‘Jeopardy’ Champion Cindy Stowell Dies Before Her Episodes Air On TV

Cindy Stowell won three Jeopardy episodes in a row, since she appeared on the contest during Tuesday’s airing. However, Stowell will never be able to watch her performances, because she died one week before her episodes began showing.

‘Jeopardy’ Champion Cindy Stowell Dies Before Seeing Herself On TV

Stowell reportedly passed away on Dec. 5 at the age of 41 — she was a science content developer from Austin, Texas, who recorded her Jeopardy episodes back in August.

Stowell had Stage 4 colon cancer, a fact known by only a few of the show’s staff members and host Alex Trebek.

Jason Hess, Stowell’s boyfriend, as well as her relatives Greg Stowell and Carole Stowell said in a statement, “Cindy came on ‘Jeopardy!’ to play the game she loved, and in doing so, she was able to make a contribution to cancer research in the hopes that no one else would have to go through what she did.”

Stowell’s total earnings so far is $39,600 — the money will go to the Cancer Research Institute.

“She knew she wasn’t going to be around, and so she felt like the best thing she could do was try to help do what she could to help get us to a cure faster,” Hess told Texas station KXAN.

Hess also revealed that Stowell competed while on painkillers, as she fought a blood infection.

“Competing on ‘Jeopardy!’ was a lifelong dream for Cindy, and we’re glad she was able to do so,” Trebek said in a statement.