WEST SENECA, N.Y. -- John Stresing of West Seneca has claimed the $1,000 a day top prize for the February 2 CASH4LIFE drawing.
According to Stresing, he ran into the Wegman's on Orchard Park Road in West Seneca to pick up a few things for Super Bowl Sunday, including his usual CASH4LIFE lottery ticket.
He always plays his family members' birthdays, along with the number four, for the four members since the game started. The winning numbers for February 2 were 04-08-17-20-21 and Cash Ball 04.
After seeing the numbers scroll along the bottom of the 6am news, Stresing contacted his son John Stresing Jr. to share the news.
"He texted me in the morning saying, 'Call me as soon as you wake up,' and I happened to be awake already. I thought he was having a heart attack or something. He's like 'I think I won the lotto,' I was like, 'Great, whatever, $10,000...' but it was the big one," Stresing Jr. said.
Stresing is a retired Bethlehem Steel worker and Vietnam Veteran and feels relief that he can pay off his bills, make life easier for his wife and kids and "enjoy life." He also plans to take his wife, Sharon Stresing, out on the honeymoon they never had. Next year they will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary. They plan to go "some place warm."
He also is splitting the $7 million prize with his son, John "Jack" Stresing Jr. As for Stresing Jr., he plans to travel and possibly retire.
Each will receive annually $182,500 before taxes every single year for the rest of their lives.
