TL;DR
Stewart Douglas Cheifet, the producer and presenter behind PBS's Computer Chronicles and Net Cafe, died on December 28, 2025, at age 87. A Harvard-trained lawyer turned television producer, he later worked with the Internet Archive and taught broadcast journalism.
What happened
Stewart Douglas Cheifet, a Philadelphia native and a familiar face in early personal computing coverage, died on December 28, 2025. Born September 24, 1938, he completed undergraduate degrees in mathematics and psychology at the University of Southern California in 1960 and later earned a law degree from Harvard. Cheifet’s television career included producing and hosting Computer Chronicles, a PBS series that ran from 1984 to 2002 with more than 400 episodes, and Net Cafe, which aired from 1996 to 2002 and addressed the rise of the internet. After leaving production, he consulted for the Internet Archive on preserving technology-related media and taught broadcast journalism at the Donald W. Reynolds School of Journalism at the University of Nevada, Reno. He met his wife, Peta Kennedy, at CBS News in Paris in 1967; the couple had two children. He is survived by his wife, two children, five grandchildren and two brothers. Services are for immediate family only.
Why it matters
- Computer Chronicles and Net Cafe recorded early consumer computing and internet developments, providing a contemporaneous archive of the digital era’s formative years.
- Cheifet’s work with the Internet Archive helped preserve technology-focused broadcasts for researchers, historians and the public.
- As an educator in broadcast journalism, he helped train new generations of journalists who cover technology and media.
- His career bridged traditional broadcast journalism and the emerging digital information age, reflecting the media shifts of late 20th century.
Key facts
- Full name: Stewart Douglas Cheifet; born September 24, 1938; died December 28, 2025, age 87.
- Raised in Philadelphia; attended Central High School.
- Undergraduate degrees in Mathematics and Psychology from the University of Southern California, class of 1960.
- Earned a law degree from Harvard Law School.
- Produced and hosted PBS’s Computer Chronicles (1984–2002), which ran for more than 400 episodes.
- Hosted Net Cafe (1996–2002), a PBS series focused on the emerging internet.
- Served as a consultant for the Internet Archive to help preserve and provide access to technology-related media.
- Taught broadcast journalism at the Donald W. Reynolds School of Journalism, University of Nevada, Reno.
- Survived by wife Peta Kennedy, children Stephanie and Jonathan, grandchildren Gussy, Josephine, Benjamin, Freya and Penny, and brothers Lanny and Bruce.
- Services will be held for immediate family only; the obituary suggests donations to the Michael J. Fox Foundation.
What to watch next
- Archived episodes of Computer Chronicles and Net Cafe have been preserved with the Internet Archive — check the Internet Archive for availability.
- Public memorials or additional tributes: not confirmed in the source.
Quick glossary
- Computer Chronicles: A PBS television series (1984–2002) that examined personal computing and related technologies as they evolved.
- Net Cafe: A PBS series (1996–2002) that focused on the early internet and online culture.
- Internet Archive: A nonprofit digital library that preserves and provides public access to digital media, websites and cultural artifacts.
- Broadcast journalism: The field of reporting and producing news and feature content for radio and television audiences.
Reader FAQ
When did Stewart Cheifet die?
He died on December 28, 2025.
What programs was he best known for?
He produced and hosted Computer Chronicles and Net Cafe on PBS.
Is the cause of death given?
Not confirmed in the source.
Will there be public services or memorials?
Services will be held for immediate family only; any additional public memorials are not confirmed in the source.
Where can I watch his programs now?
The obituary notes he worked with the Internet Archive to preserve such programs; check the Internet Archive for archived episodes.
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Sources
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