Lottery Winner Beat the Odds Twice
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CRANFORD, N.J. — A semiretired hat salesman who beat leukemia years ago came forward Wednesday to claim a $165-million lottery jackpot.
Sundel “Sonny” Judson, 73, said he plans to form a foundation and give part of the money to charity.
Judson said he was diagnosed with leukemia almost 30 years ago and given only a few months to live. He said he eschewed chemotherapy in favor of a vitamin program his wife suggested. “I guess I beat the odds,” he said.
The same applies to his July 16 win in the multistate Mega Millions game. The odds were 1 in 135 million.
Judson said he has been married for 52 years and has grown children and grandchildren who also will benefit from the windfall.
Judson, who has lived in a Cliffside Park condominium for 28 years, said he may splurge on a bigger apartment in the same building, but he hopes the jackpot does not change his life.
“I was pretty well-off before this,” Judson said, adding that he plans to continue working at Hyp, a New York City maker of baseball caps.
He chose to take the prize in a lump sum of $92 million.
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