'Jeopardy!' contestant dies week before episodes air

"Jeopardy!" host Alex Trebek with contestant Cindy Stowell. Photo: Courtesy Jeopardy Productions, Inc.

A woman who died of cancer just days before her appearance on "Jeopardy!" aired won six contests in a row and more than $103,000, some of which she donated to cancer research.

Cindy Stowell, died of cancer at the age of 41.  Stowell, a science-content developer from Austin, Texas, taped episodes of the quiz show back in August.  They started airing on Dec. 13. It marked the first posthumous airing of a contestant’s appearance.

“When Cindy Stowell taped her appearance on ‘Jeopardy!,’ she had Stage IV cancer. Competing on ‘Jeopardy!’ was a lifelong dream for Cindy, and we’re glad she was able to do so,” said host Alex Trebek. “Sadly, Cindy died on Dec. 5. All of us at ‘Jeopardy!’ offer our condolences and best wishes to her family and friends.”

Her death was first announced on Twitter by her longtime boyfriend Jason Hess, who posted that “She was fighting a high-grade fever (which turned out to be a blood infection) and was on painkillers while taping.” Stowell competed with the goal of donating her prize winnings to cancer-related organizations.

Stowell's run ended when she finished second in her seventh appearance that aired Wednesday.

"Jeopardy!" says Stowell was sent advance copies of her first three episodes and watched them in the hospital. The show says it also expedited Stowell her prize money. The Cancer Research Institute says Stowell donated some of the winnings to the nonprofit.

Stowell says in a video shared by "Jeopardy!" the show was a good opportunity to help others.

With the Associated Press