YONKERS, N.Y. -- Police Sgt. Robert Cunningham offered a waitress at his favorite pizzeria half of his lottery ticket instead of a tip. She accepted and was rewarded with $3 million.
Cunningham, 55, Monday was named winner of the state's $6 million Lotto game and -- true to his word -- gave half the prize to Phyllis Penza, 49, who has waited tables at Sal's Pizzeria for 19 years.
'It's her tip,' said Cunningham, head of detectives on the 22-man police force in Dobbs Ferry, just north of Yonkers.
Cunningham said he had been eating for about seven years at Sal's. After his dinner of linguine and clam sauce Friday night, he offered Mrs. Penza a choice of half of his lottery ticket or a tip.
She decided to take a chance and the two picked the numbers Cunningham entered on his ticket. All six were selected in Saturday night's Lotto drawing -- 7, 9, 21, 28, 29 and 43.
Lotto spokesman Dennis Rhodes said, 'The arrangement was that if he won, she'd get half of it. So he did win and he's giving the waitress $3 million -- that may possibly be construed as the largest tip in history.'
'I think it's very generous,' said Mrs. Penza, adding she planned to buy a house and take a vacation with part of her money.
'I'm really uptight believe me, I'm shaking like a leaf,' said Cunningham. 'I never had this kind of money.'
In addition to splitting the prize, Cunningham, a father of four and grandfather of three, said he would use the money for his family.
The $6 million jackpot will be paid in 21 installments over 20 years, lottery officials said.
Both Cunningham and Mrs. Penza said they would continue working despite their newly won riches.
