In 2016, Alex Trebek visited Washington D.C. so I took the opportunity to ask him a question about a story my father had maintained was true for decades - namely, that Alex had lived in his aunt’s basement while he was a student at the University of Ottawa. Everyone involved in that story had died so he had no one who could back him up. Well, it turns out there was one person...
(I apologize in advance for my goofy voice mucking up the works, I was starstruck and nervous)
**march 10/2021 -well, that blew up, didn’t it? 😀 Thank you to everyone who left a nice comment, this has been really heartwarming to see. Thanks to u/sentient545 on Reddit, I have a transcript which should help with the poor sound quality. I made the video for my dad and posted it not thinking many would see it so I apologize for it not being quite ready for prime time**
Alex: Yes?
Woman: I was actually hoping you could settle a bit of familial lore.
Alex: Sure.
Woman: My father said that you lived in the basement of his aunt's house in Ottawa when you were quite young. He has contended this for 20 years, and now today when I confronted him on it he said, 'Well, I'm pretty sure I didn't make it up.' So her name was Mary Klaman, she lived on Sherway Drive, and she said that you lived in her basement when you were a young student.
Alex: And I dated her daughter Norma Clayman.
Woman: I owe my dad a beer! Thank you.
Alex: It was a lovely Jewish family, and, uh, Norma was a beautiful young lady. We were dating and we were serious for quite a while. I was--
Woman: You could've been my uncle? This is so exciting.
Alex: And her older sister Shirely--
Woman: She's a lovely woman, yes.
Alex: Lovely woman; works for the government. Works on parliament hill.
Woman: She absolutely did. I have been to her house for Rosh Hashanah.
Alex: And, uh, Norma's father, uh, Izzy had...he said stomach problems, and as a result his wife, Zadie Clayman, would make the same dinner for him--
Alex & Woman: Every night-boiled chicken.
Woman: We have like seven stories in my house.
Alex: Darling, welcome home!
Woman: boychik!
Alex: Isn't that amazing?
Woman: Thank you.
Alex: When you first mentioned the basement I said wait a minute, no... And then as soon as you said Klaman- snap. And Norma moved to the United States, moved to Hartford and Stamford [someone coughs over him] Connecticut. And I visited her there, and she got married, and passed away at a young age, unfortunately.
Woman: Yeah. Well, alright then, thank you very much. I appreciate that. Confirmed.
Alex: You can call your dad and say, 'You were right--'
Woman: 'You got it right on.'
Alex: --'and Alex attests to it.'
Woman: Ah thank you.
Alex: Tell him he's a good fact checker.
Woman: Well done, he'll be happy.
Alex: When in doubt, go to the source, right?
Woman: Well he's like, 'I have no one else to ask.' And I'm like, 'I think I know someone who might know.'
Alex: [to the audience] If you guys are related to me, I'd like to know. It's really embarrassing when you're wandering into new cities and somebody comes up and says, 'You dated my mother', and 'Where were you on...October 19th, 19---Well, I won't [indecipherable].' Anybody else?