The creator of Long Beach’s long-running “Jeopardy!” Tournament of Champions died Friday after a long battle with pancreatic cancer, just hours before the academic competition wrapped up its 25th year.
Jim Birge, 78, was remembered throughout Saturday’s championship event as students, organizers and former contestants celebrated the legacy of the man behind the popular middle-school competition.
The annual tournament, modeled after the hit television game show, has challenged thousands of students over the past 25 years with rapid-fire trivia questions. This year’s event brought together three finalists for a final showdown.
Jordan McGuffie, who became the tournament’s first middle-school champion in 2002, returned from Georgia for the milestone competition.
“I definitely wanted to make sure I made it back for this one. I knew it was the 25th and it was the potential to be the last one,” McGuffie told ABC7.
McGuffie said the trip was also about honoring Birge, whom he credited with building and sustaining the competition.
“Jim has always been a vibrant character,” he said. “He wants everybody to learn. He finds fun ways to learn.”
Birge, described as the driving force behind the marathon quiz tournament, had announced this season would be his last as he battled pancreatic cancer. Despite his illness, he remained determined to see the program through.
“To get to June, our Tournament of Champions, there’s absolutely no way this would’ve happen if it wasn’t for my crew and my family,” Birge said while holding back tears during an earlier interview.
Organizers announced his death during Saturday’s event and reflected on his impact on generations of students.
“To the hundreds and hundreds of students who have been able to play and feel good about learning and honor the legacy of Jim and the continued success of the greatest school show ever made, ‘Jeopardy!’” a speaker said.
Birge’s widow, Donna Bergeron, explained the tournament grew out of his passion for learning and creativity.
“We would laugh at stuff and come up with silly stuff, and ideas in the middle of the night,” she said. “It was all his idea. I had no idea it was going to last this long.”
As contestants competed in the tournament’s final round, many acknowledged that Birge’s influence was everywhere.
“His energy is still in the building, his spirit is still here, all of his loved ones are here, and we want to make sure that we’re still carrying on his legacy,” McGuffie said.
Birge died Friday, just hours before the competition he created crowned its latest champion.