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Ralph J Roberts

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Nationality
  
United States

Role
  
Businessman

Name
  
Ralph Roberts


Known for
  
Founder of Comcast

Occupation
  
Businessman

Organizations founded
  
Ralph J. Roberts Comcast founder Ralph Roberts dies Jun 19 2015


Born
  
March 13, 1920 (
1920-03-13
)
New York City, New York

Died
  
June 18, 2015, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

Spouse
  
Suzanne Roberts (m. 1942–2015)

Children
  
Brian L. Roberts, Catherine Roberts, Ralph Roberts, Jr., Lisa Roberts, Douglas Roberts

Education
  
Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania (1941), University of Pennsylvania

Similar People
  
Brian L Roberts, Julian A Brodsky, Ted Harbert, Michael J Angelakis, Ray Mabus

2000 Cable Hall of Fame - Ralph J. Roberts


Ralph Joel Roberts (March 13, 1920 – June 18, 2015) was an American businessman who was the founder of Comcast, serving as its chief executive officer for 46 years. In 2011 he served as founder and chairman emeritus of Comcast's board of directors until his death.

Contents

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Early life and education

Ralph J. Roberts Statement from the Roberts Family Regarding the Death of

Roberts was born on March 13, 1920 in New York City. 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.

Ralph J. Roberts Timeline The life of Ralph J Roberts Philly

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. Roberts graduated from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and served a four-year tour of duty in the United States Navy.

Career

Ralph J. Roberts Ralph Roberts Cable TV Pioneer Who Built Comcast Dies at

After leaving the Navy, he held various jobs, first selling golf clubs, then working for the Muzak Company, and later the Pioneer Suspender Company which he eventually owned. Using the proceeds from Pioneer, he started purchasing local community antenna television systems which brought TV to people in rural areas, which were then underserved by big broadcasters.

Ralph J. Roberts Ralph J Roberts Pictures Senate Holds Antitrust Hearing

In 1963, he and his partners, Daniel Aaron and Julian A. Brodsky, purchased for $500,000, a 1,200-subscriber cable TV operator in Tupelo, Mississippi, called American Cable Systems. They incorporated in 1969 as Comcast Corporation, a name Ralph invented by combining the words communications and broadcasting.

Ralph J. Roberts The Roberts Family Remembers Ralph J Roberts

Roberts has been credited with expanding Comcast into the largest cable television company in the United States.

Philanthropy and accolades

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. 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, and the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. He was awarded honorary degrees from both Holy Family College and the University of Pennsylvania, where he received their Joseph P. Wharton Award. In 1998, the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia inducted Roberts into their Hall of Fame. 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.

Personal life

In 1942, Roberts married Suzanne Fleisher, who was also Jewish, an actress and playwright, and daughter of philanthropist Alfred W. Fleisher. Her name appears on the Suzanne Roberts Theatre in Philadelphia and she hosts a TV program aimed at seniors called "Seeking Solutions with Suzanne" on Comcast's CN8 network. They had five children: Catherine, Lisa, Ralph Jr. (Rob), Brian, and Douglas (who died in 2011); and eight grandchildren. Their son, Brian L. Roberts, is the current CEO of Comcast Corporation.

Roberts made an appearance on TLC's reality series Cake Boss, receiving a cake for his 90th birthday. He died on June 18, 2015 of natural causes.

References

Ralph J. Roberts Wikipedia


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