Juan Vicente Pérez, a Venezuelan, was the oldest man still living as of 4 February 2022, having lived for 112 years and 253 days. His 113th birthday is coming up soon, and he is presently 112 years, 11 months, and 21 days old. In El Cobre, Táchira, Venezuela, on May 27, 1909, Eutiquio del Rosario Pérez Mora and Edelmira Mora gave birth to Juan, their ninth child. In 1914, his family moved to Los Pajuiles, a village in San José de Bolivar. At age five, he started working in agriculture, helping his father and brothers harvest sugar cane and coffee.
He constructed a trapiche (a wooden mill) alongside his brother Miguel to help in the production of coffee and sugar cane. Later, in order to increase the farm’s productivity, he was able to buy a bigger machine. He started going to the neighbourhood school when he was 10 years old, but only for five months since his teacher was ill. Fortunately, Juan was given a book by his teacher that helped him learn the basics of reading and writing. He kept working in agriculture and in 1948 was appointed sheriff of Caricuena. In his ten years as sheriff, he was in charge of resolving disputes about family and land. Outside of farming, Juan’s biggest passion is developing deep ties with his family and God. He is grateful for the people in his life, the food he has, and his surroundings.
When Ediofina del Rosario Garcia passed away in 1997, she and Juan Vicente had been married for 60 years. The couple’s wonderful family of eleven children, which now numbers 41 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren, and 12 great-great-grandchildren, was born with six males and five girls. Juan Vicente would spend his leisure time with his family after a long, arduous day of labour. On the Vitrola, his son Edesio would perform songs by Antonio Aguilar, Hermanas Calles, and Negro Picante. Juan Vicente saw numerous amazing technologies throughout his lifetime, including the internet and television. He got a black-and-white ID photo taken for the first time when he was 51 years old.
Juan Vicente is in excellent physical and mental shape. He can recall details of his early years, his marriage, his brothers, kids, and grandkids by name. He enjoys spending time with family and friends when they share tales and have stimulating conversations. It was very meaningful for him to celebrate his 100th birthday with all of his sons and several great-grandchildren. He maintains a lovely artwork that was given to him by Karla Marisol, his granddaughter, and her husband on the main patio of his house.
He turned 110 in 2019 and became the first male supercentenarian from Venezuela. “Work hard, rest on vacations, go to bed early, drink a glass of aguardiente every day, adore God, and always carry him in your heart,” is his advice for living a long life. Juan Vicente is a devout man who places high importance on praying twice a day as part of his regular practice.
Robert D. Young, the Senior Consultant for Gerontology at Guinness World Records, analyzed the evidence for the oldest guy living (USA). Since 2015, Young has served as the Gerontology Research Group’s Director of the Supercentenarian Research Database Division.
