Cindy Stowell of Austin kept Jeopardy fans enthralled for one week.
She took a fast-track to the Jeopardy stage, informing the casting crew she had stage four colon cancer. Doctors gave her a few months to live. Cindy didn’t just compete. She won night after night. Since Jeopardy scrapped its five-game limit in 2003, only 38 contestants out of the thousands who’s played have won six games or more. Cindy is one of them. Her winnings totaled nearly $106,000. She donated all to the Cancer Center Research Institute.
Jeopardy! contestant Cindy Stowell passed away prior to her shows’ airings. Here is her Jeopardy! story, in her own words. pic.twitter.com/MYFzJfxpAJ
— Jeopardy! (@Jeopardy) December 22, 2016
Last night, Jeopardy! host Alex Trebek honored Cindy: “For the past six programs, you’ve been getting to know the talented champion Cindy Stowell. Appearing on our show was a life-long ambition…”
Alex Trebek pays his respect to Cindy Stowell. #Jeopardy pic.twitter.com/s0pYT5z7iX
— Erick Fernandez (@ErickFernandez) December 22, 2016
Just a few people at Jeopardy! knew about Cindy’s health crisis. The contestants she vanquished were kept in the dark.
Cindy died the first week of December. It was four months after she taped these shows, but eight days before they aired. A staff member sent Cindy a DVD of her first three episodes before she died.
Her boyfriend broke the news on social media.
In the early morning hours cancer took the best friend, partner and pub trivia teammate a guy could ask for. Love you always @nanocindy pic.twitter.com/dyyUGZFlSe
— Jason (@habcous) December 5, 2016
She was such a badass. She's going to be on Jeopardy next Tues (12/13). Y'all should watch. pic.twitter.com/4FVcP5rmrO
— Jason (@habcous) December 5, 2016