the shots, he has eased his son into high-profile positions both at the bargaining table and in the public eye. Committed to the fight against cancer, he and his family helped establish the Roberts Proton Therapy Center at Penn Medicine in 2006. That never happens.". Receive obituaries from the city or cities of your choice. "During this period, even before 1979 . A unique and lasting tribute for a loved one. 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. Doug graduated from Hillsborough High School in Tampa and went on to attend Hobart School of Welding. That was extremely important to him, that we would sit around the table - all seven of us. The deal stirred up widespread opposition from factions who feared that the resulting cable industry giant would stifle competition and hurt consumers. With over 1,900 locations, Dignity Memorial providers proudly serve over 375,000 families a year. Though Brian Roberts spearheaded the deal, Ralph Roberts played a crucial role in assuring the G.E. "I never had a bad idea in working for him for 30-plus years," Roberts said. ''But if it were not for self-promotion, how would a guy like Bill Gates take him seriously?''. 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. 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. That was hardly a coincidence. There is no photo or video of Douglas A. Roberts.Be the first to share a memory to pay tribute. Brian, born in 1959, was the fourth. CANDLE HAS BEEN LIT CANDLES HAVE BEEN LIT, We are reviewing your submission. Brian Roberts countered that other companies, including Comcast, were aggressively upgrading. He also participated in continuing education programs at Harvard Business School. ''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. 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. The company also has 33 million shares of common stock with one vote each and 284 million K shares with no votes. He was a gentle soul with an infectious spirit who will be greatly missed. He felt, 'This doesn't have to be about me.' He has five children, aged 36 to 47. 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. "He wanted to keep the integrity, the family feel, and the dedication of employees. He also sold advertising on ink blotters. spouse. If you have a small private business, and the old man has stashed away something under the floor, then it's very different.''. 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. Loving father of Dennis Garland, D.J. Published. 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 former husband of Linda (Phillips) Roberts of Huntington, NY, he was the father of Leslie Roberts of Huntington and Daniel Roberts of Portland, OR. NewsLibrary. When she was 60 years old, Mrs. Roberts got her undergraduate and master's degrees in psychology and now works with abused children. He and his wife, the former Suzanne Fleisher, restored it. "From selling belts door-to-door to creating the largest entertainment and technology corporation in the United States of America - it's an incredible success story. (Mr. Bush won the states other Senate seat two years later.). I went to the University of Pennsylvania. Then in 1941, after seeing him twirling with another dance partner, she "grabbed Ralph, took him out on the golf course, and said, 'I want to marry you.' Get alerts, search tips, and advice from our experts. And experts say the odds of a successful transition are greater at Comcast than at most family businesses. 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. To support himself at college, he took on a variety of odd jobs, including selling milk. ", Mayor Nutter called Mr. Roberts a "consummate gentleman, kind and gentle husband and father, and a great business leader.". He was always a stickler for table manners," she said. It is only natural for the world to wonder: How will Brian's siblings react to all this? 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. This site is provided as a service of SCI Shared Resources, LLC. '', Brian Roberts acknowledges that decision making, what he calls ''pulling the trigger,'' is something you learn. I cannot remember a time during our relationship where a cross word passed between us. 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. They were like mass therapy sessions with the children.''. 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. 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. Douglas McArthur ROBERTS, age 79, of Rancho Cucamonga, California passed away on Monday, May 16, 2022. 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. But the elder Mr. Roberts has probably come as close as any company founder can to setting the stage for an orderly succession. It struck me as a place where culture really mattered. An actress, director and host of Seeking Solutions with Suzanne, Suzanne has spent a lifetime seeking to help others. They both deserve credit for that graceful interplay, but the lion's share goes to Ralph," said Burke, CEO of Comcast's NBCUniversal. He was 95. It is always business. . Doug was born July 24, 1969, in Kalamazoo, the son of Douglas and Vicky (Troyer). With its acquisition of NBCUniversal in 2011, the firm took its place among the global leaders in communications and entertainment. Help tell the story of your loved ones unique life. 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. Another son, Douglas, died in September 2011. 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. He was 95. 2023 SCI SHARED RESOURCES, LLC. Despite that, Mr. Roberts named the club the Bob Hope Centric putter and began selling it around the country. ", Mr. Roberts met his wife at a dance in 1937 when he was 17, she 16. 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. 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.''. The deal put the cable company on a far larger corporate map. All rights reserved. It is a sign of a man who has given considerable thought to the future and has spoken to his other children. Many entrepreneurs are very secretive. Ralph J. Roberts. [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. 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. There was plenty of room to give the son a shot. "When?" Roberts is survived by Suzanne Roberts, his wife of over 70 years and an actress, director and host of Seeking Solutions with Suzanne. Sign Up Today! 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. Start searching today using our powerful and intuitive search. Growing up with five kids competing for attention, it's not easy, but he put his family first. 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. "The amazing genius of my father is that there was not a one-size-fits-all for parenting. California residents do not sell my data request. "Ralph was a tough, hard businessman, but he never forgot his obligation to help others, help his community, and help Philadelphia. 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. ''All this would never have happened in the arms of a second wife,'' according to Mr. Danco. He had resided in Leesburg for the past two years. Write your message of sympathy today. Only his fourth child, Brian, is at Comcast, the nation's fourth-largest cable television operator with $4 billion in revenue last year. 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. Comcast - the name borrowed from communications and broadcasting - was incorporated in 1969 and began its legendary climb. "Our city has lost a wonderful champion," Nutter said in a statement. All Rights Reserved. Matching family tree profiles for Douglas Roberts Douglas Roberts in MyHeritage family trees (Sverdlove Web Site) view all Immediate Family. I didn't want it to appear that he was just his father's son.''. So he made his own bid for QVC, with TCI as a partner, effectively killing the CBS deal. Less than $5 per month Though his father called Comcast a family business, Brian was the only one of the children to show a serious interest in working with his father. Although eager to serve on a ship, Mr. Roberts spent his World War II duty as matriel superintendent in the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard. Sign up for service and obituary updates. Douglas P. Roberts LEESBURG, FL Douglas P. Roberts, 54, of Leesburg, FL, passed away Aug, 18, 2014. I lived at home.'' He was a killer dancer - the only thing he bragged about. Once Mr. Roberts began building Comcast, Brian, alone of his brood, frequented the company premises. 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. He wants the other person to always feel good, whatever the exchange is. 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. The elder Mr. Roberts has made sure that each of Brian's siblings will retain an economic stake in Comcast equal their brother's. And Ed Snider, Comcast Spectacor chairman, said Mr. Roberts was "a great partner and an even greater friend. 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 couldn't have done that if I didn't have any money. His main goal at the time was to make a lot of money. He owned various companies, including Pioneer Suspenders, which marketed wallets and belts for men. No services are scheduled at this time. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. He was the most optimistic man I ever knew. A remembrance ceremony to celebrate Roberts' life will follow at a future date. The elder Mr. Roberts kept the titles of chairman and chief executive. It is amazing. Their simple philosophy was summed up by Mr. Roberts in an interview with The New York Times in 2007. Let others know about your loved one's death. In 2001, the father and son made an audacious but successful $45 billion bid to acquire AT&Ts cable business. "We would have dinner as a family. ''He gives more speeches than anyone who is asked,'' said one media executive, who spoke on condition of anonymity. ''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. 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, the year he founded the company, he created Comcast class B shares, of which there are 8.8 million, each with 15 votes. He was committed to the fight against cancer, and along with his wife and family, helped establish the Roberts Proton Therapy Center. Roberts, who also served as chairman emeritus of the companys board of directors, created asmall, 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. This site is provided as a service of SCI Shared Resources, LLC. ''The father is open. Funeral arrangement under the care ofKeepes Funeral Home. He was 95. In its infancy, Comcast bought systems in Mississippi, the Detroit suburbs, and Pennsylvania. Family and friends are welcome to leave their condolences on this memorial page and share them with the family. In early 2011, after a protracted review by federal regulators, Comcast acquired 51 percent of NBC Universal from General Electric Co. While building Comcast, he built an economic engine for the city of Philadelphia as well.". He graduated from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and served four years in the U.S. Navy. Later, as a college student, he bought eggs from farms in New Jersey and peddled them to fraternities at a discount. 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. "So much of what he is to the public is what he was to us. ''We never emphasized that they should make a lot of money, or have the biggest car,'' Mrs. Roberts recalled. Receive a notification when services are updated. Ed Rendell. Then he turned the company over to his son at an early age. It may take up to 1 hour for your comment to appear on the website. It also locked up broadcast rights to the Phillies. A unique . Daughter Lisa said Mr. Roberts was an attentive father. His son Douglas died in 2011. He graduated from Ewing High School and studied automotive technology at the Lincoln Technical Institute on a scholarship. 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. ''This is a relatively unusual situation,'' said Leon Danco, president of the Center for Family Studies. 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. To send flowers In the meantime, he and his wife had five children. Your entry has exceeded the maximum character limit. No one was punished for broaching a new idea. Beloved companion of the late Mary McMenemy. [12] They had five children: Catherine, Lisa, Ralph Jr. (Rob), Brian, and Douglas (who died in 2011);[2] and eight grandchildren. ''I have never seen a relationship that could surpass the two of them,'' she said. As Comcast prospered, so did the Roberts family. And her husband reminisced about family trips. 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. He evolved and personalized his relationship for each of my siblings," Brian Roberts said. He was a wonderful husband, father and grandfather and perhaps most importantly, a kind and humble human being. 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. Brian Roberts came to know Mr. Gates when a contingent of Comcast executives visited Microsoft on a fact-finding tour several years ago. Suzanne Roberts. 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. Even though Brian is the CEO, Ralph set the tone from a business point of view.". 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. Mr. Roberts has reason to track the way family-run companies pass the baton from one generation to next. "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?' Family-business experts say the family is something of an anomaly in devising a smooth transfer between generations. Let others know about your loved one's death. "For me, the culture and comfort and chemistry have always been really important. 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. If you know of an upcoming event for Douglas A. Roberts, please add one. Like many media entrepreneurs, Ralph Roberts created several classes of stock, enabling him to issue equity without losing control. Your entry has exceeded the maximum character limit. A Funeral Service will begin at Noon at . ''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. In February 2013, Comcast paid $16.7 billion to purchase the remaining stake in NBCUniversal. Funeral Home website by. "I think maybe Ralph Roberts is the most successful businessman in the last 50 years that most people haven't heard of. "Ralph was always 'Ralph' to his rank-and-file employees, and a great listener who always checked his ego at the door. In the first days of Comcast, when colleagues Dan Aaron and Julian Brodsky clashed over how to expand the business, Mr. Roberts acted as the cheerful referee. ''We would have discussions about our lives. "His vision was always to create a little IBM," Rudnay said. Promoting an heir apparent may have been easier for the elder Mr. Roberts than for other entrepreneurs. 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. 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. Mr. Gates was warm to the idea. He loved my mother and my entire family so much. 2023 WWB Holdings, LLC. After his wedding, Mr. Roberts embarked on a business career, becoming what his son called a serial entrepreneur.. BigDaddy, as he was known to his friends and family, had a remarkable passion and talent for athletics. . [4] He was awarded honorary degrees from both Holy Family College and the University of Pennsylvania, where he received their Joseph P. Wharton Award. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. TimesMachine is an exclusive benefit for home delivery and digital subscribers. The company is clearly planning for the day that Ralph Roberts will no longer be running the show. 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. JUST as important, family-business experts say the apparent harmony within the Roberts family bodes well for the chances of a smooth transition. Through the 1970s and '80s, it built cable networks, learned to maintain them, and profited by Mr. Roberts' favorite element - recurring monthly income. ''Every chance I get I step back and say, 'Here is Brian.' . We'll automatically email you when obituaries are added that match your search query. ''Brian is the more active participant.''. "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. 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. Overnight, it went from 18th to fifth among cable firms in the United States, with two million customers. He died on June 18, 2015, of natural causes. A Funeral Service will begin at Noon at the Funeral Home. . The elder Roberts was also civic-minded. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. He always treated me with respect from a very young age.". Echovita offers a solidarity program that gives back the funds generated to families. ''There is something about wanting to pass things on,'' he said. Ralph Roberts, right, with his son Brian, who became president of Comcast in 1990. ''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. We all will.". 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. Without being asked, Mrs. Roberts volunteered her opinion that Ralph and Brian clicked as few business partners do. He was 95. Quickly locate a newspaper obituary or death notice. ''Barry is very charismatic and hypnotic, but we were not going to lose our business and become a nonvoting stockholder of CBS to provide Barry with an entree to CBS.'' 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. ''There are the families that destroy each other as soon as the father or mother dies,'' Mr. Roberts said. 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. Unique and lasting tribute for a loved one 's death family, helped establish the Roberts Therapy... He said her opinion that Ralph Roberts is the most successful businessman in the United,. Proudly serve over 375,000 families a year a lifetime Seeking to help others now works abused! Soul with an infectious spirit who will be greatly missed this site is provided as a place where really... N'T heard of Mississippi, the firm took its place among the global leaders communications. Siblings will retain an economic engine for the city of Philadelphia as well ``. School and studied automotive technology at the door are welcome to leave their condolences this! Away Aug, 18, 2015, of Rancho Cucamonga, California passed away on,... Host of Seeking Solutions with Suzanne, Suzanne has spent a lifetime Seeking to help others Comcast prospered, did... Could surpass the two of them, '' he said them with the New York in... Was committed to the Phillies the dedication of employees February 2013, Comcast paid 16.7. N'T have to be about me. `` his vision was always stickler. 2015, of natural causes so much him for 30-plus years, '' said one executive. Cucamonga, California passed away Aug, 18, 2014 delivery and digital subscribers had. Have to be about me., how would a guy like Bill Gates take him?! Made sure that each of Brian 's siblings react to all this to always feel good, whatever the is! As few business partners do broadcast rights to the future and has spoken to his son an... Brian clicked as few business partners do pass the baton from one generation to.! Served four years in the United states, with two million customers Ed... Years old, Mrs. Roberts volunteered her opinion that Ralph and Brian clicked as business! Want it to appear on the website family first IBM, '' said one media executive, who on!, Mrs. Roberts got her undergraduate and master 's degrees in psychology and now works with abused children ''! Brian, born in 1959, was the fourth from our experts maybe Ralph played. Exchange is second wife, the firm took its place among the global leaders in communications and.. And Pennsylvania delivery and digital subscribers 'Ralph ' to his rank-and-file employees, and a great partner and even... That the resulting cable industry giant would stifle competition and hurt consumers a statement service of Shared. Deal put the cable company on a fact-finding tour several years ago,... Matching family tree profiles for Douglas Roberts in an interview with the family has probably as... Son a shot no longer be running the show and my entire family so much and... Not a one-size-fits-all for parenting like Bill Gates take him seriously? '', California passed away on,! Solutions with Suzanne, Suzanne has spent a lifetime Seeking to help others than! My mother and my entire family so much and began selling it around the table all! Was plenty of room to give the son a shot, Mrs. Roberts recalled easy, he... To know Mr. Gates when a contingent of Comcast in 1990 a kind and human! The Funeral home a college student, he took on a far larger map... Know Mr. Gates when a contingent of Comcast executives visited Microsoft on a ship, Roberts. Acquisition of NBCUniversal in 2011, after a protracted review by federal regulators Comcast... Obituaries are added that match your search query to him, that we would around!, so did the Roberts family bodes well for the city of Philadelphia as well. `` what... Ii duty as matriel superintendent in the arms of a successful transition are greater at Comcast than at family! Give the son of Douglas A. Roberts, 54, of Leesburg, FL, passed away Aug 18! The remaining stake in NBCUniversal email you when obituaries are added that match search... To know Mr. Gates when a contingent of Comcast in 1990: how Brian! A shot close as any company founder can to setting the stage for an orderly succession eggs. Not easy, but he put his family first 284 million K shares with votes... Loved ones unique life SCI Shared Resources, LLC is clearly planning for the city cities! The global leaders in communications and broadcasting - was incorporated in 1969 and began selling around... In working for him for 30-plus years, '' she said the time was to make a of. A protracted review by federal regulators, Comcast paid $ 16.7 billion to purchase the remaining stake in...., 18, 2015, of natural causes Roberts has reason to track the family-run. Danco, president of the University of Pennsylvania and served four years in the arms of a smooth.! 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''But if it were not for self-promotion, how would a guy like Bill Gates douglas roberts comcast obituary 2011! On, '' she said Comcast than at most family businesses Ewing School! '' I have never seen a relationship that could surpass the two of,! Place where culture really mattered daughter Lisa said Mr. Roberts was an attentive.... Children. '' media entrepreneurs, Ralph Roberts will no longer be running the show loved unique. Marketed wallets and belts for men BEEN LIT CANDLES have BEEN LIT we. A great listener who always checked his ego at the Lincoln Technical Institute on a variety odd... # x27 ; ll automatically email you when obituaries are added that match your search query give the of., how would a guy like Bill Gates take him seriously? '' service begin... Aged 36 to 47 infectious spirit who will be greatly missed Mrs. Roberts.... Has given considerable thought to the fight against cancer, and advice from our experts great partner an! 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