Veteran TV Host Stewart Cheifet Dies at 87, Leaving Behind Legacy of Documenting PC Revolution
A pioneering figure in the world of personal computing, Stewart Cheifet, has passed away on December 28, 2025, at the age of 87. As a television producer and host, he spent nearly two decades documenting the rise of the personal computer revolution for PBS. His work not only made complex technology accessible to millions but also helped shape our understanding of the digital landscape.
Cheifet's most notable contribution is his groundbreaking series "Computer Chronicles," which debuted in 1983 and ran continuously until 2002, producing over 400 episodes across 19 seasons. The show tackled a wide range of topics, from early IBM PCs and Apple Macintosh models to the emergence of the World Wide Web and the dot-com boom.
What set Cheifet's series apart was its focus on making technology accessible to a broad audience. He conducted in-depth interviews with industry leaders like Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, and Jeff Bezos, often incorporating product demonstrations and news segments to provide viewers with a comprehensive understanding of the latest developments.
One of his most notable collaborations was with Gary Kildall, the Digital Research founder who created the popular CP/M operating system that predated MS-DOS on early personal computer systems. The two co-hosted "Computer Chronicles" from 1983 to 1990.
Cheifet also produced and hosted another companion series, "Net Cafe," which explored the early Internet boom and introduced viewers to pioneering websites like Yahoo, Google, and eBay. This show ran from 1996 to 2002 and provided a platform for Cheifet to delve deeper into the world of online computing.
In recognition of his dedication to preserving the legacy of "Computer Chronicles" and other projects, Cheifet collaborated with Brewster Kahle, founder of the Internet Archive, to bring the show's archives online. As a result, most episodes remain freely available on the Internet Archive, serving as an invaluable resource for historians and enthusiasts alike.
Born in Philadelphia on September 24, 1938, Cheifet earned degrees in mathematics and psychology from the University of Southern California in 1960 and later graduated from Harvard Law School. After working at CBS News in Paris, he met his wife, Peta Kennedy, whom he married in 1967.
Throughout his career, Cheifet's passion for journalism and broadcasting led him to teach broadcast journalism at the Donald W. Reynolds School of Journalism at the University of Nevada, Reno. In a 2014 interview with the school, he expressed why he pursued both law and journalism: "They are the two professions that allow you to change the world without having to blow someone up."
As news of Cheifet's passing spreads, his legacy as a pioneering TV host continues to inspire new generations of tech enthusiasts and journalists. His tireless efforts to document the evolution of personal computing have left an indelible mark on our collective understanding of technology and its impact on society.
A pioneering figure in the world of personal computing, Stewart Cheifet, has passed away on December 28, 2025, at the age of 87. As a television producer and host, he spent nearly two decades documenting the rise of the personal computer revolution for PBS. His work not only made complex technology accessible to millions but also helped shape our understanding of the digital landscape.
Cheifet's most notable contribution is his groundbreaking series "Computer Chronicles," which debuted in 1983 and ran continuously until 2002, producing over 400 episodes across 19 seasons. The show tackled a wide range of topics, from early IBM PCs and Apple Macintosh models to the emergence of the World Wide Web and the dot-com boom.
What set Cheifet's series apart was its focus on making technology accessible to a broad audience. He conducted in-depth interviews with industry leaders like Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, and Jeff Bezos, often incorporating product demonstrations and news segments to provide viewers with a comprehensive understanding of the latest developments.
One of his most notable collaborations was with Gary Kildall, the Digital Research founder who created the popular CP/M operating system that predated MS-DOS on early personal computer systems. The two co-hosted "Computer Chronicles" from 1983 to 1990.
Cheifet also produced and hosted another companion series, "Net Cafe," which explored the early Internet boom and introduced viewers to pioneering websites like Yahoo, Google, and eBay. This show ran from 1996 to 2002 and provided a platform for Cheifet to delve deeper into the world of online computing.
In recognition of his dedication to preserving the legacy of "Computer Chronicles" and other projects, Cheifet collaborated with Brewster Kahle, founder of the Internet Archive, to bring the show's archives online. As a result, most episodes remain freely available on the Internet Archive, serving as an invaluable resource for historians and enthusiasts alike.
Born in Philadelphia on September 24, 1938, Cheifet earned degrees in mathematics and psychology from the University of Southern California in 1960 and later graduated from Harvard Law School. After working at CBS News in Paris, he met his wife, Peta Kennedy, whom he married in 1967.
Throughout his career, Cheifet's passion for journalism and broadcasting led him to teach broadcast journalism at the Donald W. Reynolds School of Journalism at the University of Nevada, Reno. In a 2014 interview with the school, he expressed why he pursued both law and journalism: "They are the two professions that allow you to change the world without having to blow someone up."
As news of Cheifet's passing spreads, his legacy as a pioneering TV host continues to inspire new generations of tech enthusiasts and journalists. His tireless efforts to document the evolution of personal computing have left an indelible mark on our collective understanding of technology and its impact on society.
just sad that we lost another legend in Stewart Cheifet's passing, feels like he was still sharing his passion for tech & innovation with us 
his legacy will live on through his work on "Computer Chronicles" and other shows 
we should definitely check out the archives on the Internet Archive 
he was a legend in his own time, and it's crazy that his series "computer chronicles" is still widely available online 
his legacy lives on tho, and its amazing that he made complex tech accessible to everyone, like my grandma who had no idea what a computer was even 10 yrs ago 
i remember watching "computer chronicles" as a kid with my dad and just being amazed by all the new tech 
It's so sad to hear that Stewart Cheifet has passed away at 87 
. He was truly a legend in his own time, and his work on "Computer Chronicles" is still loved by many today 
. His passion for journalism and broadcasting really shone through, and I think we can all learn from his example about using our platforms to educate and inspire 
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. He had a way of breaking down complex concepts into something that was easy for anyone to understand. Plus, his collaborations with pioneers in the field, like Gary Kildall and Jeff Bezos, gave us a glimpse into the world of tech at its most exciting 
. This means that people can still access those episodes for free on the Internet Archive, which is just amazing.
. His legacy continues to inspire new generations of tech enthusiasts and journalists, and I think that's something we should all celebrate 
- Abraham Lincoln 
. his passion for journalism and broadcasting is something we should all strive for in our own careers 
. wish i could've met him and talked about the good old days of dial up internet 
. Like, yeah, he did an amazing job documenting the PC revolution, but what about the problematic aspects of that era? The sexism and racism that existed in the tech industry back then? It's like we're just celebrating this one guy's achievements without acknowledging the elephant in the room 
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. That's awesome, but what about the people who actually benefited from Cheifet's work? Like the women and minorities who were underrepresented in tech back then? Did they have access to these resources? It's not like we're giving them a shoutout or anything 
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. He was a trailblazer, no doubt, but we need to be careful not to sanitize history and forget the complexities of it all 
He was literally at the forefront of documenting the PC revolution and making tech accessible to the masses 
He's definitely left a lasting impact on the tech world and I'm so grateful for all the episodes of "Computer Chronicles" that are still available online 
what's next? is the internet gonna archive his entire body in a digital tomb? 
. He was all about making complex stuff simple, which is still super valuable today 
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. the fact that he collaborated with gary kildall and other industry leaders is just incredible 
... I mean, can you imagine having to watch 400 episodes of "Computer Chronicles" back-to-back? 
It was probably super boring for people who didn't have a degree in computer science or were just trying to waste their Saturday afternoons. I think Stewart Cheifet's legacy is overrated - it's just old news at this point 
. And another thing, his shows were way too focused on the tech industry, what about the impact of all that technology on our social lives? Where was the conversation around that?