‘Jeopardy!’ Fans Pay Tribute to Player Who Died Before Episode Aired

Fans recently noticed a clip shared on social media by Jeopardy!, intended to honor announcer Johnny Gilbert’s birthday. However, the clip also featured contestant Cindy Stowell, capturing the attention of fans who paid tribute to her as well.

Cindy Stowell’s story on Jeopardy! is both inspiring and touching.

The Jeopardy! clip included Alex Trebek as host and Johnny, now 98, reading the clues. The clip showed Cindy Stowell, a contestant remembered by many fans. Cindy appeared on Jeopardy! in 2016 during her battle with cancer.

Her participation was a dream come true, as she had always wanted to appear on a game show. She took this opportunity to donate her winnings to cancer-related organizations, as reported by CBS. Tragically, Cindy passed away before she could see her episode air.

Cindy was a science content developer from Austin, Texas. She was invited to an in-person audition in Oklahoma City after penning a heartfelt note about her diagnosis in her application. She conveyed her limited time left, mentioning she had about six months to live.

In her note, Cindy wrote, “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.” She considered giving up her spot if the timing didn’t work out.

Her heartfelt request was met with action. Cindy passed the audition and was advanced to the top of the line. She taped her show on August 31, and her episode aired on December 13, 2016. Sadly, Cindy passed away on December 5, never getting the chance to witness her episode.

Alex Trebek, who hosted Cindy’s episode, himself passed away three years later in 2020 after his own battle with cancer.

Alongside tributes for Johnny Gilbert, many fans who saw the video paid tribute to Cindy as well. Comments quickly filled with love and remembrance for both Cindy and Alex Trebek.

One fan noted that both Alex and Cindy are now gone, prompting a wave of heartfelt tributes:

• “Happy Birthday Johnny. RIP Cindy & Alex as well”
• “Cindy was special”
• “Cindy Stowell. Who knows how many games you could have won.”

This video brought back meaningful memories for many Jeopardy! fans, showcasing the lasting impact of Cindy Stowell’s courageous appearance on the show.