Dr. Courtney Shah, the history professor who won seven consecutive Jeopardy! games in 2021, has died following a brain cancer diagnosis. She was 52.
Shah died at home on July 22 while receiving hospice care, according to a tribute shared by her daughter, Maya, through CaringBridge.
Her winning streak earned her $118,558 and a place in the 2022 Tournament of Champions. Away from television, Shah spent nearly two decades teaching history at Lower Columbia College in Longview, Washington.
A memorial celebrating her life is scheduled for August 10 at the college’s Rose Center for the Arts.
Her Daughter Said She Died at Home
Maya announced that Shah died at 4:57 a.m. “in the comfort of her home,” according to People. “We loved her in this world, and we loved her out of this world, and we’ll go on loving her,” she wrote.
Maya thanked those who had followed her mother’s illness and supported the family. She encouraged people to remember Shah by telling stories, lighting a candle, saying a prayer or choosing another tribute that felt personally meaningful.
She also acknowledged that the family’s grief would continue and urged readers to spend time with the people they love.
Shah Entered Hospice After Treatment Was Unsuccessful
Shah’s brain tumor was discovered after she began experiencing numbness and weakness on the left side of her face. Maya publicly disclosed the diagnosis in February.
The following month, she reported that her mother was not responding to chemotherapy and radiation as the family had hoped. Shah then made what her daughter described as a clear decision to stop treatment and receive hospice care at home.
Despite her declining health, Shah continued watching basketball, supporting Duke and answering Jeopardy! clues ahead of other people in the room. The family did not publicly disclose a more specific type of brain cancer.
Her Seven-Game Streak Ended an 88-Game Drought
Shah appeared during Season 37 of Jeopardy! and won seven games in a row. The show’s official Tournament of Champions profile credited her with ending an 88-game stretch without a contestant reaching five consecutive victories.
She earned $118,558 during the winning streak and received another $2,000 after finishing second in her eighth game. After her fifth victory, Shah said she had never expected to reach the show, much less become a returning champion. She described her first appearance as driven by adrenaline before gradually becoming more comfortable at the lectern.
Her performance secured a place in the 2022 Tournament of Champions. Shah faced John Focht and Second Chance winner Rowan Ward in the quarterfinals, finishing third and receiving the $5,000 quarterfinalist prize. Her official contestant profile also noted that she spent some of her free time crocheting characters from Star Wars.
She Taught History for Nearly Two Decades
Shah joined Lower Columbia College in 2007 and taught U.S. and world history there for nearly 20 years. According to KLOG’s report on the college’s tribute, she was also a published author, coordinated the school’s Community Conversations program and delivered a keynote address during Lower Columbia College’s 90th-anniversary celebration.
Her memorial service will take place from 1 to 3:30 p.m. on August 10 at the Rose Center for the Arts on the Lower Columbia College campus.