Cancer-Stricken ‘Jeopardy!’ Contestant Dies One Week Before Episode Airs

For the first time in Jeopardy! history, an episode will premiere after a contestant has passed away. Cindy Stowell, a science-content developer from Austin, Texas, lost her battle with Stage IV cancer on Monday, just one week before her episode was due to air on December 13th.

Her boyfriend, Jason Hess, posted this tribute to her on Twitter:

Alex Trebek offered his condolences in a statement in The New York Post, “Competing on Jeopardy! was a lifelong dream for Cindy, and we’re glad she was able to do so… All of us at Jeopardy! offer our condolences and best wishes to her family and friends.”

When Stowell secured an in-person audition this past summer, she reached out to a producer with the following letter:

“I just found out that I don’t have too much longer to live. The doctor’s best guess is about 6 months. If there is the chance that I’d be able to still tape episodes of Jeopardy! if I were selected, I’d like to do that and donate any winnings to … charities involved in cancer research. If it is unlikely that the turnaround time would be that quick, then I’d like to give up my tryout spot to someone else.”

Speak insisted she audition, and Stowell filmed her episode just three weeks after on August 31st while on painkillers and fighting a high-grade fever. Stowell’s parents ask that donations be made to the Cancer Research Institute in Cindy’s name. Rest in peace, Cindy Stowell. We’ll be watching and cheering on December 13th.

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