Comcast Founder Ralph Roberts Dies

PHILADELPHIA: Cable industry pioneer Ralph Roberts, the founder and chairman emeritus of Comcast Corporation, died of natural causes last night at the age of 95.

Roberts founded Comcast in 1963 with the acquisition of a 1,200-subscriber cable system in Mississippi and grew it to become a Fortune 50 company. Comcast is the largest video, high-speed internet, and phone provider in the U.S. Its acquisition of NBCUniversal expanded Comcast's reach into news, entertainment and sports cable networks, broadcast networks, television production operations, local television station groups, feature films and amusement parks. Comcast also has a majority ownership in Comcast-Spectacor, whose major holdings include the Philadelphia Flyers NHL hockey team and the Wells Fargo Center. Roberts' son Brian became president of the company in 1990 and was elevated to CEO in 2002.

"Ralph was a born entrepreneur, a visionary businessman, a philanthropist and a wonderful human being," Comcast said in a statement. "Ralph built Comcast into one of America's greatest companies and his vision and spirit have been at the heart of Comcast and our culture for 50 years.  He will be truly missed. Ralph’s greatest love was his family, and our deepest sympathies go to his wife Suzanne and the entire Roberts family."

He is survived by Suzanne Roberts, his wife of over 70 years, and 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 his son Douglas Roberts, who passed away in September 2011.  He is also survived by his eight grandchildren.

The Roberts family said in a statement: "Ralph was a remarkable man who touched the lives of so many people. He was a wonderful husband, father and grandfather and perhaps most importantly, a kind and humble human being. He will always be remembered for his generosity, integrity, honesty, kindness and respect for everyone around him. He was an inspiration to us all and we will miss him greatly."

There will be a remembrance ceremony to celebrate Roberts' life at a later date. The family is holding a private service.