It was indeed a sad day in the neighborhood yesterday, as TV watchers across the nation mourned the death of Fred Rogers, host of the popular children’s program, “Mister Rogers Neighborhood.”

Rogers died of stomach cancer early yesterday morning at his Pittsburgh home. He was 74.

For over 30 years, Rogers invited scores of young children into his TV living room and took them on a magical trolley ride into the Neighborhood of Make-Believe.

What made the show special was not the element of fantasy, but the down-to-earth familiar air that Rogers himself breathed into the program, donning sneakers and a cardigan at the beginning of each episode.

Ever a part of American culture, one of his cardigans—a staple red number—hangs in the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History.

Harvard undergraduates, though initially stunned by the news, fondly reminisced yesterday about a man who was a central part of their childhoods.

“He was a great person,” said James W. Murrett ’05. “I liked his message and how he always wore a cardigan. He remained confident throughout the years.”

Murrett added that he was surprised to hear of Rogers’ passing since he had only retired in 2001.

“I was a long-time watcher,” said

Thomas A. Laakso ’05, “but he had a long life, did a lot of good things. It’s too bad to see him go.”

Laakso remembered how, after outgrowing the program, he and his siblings would flip through the channels and watch together for old times’ sake.

Other students had a more passionate connection to Mr. Rogers.

“I loved him!” said Erica B. Zidel ’04. “It is very sad, I watched him all the time when I was little—he was on after

‘Sesame Street’—I used to actually believe he was talking to me specifically. He totally helped my self-esteem.”

Jennifer E. Novak ’06 lamented the loss of an icon.