TL;DR
Stewart Douglas Cheifet, the producer and host behind PBS's Computer Chronicles and Net Cafe, died on December 28, 2025, at age 87 in Philadelphia. He was known for documenting the rise of personal computing, later consulting for the Internet Archive and teaching broadcast journalism.
What happened
Stewart Douglas Cheifet, born September 24, 1938, in Philadelphia, passed away on December 28, 2025, at age 87. A Central High School alumnus, Cheifet earned degrees in mathematics and psychology from the University of Southern California in 1960 and later obtained a law degree from Harvard Law School. He met Peta Kennedy while both worked for CBS News in Paris in 1967; they married that year and lived in several locations including the Samoan Islands, Hawaii, San Francisco and Los Angeles before returning to Philadelphia. Cheifet produced and hosted two PBS technology programs: Computer Chronicles (1984–2002), which ran for more than 400 episodes documenting the spread of personal computers, and Net Cafe (1996–2002), which covered the early internet. After leaving television production he worked with the Internet Archive on preservation and public access efforts and taught broadcast journalism at the Donald W. Reynolds School of Journalism at the University of Nevada, Reno. He is survived by his wife Peta, children, grandchildren and brothers; services are for immediate family only.
Why it matters
- Cheifet’s programs created a running audiovisual record of the personal computer’s transition from niche hobby to mainstream tool.
- Net Cafe captured early public-facing developments of the commercial internet during a formative period.
- His consulting work with the Internet Archive helped preserve historical technology programming for researchers and the public.
- As an educator in broadcast journalism, he passed practical experience to a new generation of journalists covering technology.
Key facts
- Full name: Stewart Douglas Cheifet; born September 24, 1938, in Philadelphia, PA.
- Died December 28, 2025, at age 87; residence listed as Philadelphia.
- Education: University of Southern California (degrees in Mathematics and Psychology, 1960) and Harvard Law School (law degree).
- Met wife Peta Kennedy in 1967 while at CBS News in Paris; they married that year.
- Produced and hosted Computer Chronicles (1984–2002) — more than 400 episodes — and Net Cafe (1996–2002).
- Worked as a consultant for the Internet Archive to help preserve and provide public access to technology programs.
- Taught broadcast journalism at the Donald W. Reynolds School of Journalism at the University of Nevada, Reno.
- Survived by wife Peta, children Stephanie and Jonathan, grandchildren and brothers Lanny and Bruce.
- Funeral services are being held for immediate family only.
What to watch next
- Search the Internet Archive for archived episodes of Computer Chronicles and Net Cafe; Cheifet helped with preservation and public access.
- Look for PBS or other public-broadcast archival collections that may hold episodes of Computer Chronicles (1984–2002).
- not confirmed in the source: availability of these programs on commercial streaming platforms or public television websites.
Quick glossary
- Computer Chronicles: A long-running PBS television series that documented developments in personal computing from the 1980s through the early 2000s.
- Net Cafe: A PBS program that covered the emergence and cultural impact of the internet during the late 1990s and early 2000s.
- Internet Archive: A nonprofit digital library that preserves and provides public access to cultural artifacts in digital form, including audio-visual media.
- Broadcast journalism: The field of reporting and producing news and feature content for television, radio and digital broadcast platforms.
Reader FAQ
When did Stewart Cheifet die?
He passed away on December 28, 2025.
What programs was he best known for?
He produced and hosted Computer Chronicles (1984–2002) and Net Cafe (1996–2002).
What were his academic credentials?
He held degrees in mathematics and psychology from the University of Southern California (1960) and a law degree from Harvard Law School.
Were funeral services open to the public?
No. Services will be held for immediate family only.
What was the cause of death?
not confirmed in the source
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Sources
- Stewart Cheifet, creator of The Computer Chronicles, has died
- Stewart Cheifet
- Stewart Cheifet Obituary (2025) – Philadelphia, PA
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