52-year-old man dies of cancer three weeks after winning $1m lottery

A man from New York who hit the jackpot with a $1 million scratchcard win has died before he could make a dent in his winnings.
Donald Savastano, 51, passed away from an unspecified form of cancer just three weeks after collecting his winner’s cheque.

The self-employed carpenter made the headlines when he spent $10 on a whim for the Merry Millionaire ticket.

The Queens native told WBNG he planned on using the cash to “buy a new truck, pay off some debt, and invest for the future”.

“This is going to change our lives to tell you the truth”.

‘Being a self-employed carpenter, I didn’t really have a plan for retirement,’ the 51-year-old self-employed carpenter explained to WBNG-TV 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.’



However, an obituary published on Sunday reveals he died at his home of stage four cancer surrounded by family.

Savastano is survived by his mother, two sisters and four brothers.