Pittsburgh surgeon plans to use Jeopardy! winnings to honor late brother

PITTSBURGH — A Pittsburgh oral and facial surgeon was the big winner on Jeopardy! on Tuesday night and competed again on Wednesday.

Channel 11′s Jennifer Tomazic spoke with winner Chris Ban about the special thing he’s doing with his winnings from the show.

He plans to use his winnings to honor his late brother by donating them to have the rowhouse at North Allegheny High School renamed in his honor.

“I wanted to give money to this on my own, and then I said ‘I might come into something here if I get lucky on the show,’” Ban told 11 News.

The brothers were on the North Allegheny rowing team together in high school.

Five years ago, his brother, Michael, was diagnosed with brain cancer. For inspiration during chemo, Chris would send Michael pictures from their favorite book growing up, The Jungle Book. Sadly, Michael passed away last year.

“I miss him a lot but he’s around in his own way, helping out,” Ban said.

Tuesday night on Jeopardy!, the competition was tight. It came down to Final Jeopardy!, and the question was related to The Jungle Book.

“So he showed up at the end with that final Jeopardy because the answer was The Jungle Book,” Ban said. “It might be beautifully poetic, it might be supernatural, I don’t know, but to me... I’ll never forget that.”

Ban is making sure his brother’s memory isn’t forgotten and says other contestants, even ones that he beat, have reached out, wanting to donate to his brother’s cause.

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