It's an Early Birthday Present for a Greenwich Resident

It's an early birthday with fireworks for Nancy Catalano of Greenwich who purchased a Powerball “Quick Pick” ticket for the July 2, drawing and won the game’s $1 million prize.

The Greenwich resident, who will be celebrating her 76th birthday next week, made her purchase of a Powerball ticket at Putnam Shell on West Putnam Avenue .

“I went to the lottery’s website with my ticket to look up the winning numbers.  I started circling each number that matched until I had five circles—I couldn’t believe it,” Catalano told the Lottery Commission with a chuckle.

The winning Powerball numbers on July 2 were 8 -18 - 45 - 53 - 58, the Powerball number was 35. Catalano’s ticket matched all five of the winning numbers, but missed the Powerball number. In total, 7,542 winning Powerball tickets were sold statewide for that date with prizes ranging from $4 to $1 million.

Catalano received a prize check at CT Lottery headquarters in Rocky Hill on July 7 for $683,000 (value after taxes). “Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought I’d win a million dollars.  I’m really not that lucky,” said Catalano.

Catalano’s winning ticket was purchased at Putnam Shell, 401 W. Putnam Ave.,  Greenwich. A lottery retailer since 1986, Putnam Shell has sold several prize winning tickets, including a Mega Millions “Quick Pick” ticket for the March 30, 2012 drawing worth $250,000.

“We’ve known Mrs. Catalano and her family for many, many years,” Putnam Shell owners, Carmen and Judy Moretti, said in a statement. “We’re really so happy for her that she won. It was great news.”

Putnam Shell will also receive a check from the CT Lottery—a $2,500 bonus for selling the winning ticket.