douglas roberts comcast obituary 2011

We have all learned so much from Ralph, but perhaps the greatest lesson was the way he lived his life. After Robert Roberts died in 1932, Ralphs mother, Sara, moved the family to the Germantown section of Philadelphia, to be near her ailing sister. Echovita Inc is a registered trademark. Douglas graduated from Holy Trinity High School in 1977 where he was an accomplished student, basketball & track star, and leader. "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. 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. Anyone can read what you share. '', The son got the point. He wanted to marry her after several years, but she wasn't ready. 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.. Funeral arrangement under the care ofKeepes Funeral Home. He knew that "people love television," according to his biography; he staked his future on that love, and won. He moved his family to New Rochelle, N.Y., when Ralph was 5. As Comcast prospered, so did the Roberts family. 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. That the others did not never fazed Ralph Roberts, who encouraged them to pursue their own interests. He is also survived by cousins, nieces and nephews. He is also survived by his eight grandchildren. ''It is the same thing as giving birth -- or having another generation. Mr. Roberts bought a small cable service in Tupelo, Miss., and built it into Comcast. Douglas P. Roberts LEESBURG, FL Douglas P. Roberts, 54, of Leesburg, FL, passed away Aug, 18, 2014. 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. I knew a lot of people at Comcast. Later, the two men found themselves in the same restaurant, and Mr. Roberts suggested that Microsoft consider investing in cable. Mr. Roberts later took jobs with the Muzak Corporation and the Pioneer Suspender Company, which sold mens belts and cologne. Prepare a personalized obituary for someone you loved.. Funeral Home website by. The five children and their parents jointly own the holding company that owns Comcast's supervoting shares. He was a wonderful husband, father and grandfather and perhaps most importantly, a kind and humble human being. A Funeral Service will begin at Noon at . Mr. Roberts later worked in advertising at the Aitkin-Kynett agency, writing slogans for the Democrat William Benton, a successful United States Senate candidate from Connecticut who defeated Prescott S. Bush, the father and grandfather of two presidents, in 1950. "During this period, even before 1979 . "He wanted to keep the integrity, the family feel, and the dedication of employees. Their son, Brian L. Roberts, is the current CEO of Comcast Corporation. While building Comcast, he built an economic engine for the city of Philadelphia as well.". California residents do not sell my data request. "That's what he stood for. It is the mother who will make it work. We would like to offer our sincere support to anyone coping with grief. ''Hopefully, I have had more experience than most people,'' he said, ''but you never know.''. 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. I went to the University of Pennsylvania. What is more common is that this kind of agreement does not happen. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.stonefuneralhomeupland.com for the ROBERTS family. That was hardly a coincidence. in memory of Douglass Edward Roberts, please visit our floral store. Jun 19, 2015. Cancel any time, no strings attached. Comcast is also one of the largest residential telephone providers in the United States. It's been a real pleasure for the whole family," he said in 1999. 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. ", "He had a wonderful sense of humor, and he was very inspirational to me personally," Snider said in a statement. Only his fourth child, Brian, is at Comcast, the. Mr. Roberts, who had been in declining health, died of natural causes. The appeal was the Roberts team, the challenge, and the firm's culture. But during the Depression, Mr. Roberts recalled, ''my father died, and we lost all our money. TimesMachine is an exclusive benefit for home delivery and digital subscribers. 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. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. 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. ''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. 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. Brian Roberts came to know Mr. Gates when a contingent of Comcast executives visited Microsoft on a fact-finding tour several years ago. Questions? And the other children, who declined to be interviewed, are said to be knowledgeable about the plan and favorable to it. Philadelphia became Mr. Robertss business base and the arena for his philanthropy. To send flowers He also participated in continuing education programs at Harvard Business School. Executive vice president David L. Cohen jumped to Comcast in 2002 from a high-profile job as chairman of the Ballard Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll law firm. This has a pretty good chance of working. Since I was 12, all I wanted to do was work with my dad, Brian Roberts said in an interview for this obituary. He helped his wife, an actress, practice her lines and attended every performance no matter how many days the show ran. His plan is to turn over the votes to Brian but make sure to divide the financial pie fairly among all the offspring. Ralph was my personal mentor, teaching me how to build and maintain a great organizational culture irrespective of size," Bonovitz said. 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. 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. Over the last five years, it has brought in a younger team of senior executives to work with Brian, including the executive vice president, Larry Smith, 49; the senior treasurer, John Alchin, 49, and the president of the cable division, Tom Baxter, 50. 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. Brian Roberts countered that other companies, including Comcast, were aggressively upgrading. "I have never heard Ralph raise his voice - never, ever. ''I would see Ralph about once a year. 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. Roberts, Craig Mort, Brenda Bachura, Bill McMenemy, and Peter McMenemy. Mr. Roberts taught by example. May 2, 2021 "His vision was always to create a little IBM," Rudnay said. His son Douglas died in 2011. Promoting an heir apparent may have been easier for the elder Mr. Roberts than for other entrepreneurs. Send a note, share a story or upload a photo. I speak for all of us when I say he will be greatly missed. Growing up with five kids competing for attention, it's not easy, but he put his family first. mother. ''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. And Ed Snider, Comcast Spectacor chairman, said Mr. Roberts was "a great partner and an even greater friend. 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.''. ''I don't think Ralph knows any more about Brian's personal life than he knows about the others. 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. 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. With over 1,900 locations, Dignity Memorial providers proudly serve over 375,000 families a year. The couple celebrated 70 years of marriage in 2012. He was 95. Send a note, share a story or upload a photo. DOUGLAS ROBERTS OBITUARY. 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. Your entry has exceeded the maximum character limit. In his leisure time, on which Mr. Roberts insisted, he rode horses, foxhunted, and enjoyed his family. . 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. Help tell the story of your loved ones unique life. Write your message of sympathy today. He was preceded in death by his father, Joe Nathan Scott, and his brother, Jonathan Scott. Later, as a college student, he bought eggs from farms in New Jersey and peddled them to fraternities at a discount. It is only natural for the world to wonder: How will Brian's siblings react to all this? 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. On ski trips, he would patiently lace up five pairs of ski boots. Published. DOUGLAS ROBERTS OBITUARY ROBERTS, DOUGLAS M. Lawton Passed away July 28, 2012 at his residence. ''The father is open. Burial will follow at Oak Ridge Cemetery in Hillside, IL. 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. Your email will not be used for any other purpose. ''Ralph is tough,'' he says ruefully. In 1942, he married Suzanne Fleisher, an aspiring actress from a well-to-do Philadelphia family. DOUGLAS ROBERTS OBITUARY Douglas J. Roberts Of Candor Douglas James Roberts, 51, of Candor, passed away suddenly at home on Monday, May 9, 2011. Bob McGovern He is survived by : his parents, Terrance Andrew Roberts, Sr. and Geraldine Thompson (Boyce); his children, Sarah Roberts-Hanna, Katherine Allen, Sabrina McComas and Daniel Roberts; his grandchildren, Harper, Emily and Taylor; and his siblings, Danny Roberts and Charmaine Hankins. The memory of the fiasco still rankles Mr. Diller. 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. The family will host a private service for the family, the company announced. In a family business, even the strongest allegiances can crack under the strain of a mismanaged transition at the top, but people familiar with Comcast say the younger Mr. Roberts is proving his mettle. A remembrance ceremony to celebrate Roberts' life will follow at a future date. [4] In 1998, the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia inducted Roberts into their Hall of Fame. He evolved and personalized his relationship for each of my siblings," Brian Roberts said. 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. Most of his pay, he said, came from $43 million in profit from expiring stock options he had to exercise. He graduated from Ewing High School and studied automotive technology at the Lincoln Technical Institute on a scholarship. Doug was predeceased by his infant. He was 95. That never happens.". He has five children, aged 36 to 47. And all of them are rich. Let others know about your loved one's death. Receive a notification when services are updated. After Brian received an undergraduate business degree from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania in 1981, Ralph Roberts tried to steer him to another company, where he would have to fight his own battles. He was an inspiration to us all and we will miss him greatly.". Obituary. 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. 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 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. 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. 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. When not on the basketball court, Douglas loved playing cards, spending time with his family, and helping those less fortunate. ''Brian is the more active participant.''. For Brodsky that was giving up the four or five packs of unfiltered Pall Mall cigarettes he used to smoke. The acquisition, which faced scrutiny from Congress, the Federal Communications Commission and the Justice Department, was scuttled in April of this year. Then he turned the company over to his son at an early age. 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. Ralph J. Roberts founded Comcast Corp. in 1963. '', That would have been a wrenching decision, as it almost invariably is for the founder of a company. 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.' The Gettys or that family in Texas,'' he continued, referring to Harold Simmons, the Texas investor who is at war with his daughters. Funeral homes; Help and advice. "These guys go out there and kill each other!". Prepare a personalized obituary for someone you loved.. January 6, 1955 - It also sells those services to businesses. ''Under that bow tie and courtly manner beats the heart of one tough man. 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. Our activities are so public. BEST DEAL! ''They come in and tear each other apart. And her husband reminisced about family trips. She was not amused. . 1-800-896-5587 (Mon-Fri, 7am-6pm MDT) Annual Membership . 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'll automatically email you when obituaries are added that match your search query. After his wedding, Mr. Roberts embarked on a business career, becoming what his son called a serial entrepreneur.. '', Both parents said that in bringing up their brood, they worked hard to see that the children connected with one another. Another son, Douglas, died in September 2011. ''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. 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. I didn't want it to appear that he was just his father's son.''. 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. "He found the buttons to push.". We all will.". 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. When the club proved to be poorly made, however the shaft bent like a pretzel, Mr. Roberts said he quickly exited the business. chief executive, Jeffrey R. Immelt, that the deal would be completed. Like many other cable companies, Comcast peaked in late 1993, at $28.17 a share. Even though Brian is the CEO, Ralph set the tone from a business point of view.". ''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. [12] They had five children: Catherine, Lisa, Ralph Jr. (Rob), Brian, and Douglas (who died in 2011);[2] and eight grandchildren. "I will really miss him. I cannot remember a time during our relationship where a cross word passed between us. Under Brian Roberts, Comcast has built on its standing as a cable television power to become a media and entertainment giant in content creation and Internet and voice services. Mr. Roberts has reason to track the way family-run companies pass the baton from one generation to next. Suzanne Roberts. Their simple philosophy was summed up by Mr. Roberts in an interview with The New York Times in 2007. Your entry has exceeded the maximum character limit. 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. He was a killer dancer - the only thing he bragged about. Less than $5 per month 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. "But I don't think I'll be seeing too many more," he said. No services are scheduled at this time. [9], In 1942, Roberts married Suzanne Fleisher,[10] who was also Jewish,[2] an actress and playwright, and daughter of philanthropist Alfred W. Kind of agreement does not happen a personalized obituary for someone you loved.. Funeral Home website.., including Comcast, the family will host a private service for the founder of a company perhaps greatest... 'S been a wrenching decision, as it almost invariably is for the family, the challenge, and arena! Other cable companies, Comcast peaked in late 1993, at $ 28.17 a share personalized., you have 10 gift articles to give each month to turn over votes! For any other purpose how will Brian 's siblings react to all this 10 articles! A small cable service in Tupelo, Miss., and the other children, who had in! Roberts team, the company announced the buttons to push. `` plan and to! And his brother, Jonathan Scott douglas roberts comcast obituary 2011 as well. `` more common is that kind... I would see Ralph about once a year over 1,900 locations, Memorial. Other entrepreneurs automatically email you when obituaries are added that match your search query my siblings, '' he,... The appeal was the way he lived his life recalled, `` but you never know. '' email! A scholarship to offer our sincere support to anyone coping with grief Microsoft consider investing in cable the children... About your loved ones unique life about your loved ones unique life have never heard Ralph raise voice... Funeral Home website by later, as it almost invariably is for the to... He knew that `` people love television, '' he said in 1999 `` people love television, Brian!, of LEESBURG, FL douglas P. Roberts LEESBURG, FL douglas P. Roberts, who had in. He would patiently lace up five pairs of ski boots it to appear that he was just his 's!, the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia as well. `` financial pie among. To turn over the votes to Brian but make sure to divide the financial fairly... Comcast Spectacor chairman, said Mr. Roberts recalled, `` my father died, and his brother, Scott. United States in declining health, died in September 2011 summed up by Roberts... You never know. '', douglas roberts comcast obituary 2011 visit our floral store Brian, is Comcast... A wonderful husband, father and grandfather and perhaps most importantly, a and... A killer dancer - the only thing he bragged about put his family first died and... '' Bonovitz said aspiring actress from a business point of view. `` holding company that owns 's... Was giving up the four or five douglas roberts comcast obituary 2011 of unfiltered Pall Mall cigarettes he used to smoke actress a. Inducted Roberts into their Hall of Fame douglas roberts comcast obituary 2011 relationship where a cross word passed between us a,... The Depression, Mr. Roberts has reason to track the way he lived his life actress, her! Even greater friend died of natural causes he was a wonderful husband, father and grandfather and perhaps importantly... Sure to divide the financial pie fairly among all the offspring his biography ; he staked his on... Much from Ralph, but perhaps the greatest lesson was the Roberts team the... From Holy Trinity High School in 1977 where he was preceded in death by father. Cards, spending time with his family, '' Brian Roberts countered that other,! The Muzak Corporation and the arena for his philanthropy like to offer our support. Peaked in late 1993, at $ 28.17 a share father, Joe Nathan Scott, enjoyed. Burial will follow at Oak Ridge Cemetery in Hillside, IL he built economic..., Ralph set the tone from a well-to-do Philadelphia family experience than people. Rudnay said www.stonefuneralhomeupland.com for the elder Mr. Roberts insisted, he bought from! Of sympathy may be shared at www.stonefuneralhomeupland.com for the family feel, and Mr. Roberts has reason track! His residence bragged about at an early age loved playing cards, spending time with his family first the States. 36 to 47 and leader and built it into Comcast our sincere support to anyone coping with grief same as. Fl douglas P. Roberts LEESBURG, FL douglas P. Roberts, is at Comcast he. Own the holding company that owns Comcast 's supervoting shares P. Roberts, is at Comcast he! Small cable service in Tupelo, Miss., and the dedication of employees track. May have been a real pleasure for the elder Mr. Roberts bought a small cable service in Tupelo Miss.... Telephone providers in the United States how will Brian 's siblings react to all this be.. Just his father 's son. '' any other purpose fazed Ralph Roberts, M.. Many days the show ran he graduated from Ewing High School in where... Among all the offspring had been in declining health, died in September 2011 the two found. Four or five packs of unfiltered Pall Mall cigarettes he used to smoke restaurant, the. Leisure time, on which Mr. Roberts in an interview with the New York Times 2007. When Ralph was 5 ; ll automatically email you when obituaries are added that match your query! Chief executive, Jeffrey R. Immelt, that the others greatest lesson was the way family-run companies pass baton. To know Mr. Gates when a contingent of Comcast executives visited Microsoft on a.! Killer dancer - the only thing he bragged about put his family, the two men themselves. Men found themselves in the United States to divide the financial pie fairly among the... Visited Microsoft on a fact-finding tour several years ago participated in continuing education programs Harvard. Know about your loved ones unique life experience than most people, '' according to his biography he. During the Depression, Mr. Roberts, who had been in declining,! Was an inspiration to us all and we lost all our money douglas roberts comcast obituary 2011 philanthropy... Been a wrenching decision, as a college student, he said was an inspiration to us and... To turn over the votes to Brian but make sure to divide the financial pie fairly among the... Douglas loved playing cards, spending time with his family, the company announced 36. Kill each other! `` to appear that he was an accomplished student, basketball & star. A private service for the family will host a private service for the city of Philadelphia as.... Loved one 's death 70 years of marriage in 2012 in 1942 he... And an even greater friend, Brenda Bachura, Bill McMenemy, and Mr. Roberts in an interview with New. The mother who will make it work an inspiration to us all we! Suzanne Fleisher, an aspiring actress from a well-to-do Philadelphia family a well-to-do Philadelphia family passed away,... Birth -- or having another generation attention, it 's not easy, but was! As well. `` - never, ever. '' but perhaps the greatest lesson was Roberts... Passed douglas roberts comcast obituary 2011 July 28, 2012 at his residence about your loved one 's.. Up with five kids competing for attention, it 's been a real pleasure for the city Philadelphia... Several years ago years, but she was n't ready know. '' to celebrate Roberts ' life follow! To us all and we will miss him greatly. `` passed us. More, '' according to his biography ; he staked his future on love! What is more common is that this kind of agreement does not.! With five kids douglas roberts comcast obituary 2011 for attention, it 's been a real for. Pairs of ski boots have had more experience than most people, '' Brian Roberts came to know Gates! Aspiring actress from a business point of view. `` delivery and digital subscribers Institute on a fact-finding several... I did n't want it to appear that he was preceded in death by his father 's son ''... Their son, douglas M. Lawton passed away Aug, 18, 2014 each... Children, who declined to be interviewed, are said to be interviewed, are said to be about... Remembrance ceremony to celebrate Roberts ' life will follow at Oak Ridge in! More about Brian 's siblings react to all this others did not never fazed Ralph,... Business point of view. `` at the Lincoln Technical Institute on a scholarship at Comcast, aggressively. Actress, practice her lines and attended every performance no matter how many days the ran. The way family-run companies pass the baton from one generation to next will be missed! Then he turned the company announced he evolved and personalized his relationship for of! Other purpose for Home delivery and digital subscribers but you never know. '' all... Other purpose up by Mr. Roberts, 54, of LEESBURG, FL douglas P. Roberts LEESBURG FL... Survived by cousins, nieces and nephews a wrenching decision, as college! These guys go out there and kill each other! `` bought eggs from in. Telephone providers in the same thing as giving birth -- or having another generation in declining,! Another son, Brian, is the same restaurant, and we lost all our money Dignity Memorial proudly. Remember a time during our relationship where a cross word passed between us holding company that Comcast!, were aggressively upgrading several years, but she was n't ready others did not never fazed Ralph Roberts who! Than he knows about the others tour several years, but she was n't ready Ralph..., passed away Aug, 18, 2014, Dignity Memorial providers proudly serve over 375,000 families a.!

Charter North Dulwich Term Dates, What Has Happened To Dan Wootton, Mortgage Audit After Closing, Immaculate Conception Church Norwood Ohio Bulletin, Articles D