Alex Trebek's Wife Says There Are Still 'Moments' Of Her Day When She Misses Him 'So Much'

Apr 03, 2022 by apost team

Cherished game show host Alex Trebek, who made his way into America's heart with his nightly appearances hosting "Jeopardy!" for over 35 years, passed away Nov. 8, 2020, at age 80. He had been battling stage IV pancreatic cancer since 2019. 

For his work on "Jeopardy!" Trebek was awarded the Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Game Show Host eight times over the years. The famous TV personality also hosted other game shows during his long career, including "The Wizard of Odds," "Double Dare," "Classic Concentration," and "To Tell the Truth." 

In response to the tragic news announced by "Jeopardy's" Twitter account, many have taken to social media to pay tribute to the TV legend – including Canada's prime minister, Justin Trudeau, and previous winner Ken Jennings. 

In his personal life, Trebek was married to Jean Currivan from 1990 until his passing. After suffering the loss of her husband, Currivan opened up about her experience coping with grief. In her opinion, fully experiencing the feelings that are brought on by transitions is better than denying them and feeling more pain later. Exercising, doing something nice for somebody, and sleeping well are also on her list. She recommends a calming bath and reaching out to a friend in tough times as well.

Currivan also shared how she was coping a year after losing her husband. She is grateful for the time they spent together and that she did not realize his level of celebrity until his diagnosis, as this kept them on equal footing. Keep reading to see tributes to Trebek and to learn how his wife is doing since his death.

Trebek will always be remembered for his contribution to Hollywood as the host of "Jeopardy!" The series broke the news about Trebek's passing on social media. "' Jeopardy!' is saddened to share that Alex Trebek passed away peacefully at home early this morning, surrounded by family and friends," the show tweeted in November 2020. "Thank you, Alex."

Although Trebek had been very open and honest about his diagnosis, even speaking openly about his mortality, his death still came as a shock to many. 

Shortly after "Jeopardy!" made the announcement, Justin Trudeau, Canada's prime minister, took to Twitter to say the world had "lost an icon."

"We have lost an icon," Trudeau wrote in his tweet. "Almost every night for more than three decades, Alex Trebek entertained and educated millions around the world, instilling in so many of us a love for trivia. My deepest condolences to his family, friends, and all who are mourning this tremendous loss."  

Ken Jennings posted a sweet photo of himself with Trebek on Twitter, along with a sweet tribute. 

"Alex wasn't just the best ever at what he did. He was also a lovely and deeply decent man, and I'm grateful for every minute I got to spend with him," Jenning wrote. "Thinking today about his family and his Jeopardy! family—which, in a way, included millions of us."

Jenning is best known for his title as the contestant to have made the highest winnings on the show during a regular season, as well as to have won the most consecutive games. He appeared as a contestant in "Jeopardy! The Greatest of All Time" tournament as well. Jennings won the tournament, making him the best player the show had ever seen. 

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Trebek's wife, Currivan, also spoke out about what her husband meant to her. She shared, "Like most long-term relationships, we had our ups and downs, but the truth of it was that we were very close and experienced a lot of life together. (It was) important to Alex to keep his personal life separate from his professional life."

After announcing his diagnosis, Trebek started to receive well wishes and tributes from all over the world. This was an eye-opening experience for Currivan. "For the most part, Alex and I enjoyed staying at home. When we did go out, it was perhaps for a quick dinner or movie every now and then, so it wasn't like we were always out in public for me to really notice his popularity," she said. 

Currivan continued, "In looking back, the fact that I did not identify Alex as an 'icon' was a gift. We were equal partners in a marriage, and we had our own personal growth issues to deal with just like any ordinary couple. It would have been really weird for both Alex and myself if I thought of him as some celebrity. He could just be himself at home, and that was it."

She also opened up about how she has been coping since Trebek's passing. Currivan said: "There are moments of my day that I miss Alex so much, and I just have to allow myself those times. Sometimes I feel as if he's been on a long vacation, and then there are other times that the reality of the absence of his presence is really palatable. I find that being with my family and friends or doing something creative and new is really helpful."

Did you love Alex Trebek and his show? Who do you want to see host "Jeopardy!" next? Let us know and feel free to send this along to your friends and family.