Alex Trebek's wife shares a throwback photo and thanks fans

Alex Trebek’s wife Jean has broken her silence over her husband’s passing, days after the world learned that the beloved Canadian Jeopardy! host had lost his battle with Stage 4 pancreatic cancer. In the wake of all the support the family has received and all of the messages from fans, she took a moment to thank everyone for being there.“My family and I sincerely thank you all for your compassionate messages and generosity,” she captioned a throwback photo of herself and Alex from their wedding day. “Your expressions have truly touched our hearts. Thank you so very, very much. Many Blessings to all, Jean Trebek.”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

My family and I sincerely thank you all for your compassionate messages and generosity. Your expressions have truly touched our hearts. Thank you so very, very much. Many Blessings to all, Jean Trebek

A post shared by Jean Trebek (@jeantrebek) on Nov 11, 2020 at 1:11pm PST

Upon learning of Trebek’s death at the age of 80 on November 8, celebrities, fans, former Jeopardy contestants and everyone in between flocked to social media to share their memories and condolences. Considering the host helmed the quiz show series for more than 35 years, there are definitely a lot of memories to be shared.“I’m pretty satisfied with my life,” Trebek told People in January 2019. “But my wife Jean and I have been together almost 29 years, and I was thinking about President Bush when he died, and all the comments about his life about what a nice guy he is, and how he and his wife had been together 73 years. I thought, ‘Oh my gosh … if I’d just met Jean in my 20s we could have had a longer life together,’" he added. “I guess if I’d met her when I was in my 20s she wouldn’t have been born yet. But hey, 29 years is pretty good!”Trebek and Jean Currivan Trebek met in 1988 through a mutual friend that Currivan was doing part-time book keeping for. She was 23 years old at the time and Trebek, who had been hosting the game show for about four years at that point, was 47. They married two years later and now share two children: Matthew, a 29-year-old restaurateur, and Emily, a 27-year-old realtor. Trebek also has a 53-year-old daughter named Nicky from his first marriage to Elaine Callei. They were married from 1974 to 1981.Over the years, Trebek spoke openly about his marriage to Jean and how she took care of him following his cancer diagnosis, something he reiterated earlier this year when the couple sat down with Michael Strahan on Good Morning America. At the time, Trebek also revealed how he had wanted to say farewell to fans: with a small, 30-second goodbye on the air.“I will say my goodbyes, and I will tell people, ‘Don’t ask me who’s going to replace me, because I have no say whatsoever. But I’m sure that if you give them the same love and attention and respect that you have shown me, then they will be a success, and the show will continue being a success,’” said Trebek. “And until we meet again, God bless you and goodbye.”The day after Trebek passed away, Jeopardy producer Mike Richards revealed to the Today Show that the host spent his final day surrounded by family and sitting with his wife in their backyard. “He had a swing in his backyard that he loved. He actually rebuilt it earlier this year,” he said. “Even in his book he described that he wanted his final day to be sitting on his swing next to his wife Jean and watching the horizon and he got to do that.”At time of press there is no word on who will (or really, could) replace Trebek. While the host once joked that Betty White would be the perfect person for the gig, many insiders believe Ken Jennings, who became one of the show’s executive producers earlier this year, may fill the role—at least for now. Trebek’s final day of filming Jeopardy was on October 29. As per his wishes, the series continues to air in order until his final episode, which airs on December 25… it is, for some fans, like one last Christmas present from the beloved host.[video_embed id='2073775']Before you go: Alex Trebek honoured by ‘Jeopardy!’[/video_embed]