Jeopardy! champion Courtney Shah dies at 52 from brain cancer

Dr. Courtney Shah, a seven-time "Jeopardy!" champion and longtime history professor, died at her home on July 22, 2026, following a months-long battle with brain cancer. She was 52. Her daughter, Maya Shah, announced the death in an online tribute, writing that her mother passed away peacefully at 4:57 a.m.

Shah was diagnosed with a brain tumor in early 2026 after experiencing numbness and weakness on her left side. She underwent radiation and chemotherapy, but by mid-March, her family shared that the treatments were not working. Facing that reality, Shah made what her family described as a brave and clear-eyed decision to stop treatment and transition to hospice care at home.

In the final months of her life, Shah received what hospice workers termed "comfort care," focused on quality of life and symptom management rather than curative treatment. A nurse visited weekly to monitor her condition and adjust her care plan. During this period, Shah remained active with her family, attending a movie screening, visiting Portland's waterfront to see cherry blossoms, watching a March Madness basketball game, and touring an art museum. Family members noted that even while ill, she...