SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) – Early Sunday morning, it was announced that legendary “Jeopardy” Host Alex Trebek had passed at the age of 80 from pancreatic cancer. Almost immediately, tributes began pouring in from across the globe for the iconic game show host. Just a few of the many lives he and the show impacted were local contestants on the show, who remember him as a kind, graceful man who was the same on-camera as he was off-camera.
The most recent Jeopardy contestant from the central New York area was SUNY Upstate Professor Rachel Fabi. Fabi competed on the show in February 2019, just a few weeks before Trebek revealed his cancer diagnosis.
Fabi said Trebek could always make people feel welcome.
“There is no one who can match his sincerity, generosity of spirit, or wry sense of humor,” Fabi said. “Meeting him was one of the greatest moments of my life, because I was able to see first-hand those qualities that made him a legend.”
Those qualities were seen on television multiple times a week for the past 37 years, in which Trebek and the show connected with millions of Americans and many others around the world.
Justin Vossler was a contestant in 2017, competing on six episodes and winning five. As was the case for millions of families who connected with the show, Vossler began connecting with the show as a kid thanks to his grandmother.
“It was always a thing where I wanted to get a question right that my grandmother didn’t know,” Vossler said. “And I didn’t really have much of a chance until they had a question about pro basketball, and that was the only one I ever got on her.”
Vossler added that just being on the show and meeting Trebek, let alone winning multiple games, was surreal.
“Here’s this person that you know, and you have a reasonable recognition of because he’s been on forever,” Vossler said. “He’s been on my entire life, and so then to interact with him on that level, that was pretty cool.”
Ashley O’Mara competed on one episode that aired in March 2018, and it was clear to her how kind and genuine Trebek was as a person.
“The first time I talked to him was him coming up to the podium and asking about Yo-Yo Ma as if we were the best of friends,” O’Mara said.
O’Mara also saw Trebek’s passion for the show and for knowledge in general.
“He could’ve retired long ago, but this is what he does,” O’Mara said. “This is who he is as a person. … He is jeopardy.”
Rachel Niegelberg competed in the 2018 Teacher’s Tournament, and she saw Trebek’s tremendous character in how he hosted the show.
“He was so lovely,” Niegelberg said. “He always referred to himself as the host of the show instead of the star of the show on purpose, and he really worked hard to highlight the contestants and make you feel comfortable.”
Niegelberg added that Trebek’s character is his legacy.
“He was incredibly kind,” Niegelberg said. “He was good through and through. He did a lot of great things outside of the show as well. What you would think he would be is exactly what he was, and his legacy is well-earned.”
Episodes of “Jeopardy” featuring Alex Trebek taped prior to his passing will continue airing through Dec. 25.
