Home After 5 Years at Sea, Sailor Wins $2.5 Million

A Navy enlisted man, just back from five years at sea, won a $2,575,000 annuity in the California Lottery’s “Big Spin” on Saturday.

Operations Specialist 1st Class David Gintowt, 36, who lives in a Chula Vista apartment with his wife and 13-month-old daughter, will get an annual check for $103,000 for the next 20 years.

The lottery deducts 20% for federal income tax.

He said he was born in Philadelphia and attended Temple University, but he now considers his home to be Lake Worth, Fla.

Asked what he will do with the money, he replied: ‘ I haven’t the faintest idea. Naturally, I’ll pay some bills, and then we’ll just see.”

Gintowt said he has been at sea on the destroyer Cochrane and the carrier Midway, but now he is assigned to the Fleet Combat Training Center Pacific at Point Loma.

He described himself as an instructor, but said he couldn’t say what he teaches.

“I’ve got to go to work Monday morning. After all, I’m in the Navy,” he said.

He said he reenlisted for six years last February.

Asked if there was any way to get out earlier, he replied, “We’ll see.”

Other winners:

$100,000--Joseph Lopez, 27, San Diego, and Earl Webb, 34, Riverside.

$50,000--Raul Guillent, 65, National City; Sal Anthony Ybarra, 34, Sunnyvale, and Shigeki Iwasaki, 74, San Jose.

$25,000--Juanita Brothers, 40, Long Beach.

$10,000--Elaine Capener, 63, Sunnyvale.