Touching Video from Alex Trebek's Family Reminds Us Why He Was So Beloved

Alex Trebek

Just one week before the anniversary of Alex Trebek's death, the family of the late Jeopardy! host is sharing an emotional video and a heartfelt new avenue to help researchers battle pancreatic cancer.

Alex Trebek’s widow Jean Trebek and Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C) have launched The Alex Trebek Fund for research on how to better treat pancreatic cancer, the disease that killed the beloved Jeopardy! host.

In an emotional YouTube video announcing the fund today, just one week before the star's November death anniversary, Jean said of her late husband, “He was very grateful. He was a man that moved through life with gratitude."

Ken Jennings, who is now a permanent Jeopardy! host along with Mayim Bialik, saying of his idol's work, “Alex was a big inspiration. He created this place, this space where it was safe to be a smart person.”

“He was so good at it, so graceful, so perfect for the role, that we all thought the job was easy. And it’s not. Hosting Jeopardy! is incredibly hard,” Jennings, 49, noted.

"When Alex was diagnosed, we had never thought in a million years it was stage four pancreatic cancer," his wife added. I thought it would be a great idea to set up this fund and Stand Up To Cancer. And since he was all about the right answer, I think it’s very fitting that this fund is now established in his name and hopefully it will benefit thousands and thousands of people.”

Jean Trebek and the estate of actress Barbara Hanania have donated more than $1 million to the fund. SU2C will also continue to raise money through November's Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month and beyond, the organization announced.

As Jeopardy! fans know, Alex died on Nov. 8, 2020 at age 80 following a year-long battle with pancreatic cancer. He died in his sleep, surrounded by family and friends.

The smart and dapper Ontario native hosted 37 seasons of the hit game show.

Fans adored Alex. Last year, as Parade.com previously reported, they remembered Alex on what would have been his 83^rd birthday, sharing memories of his long hosting run and still expressing grief about his death.

Before he passed away, Alex bravely said, "The thought of the pancreatic cancer does not frighten me. I'm not afraid of dying…I have lived a good life, a full life and I'm nearing the end of that life. I know that. I'm not going to delude myself."

He had two children, Matthew and Emily, with wife Jean.

Emily also appeared in the video promoting the new cancer fund, saying, “I hope that all of the fans and community of Jeopardy! can lean in and show support for this. I think they showed so much support for my dad when he was going through his cancer. I hope that they stand up with this great organization.”

Alex’s daughter recalled of his Jeopardy! hosting, “He loved that it was a quiz show that promoted knowledge and intelligence.”

In the SU2C announcement, Jean, 60 said, “Alex knew that knowledge equaled power. He was a man that really loved to know things and stayed very curious."

The new fund honoring her late husband is "a way for the community that loved him to put resources directly into the hands of scientists working tirelessly to fight a disease shrouded by many unknowns,” she explained.

Stand Up To Cancer has reported that the pancreatic cancer survival rate went up this year due to progress in research.

SU2C co-founder Katie Couric, whose sister Emily died of pancreatic cancer in 2001, said, “For all the fans who loved and respected Alex – and there are legions of them – this fund allows them to honor him and support lifesaving science.”

To learn more about The Alex Trebek Fund and to make a donation, please visit StandUpToCancer.org/TheAlexTrebekFund.