Some of Gentile's many relatives were there when he displayed a ceremonial check with the help of the Lottery's Gretchen Dizer

MIDDLETOWN – An 81-year-old retired Classy Leather Goods pocketbook factory foreman from Middletown is the latest and third Middletown area resident to win $1 million within two months playing a New York State lottery game.

George Gentile won playing the scratch off Poker game, the same one that made Edward Cruz of Circleville $1 million richer weeks ago. In fact, Gentile bought a ticket because it was at his daughter, Jodie Greco’s house during a weekly card game that Cruz scratched off his winning ticket.

Gentile said he is blessed with a large family and the money will go to them. He is the father of 11 children – two sons and nine daughters – and has 16 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren with another on the way. He said that he would put all of the money in a trust fund for his children. Gentile and his late wife had eight children and then triplets came along.\

Aside from working at the pocketbook factory, Gentile installed TV antennas, tarred roofs and did what he had to do to take care if his family.

The third Orange County $1 million winner in recent weeks was Dolores Manella of Bullville.

This three-winner run in Orange County is not a record, though. Lottery officials said last year, there were six $1 million winners in Putnam County.