Earlier this month a Sidney, New York man, won a lottery check totaling $1 million.
But just three weeks later Donald Savastano passed away suddenly after recently being diagnosed with stage 4 cancer.
He was 52-years-old at the time of his death.
He spent his last days in the “comfort of his home with those he loved,” the obituary stated.
Savastano bought the holiday-themed, $10 scratch-off ticket on a whim at a Mirabito store on Route 8 in Masonville.
He had claimed the lump sum payment of the prize which totaled $661,800 after taxes.
“Being a self-employed carpenter, I didn’t really have a plan for retirement,” Savastano told WBNG at the time. “The money will help with that. I don’t have any other extravagant plans. I’ll buy a new truck, pay off some debt and invest for the future.”
For the past 10 years, he had lived with his girlfriend, Julie Wheeler, of almost 12 years in Sidney, New York. He helped her raise her two sons as well.
Savastano had also planned to use the money to take a vacation.
Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2018, at 10 a.m at the Oneonta Assembly of God Church, 1776 County Highway 48.
