It’s so rare that a celebrity death is felt around the world as deeply and as strongly as the world felt the passing of longtime Jeopardy! host Alex Trebek, who passed away at the age of 80 after a fight with pancreatic cancer.
Alex truly felt like a member of all of our families, since so many of us had grown up watching him on our TV every night, and it’s reassuring to know that his last day was spent the way he always wanted.
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Alex had been the host of *Jeopardy!* for 37 years.
As the times changed, Alex’s warm and gentle presence on the show every night was a constant in all of our lives (even if the facial hair he chose to sport changed as well).
That’s why the announcement of his passing on November 8 was so hard for so many of us to learn.
Fittingly, the news was broken by the *Jeopardy!* team.
“Jeopardy! is saddened to share that Alex Trebek passed away peacefully at home early this morning, surrounded by family and friends. Thank you, Alex,” shared the official Jeopardy! Instagram page.
A longer obituary was shared on the Jeopardy! website .
“Alex was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in March 2019, and he continued to host Jeopardy! for the next 18 months,” the page read.
“This is an enormous loss for the Jeopardy! staff, crew and all of Alex’s millions of fans. He was a legend of the industry that we were all lucky to watch night after night for 37 years. Working beside him for the past year and a half as he heroically continued to host Jeopardy! was an incredible honor,” the show’s executive producer, Mike Richards, was quoted as saying.
In a new interview, Mike Richards gave an even more emotional update.
On the Today show, Richards was asked how Alex spent his final day.
In an emotional response, Richard detailed that Alex got to spend his last day exactly the way he had always wanted to, which is really all we can ask from life when it’s our time to go.
Richards explained that Alex’s last day involved a swing he had rebuilt.
“He had a swing in his backyard that he loved, he actually rebuilt it earlier this year, he was very handy, I don’t know if people know that,” Richards said when asked how Alex’s last day went.
I didn’t know that, but it makes perfect sense to me — Alex definitely seemed like someone who was competent in pretty much all areas.
Richards referenced Alex’s book, *The Answer Is…* and what he had described as his ideal last day in it.
“Even in his book he described […] that he wanted his final day to be sitting on his swing, next to his wife Jean, and kind of watching the horizon,” Richards explained.
That sounds perfect to me, too.
“And he got to do that,” Richards said.
“He was coherent, he wasn’t in pain, and the fact that he had a nice final day makes all of us in the Jeopardy! family feel much better,” Richard finished.
I’m definitely choked up just reading that. It really does sound like a perfect day for Alex.
It’s so touching that Alex got to spend his last day the way he wanted to.
For many of us, Alex was like a family member, and all we can hope for our family members is that they get to experience the best life has to offer before they leave us.
You can watch the video for yourself right here.
It’s clear that Alex’s love for his wife, Jean, was incredibly strong.
We’re so glad they were able to spend his last day together happily.
Jean broke her silence on Alex’s passing on November 12, sharing on Instagram a picture from the couple’s wedding day.
She also included an emotional message.
“My family and I sincerely thank you all for your compassionate messages and generosity. Your expressions have truly touched our hearts,” Jean shared alongside the photograph that showed the moment Alex placed the wedding ring on Jean’s finger.
Alex and Jean were married for 30 years.
The couple also share two children, Emily, 27, and Matthew, 30.
We’re sure that even through this devastating and difficult time, the fact that Alex got to live out his final day in peace and happiness with those he loved must be a comfort to his family.
Our thoughts are with Alex’s wife, children, family, and friends at this tragic time.
Alex lived an incredibly full life and brought so much happiness, education, and warmth to all of ours, all over the world. Let us know how he affected your life in the comments below!
Rest in peace.
