While not from New York City and not even from the U.S. (he’s Canadian), Jeopardy! host Alex Trebek has a connection to Fordham University and to Catholic education.
Trebek spoke to the Fordham community late last year and his son, Matthew, currently attends the school.
According to the winter 2012 issue of Fordham, the university’s alumni magazine, the question and answer man was educated in primary school by Jesuits and Gray Nuns. Trebek also attended the University of Ottawa Prep, where he was taught by Oblates of Mary Immaculate. His daughter, Emily, also has followed in the tradition of Catholic education, and she currently attends Loyola Marymount in Los Angeles.
Trebeck said he was forced to suspend his studies during his junior year at the University of Ottawa. He was unable to pay his “whopping $500 a year” tuition. He eventually obtained his degree in philosophy and recently celebrated his 50th anniversary in broadcasting.
“There is as line that I heard not too long ago,” said Trebek, “that goes, ‘Find something you’re good at, and if you really like doing it, you will never have to work a day in your life. That’s the way it’s been for me and broadcasting.”
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