The distinguished “Jeopardy!” champion and author, Bruce Seymour, died on September 18, 2024 at 77 years old. Seymour, a resident of San Francisco, California, had been battling a COVID-19 infection for seven weeks despite being in good health and having received all vaccinations.
Seymour’s successful run on “Jeopardy!” started in 1987 when he won four straight games. He returned the following year for the Tournament of Champions, and in 1990 he clinched the grand prize of $250,000 in the “Super Jeopardy!” tournament, setting a record for the largest sum won by any contestant at the time with a total of $305,989.
Born and bred in Indianapolis, Indiana, Seymour finished his high school education in 1964 at Shortridge High School. He later attended Lawrence University in Wisconsin, where he served as the editor-in-chief of the college newspaper and the assistant general manager of the campus radio station.
After graduating in 1968 with a degree in political science, Seymour became a supply officer in the U.S. Air Force during the Vietnam War. In 1972, he received an early discharge towards the end of the war and embarked on a journey around the world before returning to the U.S. in 1973.
Upon his return, Seymour enrolled at the University of California College of the Law in San Francisco and was admitted to the California Bar in 1977 after graduation. He briefly practiced law with his brother before embarking on a trip across the U.S. to visit all the presidential graves and libraries.
After using his “Jeopardy!” winnings to explore his interest in the 19th-century stage performer Lola Montez, Seymour wrote a detailed biography titled “Lola Montez: A Life,” which was published in 1996. He also wrote articles on travel and opera for numerous publications.
In 2007, Seymour joined the Peace Corps and served in Ukraine until he was medically discharged due to cataracts. He then worked for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services until his retirement in 2016.
Seymour leaves behind a brother, sister, several extended family members, and friends across the globe who admired his remarkable life and achievements.
