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Cindy Stowell died of cancer on Dec. 5, but viewers have been captivated by watching her on "Jeopardy!" in episodes that began airing Dec. 13. Stowell's winning streak ended with Wednesday's show, as host Alex Trebek paid tribute to her.

(Jeopardy Productions, Inc.)

The moving story of Cindy Stowell and her "Jeopardy!" journey has touched and inspired many people in the days leading up to Christmas. For six episodes in a row, the 41-year-old science content developer from Austin, Texas was a winner.

What made Stowell's achievement extraordinary was that when Stowell taped her episodes, she was suffering from Stage IV colon cancer. She knew she didn't have long to live, but it had been a lifelong dream to compete on "Jeopardy!"

Stowell died on Dec. 5, not long before the pre-taped episodes in which she appeared began airing, on Dec. 13.

Viewers of Wednesday's show saw Stowell's "Jeopardy!" winning streak finally come to an end. It all came down to a Final Jeopardy question: "It's the closest nation to the mainland U.S. where cars customarily drive on the left."

Stowell wrote down the correct answer, the Bahamas. But she finished second in total money wagered and won to another contestant, Sam Scovill, of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

The game ended in the usual way, as host Alex Trebek congratulated the new winner. Then, in a video tribute that followed, Trebek told viewers that while she was winning game after game, Stowell was suffering from cancer, and on Dec. 5. Stowell passed away.

"So from all of us here at 'Jeopardy!,'" Trebek said, "our sincere condolences to her family and her friends."

In her victorious run on "Jeopardy!" Stowell won a total of $105,803, winnings she wanted donated to the Cancer Research Institute.

In an interview with the New York Times, Stowell's boyfriend, Jason Hess, said that Stowell "really saw it as a personal challenge to test herself in this forum that she watched and loved."

He added that Stowell said "going in that her main objective was not to embarrass herself. Clearly, she achieved that."

After Stowell had passed on online test for "Jeopardy!" hopefuls, she was invited to come to Oklahoma City for an in-person audition. As the "Jeopardy!" website says, Stowell wrote to a producer about the short amount of time she had left:

"Do you have any idea how long it typically takes between an in person interview, and the taping date? I ask because 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 try out spot to someone else."

Producers agreed to have Stowell come to her audition. She passed, and then she was able to tape her episodes within a matter of weeks, on Aug. 31. Only Trebek and a few other staffers knew about Stowell's illness.

The New York Times has more details about the obstacles Stowell was facing. From Daniel Victor's report:

"The show records five episodes a day during set filming dates, and she competed in her first four episodes on Aug. 31 under considerable physical and mental impairments. She was nauseated that morning, her fever broke in the middle of an episode, and she was in so much abdominal pain that she took painkillers, Mr. Hess said.

The drugs delayed her reaction time -- which happens to be among the most important motor skills for contestants on 'Jeopardy!' She needed help getting up and down the stairs to the set."

In addition, Stowell had to be hospitalized for a blood infection after filming the first four episodes. She spent a week in the hospital, and taping resumed on Sept. 13.

"This was a very pleasant surprise at a time when a lot of things weren't going right for her," Hess told the New York Times. "She threw everything she could into it, and you can see the results."

Though Stowell died before her "Jeopardy!" episodes aired on TV, the "Jeopardy!" website says she was able to see some of her appearances, thanks to a special preview:

"When Cindy was in the hospital, Jeopardy! sent her advance copies of her first three episodes, so she and her family were able to watch her realize a lifelong dream of competing on the show. Jeopardy! also expedited Cindy's prize money, and she received and acknowledged it before she passed."

"Jeopardy!" executive producer Harry Friedman is quoted, saying, "Cindy came on the show with a mission. We gave her the opportunity to fulfill that mission and she made the most of it."

-- Kristi Turnquist



kturnquist@oregonian.com

503-221-8227

@Kristiturnquist