Earl Cheit Obituary

Earl F. "Budd" Cheit

Earl F. "Budd" Cheit died on August 2, 2014, at the age of 87, at his home in Kensington. He was the Edgar F. Kaiser Professor of Business and Public Policy Emeritus and Dean Emeritus of the Haas School of Business at the University of California.

His nearly six decades of service to the University of California and the Berkeley campus spanned an extraordinary range of duties, including Executive Vice Chancellor of the Berkeley campus (1965-1969), Dean (1976-82) and Acting Dean (1990-91) of the Haas School of Business, Acting Vice President of the University for Financial and Business Management (1982-82), and Interim Athletic Director for the Berkeley campus (1993-94). The teaching wing of the Haas School was named Earl F. Cheit Hall by the University Regents in 1995.

Dr. Cheit was a member of the Audit Committee of the Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund, a Trustee of Mills College, Trustee Emeritus of the University of California, Berkeley, Foundation, and founding Chairman of Cal Performances, the performing arts presenter for the Berkeley campus.

He also served as Senior Advisor on Asia Pacific Economic Affairs for The Asia Foundation, as associate director of the Carnegie Council on higher Education, and as Program Officer for Higher Education and Research for the Ford Foundation. He served as a director of the Shaklee Corporation, CNF Transportation, and Simpson Manufacturing Company, Inc., from which he retired in April of this year.

Dr. Cheit is survived by his wife June, four children and three grandchildren. Memorial arrangements are pending. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Haas School of Business or to Cal Performances at the University of California.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by San Francisco Chronicle from Aug. 4 to Aug. 7, 2014.

Memories and Condolences
for Earl Cheit

9 Entries

Ken Walters

August 17, 2014

I was a PhD student of Professor Cheit in the late 1960s. What a remarkable mentor he was and we doctoral students admired him a great deal for his warmth, insights, intelligence and encouragement. When I became a business school dean myself, he was most encouraging and helpful. I owe him -- and Professors Dow Votaw and Edwin Epstein-- a great deal. What an exciting place UC Berkeley was due to great men like Earl Cheit.

michael Peevey

August 15, 2014

Bud Cheit taught me labor economics way back when and over the years we kept in contact, traveling around the globe several years back. He was an inspiration to me and many, many others. He could do it all and will be greatly missed.

Peter Michael

August 12, 2014

Budd was the first to give credit to others, but all of the rest of us in the worldwide Haas School of Business community feel that he did more to make the School what it is today than any of the rest of us did or were capable of doing. Thanks mainly to Budd, the School went miles beyond what it had been: a new world-class facility, two Nobel Prizes, low-single-digit rankings, a cohesive worldwide network, explicit inspiring principles, and much, much more. As are all of us in the Haas community, I feel gratefully in your debt, Budd. Thank you for all you did, and for the example you set for me and all of us.

Peter H. Michael, MBA '71
President, Haas Alumni Network, 1981-82

August 9, 2014

June and family

I worked with Budd when he was in the Education Dept. at the Ford Foundation, on loan from UCB. His ready smile, energy and positive energy endeared him to all. And he tried his darndest to establish a "sherry" hour.
Doriss Fennell NYC

Lisa Ford

August 6, 2014

From the family of Robert L. Johnson - Our father worked with Budd Cheit at UCB back in the late ‘60's and early 70's. I know Budd Cheit has done a lot of great work in his life. My memory is a very personal one in regards to our family. One summer evening in 1968 when we lived in Lexington, Ky our father received a call from Budd Cheit encouraging him to take a job at UCB. When Dad hung up he gave us the impression that it was a pretty ridiculous request, BUT, within a month we were moving to Berkeley. Even though those were some pretty turbulent times for the University, that move, and those years, encompass some great memories for our whole family and in my opinion had a positive impact on all of our lives. We are so glad Budd made that call to our father.

We are truly sorry for your loss.

Lisa Johnson Ford on behalf of Ruth Johnson and family.

Linda Polsby

August 6, 2014

Dear June - I am so sorry to hear of Bud's death. What a lovely man he was. I hope his University memorial service will be publicized well so we may all pay our respects.

with sympathy and love, Linda Polsby

Don Fraser

August 5, 2014

Budd was a Remarkable Leader and a Friend to all of us who where fortunate to know him. With Love and Prayers for all of Budd's Family.

August 5, 2014

June, such a great loss for you and for all who came in contact with Bud. I knew him only briefly through Ashby Village, but he made a very sweet and profound impact in that short time. Please let AV know if there is any thing we can do to support you. Shirley Haberfeld

August 4, 2014

I am so sorry for your loss. Please be assured God cares for you and will comfort you in your time of need. 1 Pet. 5:7

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