Stewart Cheifet, host of PBS's long-running "Computer Chronicles," died December 28 in Philadelphia at age 87. His daughter, Dr. Stephanie Cheifet Koven, confirmed the cause was the flu. Cheifet launched "Computer Chronicles" in 1983 from KCSM-TV (now KPJK) in San Mateo, California. The show, a mix of news, interviews, and how-to segments, covered the burgeoning personal computer industry. "Computer Chronicles" introduced viewers to groundbreaking products like the first Macintosh, Windows 95, and electronic mail. Cheifet, a Harvard Law graduate with a background in television production and journalism, was not a computer engineer. The show ran for many years, charting the rise of microcomputers and their impact on society. Details regarding memorial services are pending.
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