It wasn’t devastating news that came on Sunday that Alex Trebek had succumb to cancer. Everyone who heard the news earlier back before the pandemic that he was diagnosed with stage four pancreatic cancer knew his days were numbered. The shock is that when we all saw him in September were surprised by how he looked, not a man at death’s door but someone with a gusto for life.
He was an icon of Jeopardy for 37 years and I guess lately there were dorms and Greek houses that did Jeopardy parties, something I wasn’t familiar with when I was going to college back in the 80s. Trebek made nerdiness cool.
I didn’t start watching that program until I was in my forties and moved back with my parents. I answered about half the questions, or responded to the answers with, in the form of a question. Most were well over my head because I never much had an interest in 13 th century Flemish art or what stellar constellations were in the Milky Way.
Now that Alex is gone, and the last program that he hosted will air after December 25, I have to wonder what happens next? Will there even be a Jeopardy? If there is, who will be its host or hostess? If I had to choose, if I had the power to call the one person would accept such an honor, I’d ask Ken Jennings. I guess there are others out there such as LeVar Burton, though this is the first time I’ve heard that.
Rest in Peace, Alex, we’ll miss you.
Jerry Schellhammer 