Retired Firefighter, 9/11 Responder Wins $500K Lottery Prize

Patrick Gordiski, a recently retired Greenwich firefighter and 9/11 first responder, won the $500,000 top prize in the Connecticut Lottery's '$500,000 CA$HWORD' scratch-off game. Gordiski, who served the Greenwich Fire Department for 50 years and assisted at Ground Zero after the 9/11 attacks, purchased the winning ticket with his wife while planning a vacation. The ticket was bought at Byram Smoke Shop in Greenwich, which will receive a $5,000 bonus for selling the winning ticket. Gordiski is a regular lottery player, and his son continues the family tradition as a firefighter in Greenwich. The crossword-style lottery game requires players to complete puzzles, and the odds of winning the top prize are about 1 in 500,000. The story highlights Gordiski's dedication to public service and his surprise jackpot win.