Game Show Provides Windfall For South Windsor Resident

SOUTH WINDSOR, CT — Flipping quickly through the TV channels shortly after 7 p.m. Wednesday, I heard the unmistakable voice of Pat Sajak say, "Rob from South Windsor, Connecticut," and spent the next 22 or so minutes hooked on one of television's most popular and longest-tenured game shows, Wheel of Fortune.

"Rob from South Windsor" is Rob Schulman, a business manager for an aerospace company who has a son with his wife, Stacey. In his introductory chat with Sajak, he said he enjoys karate and traveling.

Schulman began his journey to be a contestant when he attended a Wheelmobile event at Foxwoods Resort Casino, according to Kyle Montplaisir, senior coordinator of publicity and promotions for the show.

This episode originally aired Jan. 16, 2019 as part of “Sunny Portugal” week. The shows and set during this week featured popular destinations and scenic landscapes throughout Portugal, as well as footage of Sajak and co-host Vanna White shot on location, Montplaisir said.

Schulman won his first puzzle during the crossword round, winning $1,000. Next came the mystery round, which he won by solving "Attending a Private Event." He picked up $3,100, plus a trip to Portugal that boosted his daily winnings to $15,598 in cash and prizes.

After another contestant, Kristen Andrews of Scranton, Pa., won the prize puzzle to boost her total to $14,798 in cash and prizes, and a $3,000 toss-up was captured by the third player, Jay Hicks of Suffolk, Va., it all came down to the final puzzle. Andrews nearly ran out of time before squeezing in the correct answer (which was, ironically, "The Deciding Factor"), earning her $6,400 and nosing Schulman out of the bonus round.