Jun 19, 2009 8:06 am US/Eastern
Montgomery Co. Woman Claims $46 Million Jackpot
PLYMOUTH MEETING, Pa. (CBS 3) ―
Forget about pensions, 401(k)s or Roth IRAs, a recently retired South Jersey high school teacher is now a multi-millionaire thanks to a winning Powerball ticket.
Pennsylvania Lottery officials said Thursday that Palmira Nicolo, known to friends and colleagues as Pam, just turned in a winning Powerball ticket she bought back in February.
The ticket was worth a $46 million cash prize.
For 25 years, Nicolo has taught Italian at Cherry Hill West High School. She decided to retire in May.
"I heard that she won this award. It couldn't have happened to a nicer person," said Cherry Hill West Principal Joseph Meloche, who added that he did not know if her decision to retire had anything to do with hitting the jackpot.
"She was an amazing teacher," he said. "She was the kind of teacher every student wanted and a teacher any parent would have wanted for their children."
"I was honestly hoping she did not throw away the winning lottery ticket," said Plymouth Meeting Mall spokesperson Melanie Messina. Nicolo bought the ticket from the customer service kiosk at the Plymouth Meeting Mall, and her claim ended a four-month mystery at the mall.
"We're really happy she's from the immediate area," said Messina. "Hopefully she'll come back and shop."
Lottery officials say Nicolo lives in Montgomery County. She chose not to take part in a public check presentation. A neighbor told Eyewitness News she is currently on vacation.
The February 28 jackpot won by Nicolo was worth an annuity total of $174.4 million with the cash payout worth just more than $93 million.
Nicolo is splitting the jackpot with a Powerball player from Delaware who bought a winning ticket at a store in Dover. That winner claimed the prize shortly after the drawing, but chose not to come forward publicly.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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