Former ‘Jeopardy!’ contestant, Connellsville native remembers Alex Trebek

For decades, we have welcomed him into our homes.

Now, the country is mourning the loss of “Jeopardy!” host Alex Trebek.

Connellsville native and former “Jeopardy!” champion Dr. Lindsey Shultz is mourning the loss of the game show’s popular host after he lost his very public and 20-month battle with pancreatic cancer.

“We knew something like this would be inevitable, but it turned so quickly,” Shultz said.

The Carnegie Mellon graduate said she’s thankful she had a chance to meet Trebek last year, noting how his presence off-camera was just as captivating.

“You can just feel he is a constant professional. He was very elegant, very dapper, but he also had a wicked sense of humor,” Shultz said.

Shultz began raising money for pancreatic cancer research after Trebek’s diagnosis.

Now, during Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month, she’s informing others about the early warning signs of the often-deadly disease.

“You have something called jaundice. Yellowing in your eyes or your skin. Often times, it’s a family member or friend or someone on FaceTime who will catch that before you do,” Shultz said.

And Shultz isn’t the only one providing support to those with cancer.

“The biggest thing is knowing you aren’t alone,” said Colleen Dwyer, of Our Clubhouse.

While “Jeopardy!” fans rallied around Trebek during his battle, organization Our Clubhouse is doing the same for local cancer patients and their families by providing free support, care and hope.

“We do daily chats. We have yoga classes. We are reaching out so that people aren’t feeling isolated. We know cancer is very isolating. So being here through the pandemic speaks to the organization. It’s who we are,” Dwyer said.