Leave your condolences to the family on this memorial page or send flowers to show you care. "Our city has lost a wonderful champion with his passing.". 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. Like many media entrepreneurs, Ralph Roberts created several classes of stock, enabling him to issue equity without losing control. This site is provided as a service of SCI Shared Resources, LLC. Help tell the story of your loved ones unique life. 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. Through the 1970s and '80s, it built cable networks, learned to maintain them, and profited by Mr. Roberts' favorite element - recurring monthly income. [6], Roberts served on the boards of the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Brandywine River Museum, the Greater Philadelphia Urban Affairs Coalition, and the PENN Medicine Board of Trustees. [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. 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. "We would have dinner as a family. Family and friends are welcome to leave their condolences on this memorial page and share them with the family. Private. He is also survived by his eight grandchildren. 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. Inquirer staff writer Harold Brubaker and former staff writer Thomas J. Brady contributed to this article. As Gregory B. Maffei, Microsoft's treasurer, sees it, the younger Mr. Roberts is no pawn of his father. ''It has been wonderful to share those tense moments with your father,'' Brian Roberts said, ''and hopefully, it has prepared me for the future. He was an inspiration to us all and we will miss him greatly.". To make it work, you have to have motivated, competent successors as well as accommodating heirs. 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. 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. With its acquisition of NBCUniversal in 2011, the firm took its place among the global leaders in communications and entertainment. He was a killer dancer - the only thing he bragged about. He died on June 18, 2015, of natural causes. I cannot remember a time during our relationship where a cross word passed between us. Roberts, Craig Mort, Brenda Bachura, Bill McMenemy, and Peter McMenemy. in memory of Douglass Edward Roberts, please visit our floral store. 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. Daughter Lisa said Mr. Roberts was an attentive father. ''All this would never have happened in the arms of a second wife,'' according to Mr. Danco. 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. [4] He was awarded honorary degrees from both Holy Family College and the University of Pennsylvania, where he received their Joseph P. Wharton Award. TimesMachine is an exclusive benefit for home delivery and digital subscribers. Sign Up Today! They both deserve credit for that graceful interplay, but the lion's share goes to Ralph," said Burke, CEO of Comcast's NBCUniversal. ''Under that bow tie and courtly manner beats the heart of one tough man. . And all of them are rich. 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. "Ralph served as a longtime member of the Penn Medicine board, and actively supported athletics, undergraduate financial aid, and his class." He will always be remembered for his generosity, integrity, honesty, kindness and respect for everyone around him. to the family or plant a tree [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. He and his wife, the former Suzanne Fleisher, restored it. Mr. Roberts has reason to track the way family-run companies pass the baton from one generation to next. The magic words, according to Mr. Roberts, were "Yes, dear.". In addition, Ralph Roberts personally owns another 5.2 million nonvoting shares, as well as 319,00 class A shares. 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. ''They drag the business down because it kills the morale of everybody in the company.''. 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. 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. Like many other cable companies, Comcast peaked in late 1993, at $28.17 a share. Questions? The five children and their parents jointly own the holding company that owns Comcast's supervoting shares. California residents do not sell my data request. ''We used to take the children away with us every year to climb the Pyramids or something memorable to keep their attention,'' he said. It may take up to 1 hour for your comment to appear on the website. He never told me anything I wanted to do at Comcast was a bad idea, and after more than 30 years, youd think Ive had a lot of bad ideas.. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. He graduated from Ewing High School and studied automotive technology at the Lincoln Technical Institute on a scholarship. 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. Doug was predeceased by his infant. DOUGLAS ROBERTS OBITUARY Douglas J. Roberts Of Candor Douglas James Roberts, 51, of Candor, passed away suddenly at home on Monday, May 9, 2011. He was needed there because of his business acumen, his superiors said. We have all learned so much from Ralph, but perhaps the greatest lesson was the way he lived his life. Figure skating program in Kensington aims to make the sport accessible for local athletes, Philadelphia Zoo's new exhibit includes life-sized dinosaurs and lots of bugs, Ex-football player from Bucks County among new 'Survivor' competitors, Eagles will host Browns for joint practices in preseason, Six Flags to enhance Hurricane Harbor with more water slides, tree house for young kids, Watch every 'Rocky' movie in order and for free on Pluto TV. 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. Then he turned the company over to his son at an early age. At one point, Ralph Roberts met with Mr. Immelt without Brian Roberts. Write your message of sympathy today. Ralph J. Roberts, the man whofounded Comcast Corp. with the purchase of a 1,200-subscriber cable television system in Tupelo, Mississippi in 1963, died Thursday night of natural causes in Philadelphia. His plan is to turn over the votes to Brian but make sure to divide the financial pie fairly among all the offspring. 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. . "Ralph was a remarkable man who touched the lives of so many people. He was. It also locked up broadcast rights to the Phillies. Funeral homes; Help and advice. PHILADELPHIA-- ( BUSINESS WIRE )--Today we are deeply saddened to announce that Ralph J. Roberts, husband, father and grandfather, died of natural causes last night in Philadelphia, PA. ''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. I went to the University of Pennsylvania. DOUGLAS ROBERTS OBITUARY Douglas J. Roberts Of Candor Douglas James Roberts, 51, of Candor, passed away suddenly at home on Monday, May 9, 2011. [2], Roberts has been credited with expanding Comcast into the largest cable television company in the United States. Ralph Joel Roberts was born on March 13, 1920, in New York. His main goal at the time was to make a lot of money. 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. Fleisher. We all will.". your email below for our complimentary daily grief messages. Let others know about your loved one's death. '', Both parents said that in bringing up their brood, they worked hard to see that the children connected with one another. He was able to keep it alive as the company grew. Send a note, share a story or upload a photo. 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