Hudson Valley Winner Of $10K A Week For Life Lottery Prize Identified

FORT MONTGOMERY, NY — The Middletown man whom New York Lottery officials said won $10,000 a week for life has been identified.

Robin Poptanich, 63, bought two "$10,000 a Week for Life" scratch-off tickets at Fort Montgomery Food on Route 9W in Fort Montgomery after having arrived early for a service call.

“I scratched the tickets in my car and lost on the first one,” he said. “It was the second one that was the big winner.”

Poptanich's job is servicing medical equipment.

After seeing that he’d won the big prize, he called his wife and daughter and then made an appointment with his lawyer to discuss claiming his winnings.

Poptanich chose to receive his prize as an annuity and will receive $344,136 a year for the rest of his life, after withholdings.

He said his initial plans are to take care of his family and buy a new house.

“I already made plans to retire,” Poptanich said. “After that, we’ll travel and just enjoy life.”

Lottery officials said Poptanich was the 99th New York Lottery player to claim a prize of $1 million or more in 2016.

Patch file photo.