Julian Brodsky, who co-founded Comcast more than six decades ago, has died at age 93.
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The cable company announced today that he died on Nov. 5. Variety reported the news.
Julian Brodsky Was a "Mentor and a Friend"
Comcast stated that Brodsky was surrounded by his family at the time of his death. He was in hospice care.
"Julian was an extraordinary leader, a brilliant financial mind and one of the architects of cable television," a statement from Brian L. Roberts, chairman of Comcast, read. "He was a trusted partner and close friend to my father, Ralph, and someone I was fortunate to learn from and work alongside for so many years."
He added, "He was one of the most creative financiers of his generation, but just as important, he established a culture of financial integrity, uncompromising standards, and respect for colleagues that remains at the heart of our company today. Julian was a mentor and a friend, and his contributions to our company and our community cannot be overstated. We will miss him deeply, and our thoughts are with his family and everyone who knew and loved him."
Brodsky Turned Comcast Into a Media Giant
Brodsky was born on July 16, 1933. A graduate of the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, he served two years in the U.S. Army before starting his career as a certified public accountant.
His fascination with cable television led him to co-found Comcast and become its Chief Financial Officer. The cable company called him one of the industry's "earliest financial innovators," helping Comcast grow from a regional operator to an industry leader.
In 1999, Brodsky and Ralph Roberts formed Comcast Interactive Capital. Now called Comcast Ventures, it invested in early-stage tech companies that would benefit the company's future business. Brodsky then became Comcast's non-executive vice chairman in 2004 and retired from the company and its board of directors in 2011.
In addition to his business ventures, Brodsky and his wife of 70 years, Lois, were philanthropists in the Philadelphia community. He also served as a trustee for the Philadelphia Museum of Art for over 30 years.
Brodsky is survived by Lois, their three daughters, his brother, Marc, and his four grandchildren.
