A retired Connecticut firefighter who served as a first responder on 9/11 has won a $500,000 CT Lottery prize. Patrick Gordiski played CT Lottery’s “$500,000 CA$HWORD” game and won the top prize, a CT Lottery spokesperson said Monday.
Byram Smoke Shop on Mill Street in Greenwich sold the winning ticket and will receive a $5,000 bonus. Gordiski plays CT Lottery regularly and recently retired after serving the Greenwich Fire Department for 50 years, the spokesperson said. He assisted as a first responder during 9/11, spending days in New York City in the response at Ground Zero. His son is also a firefighter with the Greenwich Fire Department.
Gordiski and his wife were planning a “much-needed vacation” when they decided to scratch off some CT Lottery tickets for fun, according to the spokesperson. The game that Gordiski won, “$500,000 CA$HWORD,” involves players scratching off a crossword-style puzzle to unveil potential prizes. The overall odds are 1 in 2.78.
