Virginia Beach, VA (June 8, 2023) — Pat Robertson, a religious broadcasting pioneer, philanthropist, educator, Christian leader, businessman, and author, passed away at his home in Virginia Beach at the age of 93 on June 8, 2023. His death was announced by The Christian Broadcasting Network.
Throughout his life, Dr. Robertson made significant impacts as the founder and chairman of The Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN), founder and CEO of Regent University, founder of Operation Blessing Relief and Development Corporation, and founder and president of the American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ).
Dr. Robertson’s son, Gordon, CBN’s president and CEO, said, “His greatest treasure in life was knowing Jesus Christ and having the privilege of proclaiming Him and His power to others. His life was lived to the glory of God.”
Born in Lexington, Virginia, in 1930, Robertson had a distinguished academic and military career before marrying Adelia “Dede” Elmer Robertson in 1954. Together they had four children, 14 grandchildren, and 24 great-grandchildren.
In 1959, with only $70 and a vision, Robertson moved his family to Tidewater, Virginia, to establish the first Christian television network in the United States. Today, CBN is one of the world’s largest evangelistic ministries, reaching viewers across the globe.
Robertson also founded Regent University in 1977, which has become a leading academic center for Christian thought and action, with over 30,000 alumni worldwide.
Operation Blessing, founded by Robertson in 1978, focuses on providing hunger relief, clean water, medical aid, and disaster assistance to those in need. Additionally, in 1990, he founded the American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ), a public-interest law firm defending the First Amendment rights of people of faith.
Throughout his life, Robertson received numerous awards and honors for his humanitarian work, support for Israel, and contributions to Christian broadcasting.
In lieu of flowers, the Robertson family requests donations be made to organizations he loved dearly: CBN, Operation Blessing, and the Regent University Pat Robertson Memorial Scholarship Fund. More information on Pat Robertson’s life and ministry can be found at cbn.com/Pat.
