Dr. Courtney Shah, a seven-time “Jeopardy!” champion and history professor who taught in Washington state for nearly two decades, has died at 52. Shah passed away July 22 at her home following a battle with brain cancer, according to her daughter’s announcement on CaringBridge.
“My mom died today, at 4:57 a.m. on July 22, 2026, in the comfort of her home,” her daughter Maya Shah wrote. Shah had been receiving hospice care at home in her final months, her family said.
Maya Shah said she believed her mother was at peace and thanked those who had supported the family, urging readers to hug their loved ones.
A Diagnosis Early in the Year
In mid-January, Shah developed numbness and weakness on the left side of her face, according to Maya Shah’s CaringBridge posts. The family publicly disclosed in February that Shah had been diagnosed with a brain tumor.
By March, Shah learned her radiation and chemotherapy were ineffective, her family said. Maya Shah called her mother’s decision to end treatment and begin hospice care brave and clear-eyed, noting the family supported her choice.
After treatments stopped, Shah appeared more peaceful and content, her daughter wrote, finding comfort in family time, basketball, Duke University, and shouting out “Jeopardy!” answers before anyone else in the room.
Shah posted periodic health updates on social media, including a photo with “Jeopardy!” host Ken Jennings during an appearance on the show. In February, she posted a selfie to Instagram after cutting her hair, noting she still had limited mobility on her left side but felt positive and well loved. She closed with an urge to tell someone you love them.
Seven Straight Wins in 2021
Shah became known to trivia enthusiasts through her “Jeopardy!” run in 2021, when she won seven consecutive games and amassed $118,558, according to the fan-run database J! Archive. She added $2,000 for her second-place finish in her eighth game, when her streak came to an end.
Her success earned her a return to the show the following year for the 2022 Tournament of Champions. There, she placed third in her quarterfinal match, taking home $5,000, according to the show.
Even in the middle of her winning streak, Shah seemed to marvel at the ride. After her fifth game, she reflected on how far she had come in a behind-the-scenes video, saying she never imagined she would get there and wasn’t quite sure it was real yet.
A Teacher Who Made History Come Alive
Long before the studio lights, Courtney Shah built her life around teaching. She was a history professor at Lower Columbia College in Longview, Wash., where she taught U.S. and World History for nearly 20 years.
The college remembered her as a figure whose reach extended well beyond the lecture hall. A spokesperson told the New York Post that Shah brought history to life in her classroom in ways that were deeply relevant and engaging for students, uplifting the broader community and leaving a legacy that would continue to inspire.
Word of her death was confirmed by the college through local radio station KLOG, which first reported that Shah had died at home following her illness.
A celebration of Shah’s life is scheduled for August 10, running from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Rose Center for the Arts on the college’s campus.
In closing her tribute, Maya Shah invited her mother’s admirers to honor her in whatever way felt meaningful — telling stories, lighting a candle, saying a prayer or pouring out a drink. The CaringBridge page where the family had chronicled Shah’s journey has since been made private. What endures, in the words of a grieving daughter, is a family’s determination to keep loving a woman they lost too soon.