Gig Harbor Teacher Competes On Jeopardy! Against Dying Woman

GIG HARBOR, WA - A Peninsula High School teacher competed on Jeopardy! Monday against a woman who died of colon cancer before her episodes aired.

Cindy Stowell died Dec. 5, but her and Gig Harbor resident Jonathan Bill's episode was taped back in August. Although Bill lost, he told the Tacoma News-Tribune that he was OK with it. He was unaware of Stowell's illness during the taping.

"There is nobody I would rather have lost to," he told the newspaper.

Stowell, 41, was a science writer from Austin, Texas. She first auditioned for Jeopardy! in August, but was worried she wouldn't live long enough to compete. The show's producers were able to schedule her appearance shortly after her audition.

Stowell has asked that her winnings go toward cancer research. As of Monday, she had won $80,002.

Image courtesy Jeopardy!