Juan Vicente Pérez Mora heralded as the oldest man globally, leaves behind a legacy of humility and longevity

Juan Vicente Pérez Mora, previously celebrated as the world’s oldest living man, has died, leaving behind a rich tapestry of life stories and wisdom. He passed away just shy of his 115th birthday, Guinness World Records confirmed. The Táchira governor, Freddy Bernal, in Venezuela, announced Juan Vicente’s death with a heartfelt statement on X. Bernal praised Juan Vicente as a quintessential Tachiran: humble, industrious, and deeply family-oriented.

Born on May 27, 1909, Juan Vicente claimed the title of the oldest living man on February 4, 2022, when he was 112 years and 253 days old. His longevity also marked him as Venezuela’s first fully authenticated supercentenarian. Guinness World Records shared that he attributed his long life to hard work, restful holidays, early nights, daily enjoyment of aguardiente, a deep faith in God, and always keeping God in his heart.

Juan Vicente’s personal life was as rich and full as his years. He was married to Ediofina del Rosario Garcia for six decades until her passing in 1997. Their union produced a large, loving family of 11 children, 42 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren, and 12 great-great-grandchildren. 

Craig Glenday, Editor-in-Chief of Guinness World Records, reflected on Juan Vicente’s remarkable age, noting his historical significance and the rare insight into a bygone era his life provided.

The title of the world’s oldest living man is expected to pass to Gisaburo Sonobe of Japan, who is currently 112 years old. Meanwhile, the oldest living person is Maria Branyas Morera, who celebrated her 117th birthday in March. Born in San Francisco, California, in 1907, Maria moved to Spain with her family in 1915 and has since lived through significant historical events, much like Juan Vicente.