Long time show host Alex Trebek died in early November 2020.  He had announced his stage 4 pancreatic cancer diagnosis in the Spring of 2019 with the intention that he was going to beat this horrible condition and survive.  He continued his responsibilities with the show while receiving all the available treatment protocols and suffering terrible pain, discomfort and depression.

We, the viewers, never knew this.  We never saw him grimace or complain over the duration of his treatment.  Mr. Trebek believed in the power of positivity, prayer and hope.  He believed that he was a part of “the Great Soul-what some call God.”  His beliefs may differ from ours in strict definition, but his life has lessons for our benefit.

For years, publishers had asked him to write a book.  With characteristic humility, he had refused noting that he did not have anything of value to write about.  As his cancer progressed, he changed his mind and decided to write about his life and his career.  The book, The Answer is… (Simon and Schuster, 2020), is an easy-to-read tale of his interesting life in the world of entertainment.  Santa brought a copy for me this Christmas.

I have always been impressed by Mr. Trebek’s dignity and grace on Jeopardy!  Even though he was the central figure of the show for 36 years, he insisted that he be introduced as the host, not the star, of Jeopardy!  He maintained that the contestants were the stars.

In the chapter, “Toughness”, Mr. Trebek talks about how as his cancer progressed, his definition of being tough changed.   He writes, “I used to think that not crying meant you were tough.  Now I think that crying means you are tough.  It means that you are strong enough to be honest and vulnerable.” (Pg.259-emphasis added) It means that you can let others know you in an intimate way and demonstrate to them that they are not alone in their suffering or trials.

Letting others see our weaknesses takes courage.  God knows our faults and loves us unconditionally even with this knowledge.  That’s not always true for human beings.  When others have this information, it can put us in a place of fear and uncertainty.  However, it can also be a conduit to create new bonds of love and trust with our fellow travelers. 

Alex Trebek wanted to be remembered as “…a good and loving husband and father…” “a decent man…” “a good guy”.  And he will be.  Go in peace and love, Alex!

Terri