WINNER.

If you're a regular viewer of Jeopardy, you will appreciate that as much as you like to test your knowledge against the contestants, you also get to like or hate those contestants. Some winners are arrogant and obnoxious. Fans will remember several multi-game winners, all male, who they particularly disliked. Other winners are very likeable and it is a pleasure see them increase their winnings. Such a winner was Cindy Stowell, who recently won six games and became the most inspiring contestant in the show's 33-year history. Because what viewers did not now was that when Cindy recorded her shows in August and September she had Stage 4 colon cancer. She was competing while on painkillers and often fighting a fever but never looked anything less than calm and controlled. Sadly Cindy never got to see her appearances as they were broadcast. She died on December 5 just over a week before her episodes were aired. She was 41. Before dying she pledged to donate her more than $100,000 in winnings to the Cancer Research Institute.  Tragic as this story is, Cindy's courage has been one of the few bright lights in these dark, dark days.