Date of first appearance:
My original appearance on Jeopardy! was early 1990. My winnings were $52,800. I appeared that year on the Tournament of Champions where I lost in the first round (sob).
I had a lot of fun with my whole Jeopardy! experience, and hoped there would someday be a way I could play again, and now there is...
How did being on Jeopardy! affect your life?
Being on Jeopardy! certainly had an effect on my life. It was a unique experience, which was exciting to me and my family and friends. I'm a physician, and my co-workers and patients were all very excited and talked about it for years! In fact, when I'm introduced to someone, people frequently say “She was on Jeopardy!” up to 15 years later. I was also recognized “on the street” several times and, again, years after my original appearance.
Did you do anything crazy with your winnings?
With my winnings, I did some home improvements, paid off student loans, and best of all, took a great trip to Spain with my husband and mother. My mother grew up in Spain so it was very special to go back with her and see family and her hometown.
Do you have a favorite anecdote associated with being on the show?
I continue to work as a physician at the same place as in 1990. I am married to the same person. However, the best and biggest change was having my son in 1993. He is now 11. When he sees my old Jeopardy! tape, he says “You look better now than back then.” Smart!
One of the contestants I played against was a newspaper reporter, who wrote about her Jeopardy! experience. I wasn't aware of this, until my mother saw the article in her local paper a few months later and sent it to me. It was fun to relive the experience and get another player's perspective. |
"A winner of 5 shows in 1990, she used her Jeopardy! winnings on a trip to her mother's hometown in Spain. She's now a physician. From Glendale, California..."
2005 Ultimate Tournament of Champions Round 1 player: $5,000.
1990 Tournament of Champions quarterfinalist: $1,000.
Season 6 5-time champion: $52,800. |
