The Secret to the Longest-Lived Man Who Passed Away: "Work Hard, Rest Well, and Have This One Drink"

by Koo Nari

Published 04 Apr.2024 10:19(KST)

President and Governor Also Express Condolences

Juan Vicente Perez Mora, a Venezuelan farmer recognized by the Guinness World Records (GWR) as the world's oldest living man, has passed away at the age of 114.

Photo of Juan Vicente Perez Mora, the 'world's oldest man' in January 2022, taken at his home in Venezuela. [Image source=AFP Yonhap News]

On the 2nd (local time), AFP and other news agencies quoted Perez's relatives and local officials from T?chira state, his hometown, saying, "He would have turned 115 next month." The exact cause of death has not yet been revealed. Nicol?s Maduro, President of Venezuela, also paid tribute to the late. He posted on X (formerly Twitter), "Juan Vicente Perez, the world's oldest living man, has transcended eternity at the age of 114," adding, "My condolences to his family and everyone in T?chira." Freddy Bernal, Governor of T?chira, expressed his condolences, saying, "With deep sorrow and pain, we bid farewell to a humble, diligent, peaceful man from T?chira who was passionate about his family and traditions," and added, "We will always remember him for his optimism, faith, hope, and deep love for our state of T?chira."

Perez was born on May 27, 1909, in the village of El Cobre in the Andes region of T?chira state as the ninth of ten siblings. From a young age, he helped his father with farming by harvesting sugarcane and coffee alongside his brothers. After marriage, he had six sons and five daughters, forming a large family. He maintained a 60-year marriage until his wife passed away in 1997. As of 2022, he had 11 children, 41 grandchildren, and 18 great-grandchildren.

Perez was listed in the GWR on April 4, 2022, after Spanish man Saturnino de la Fuente Garc?a passed away on January 18, 2022, at the age of 112 years and 341 days. At that time, Perez was 112 years and 253 days old. GWR stated, "Perez lived through two world wars and witnessed the invention of television. He also saw humans land on the moon," adding, "He observed the emergence of groundbreaking technologies from the internet to artificial intelligence and survived COVID-19 in 2020." They further noted, "He had exceptional health and memory," and "He enjoyed being around when family and friends were talking."

Perez attributed his longevity to "working hard and resting well." In an interview during his lifetime, he said, "I worked hard, rested on holidays, and went to bed early," and "I always loved God and kept Him in my heart while drinking a glass of aguardiente (a local distilled spirit) every day." Following Perez's passing, the title of the world's oldest living man is expected to be passed to Kitasaburo Sonobe of Japan. Sonobe is 112 years old, and GWR is currently awaiting confirmation from the Sonobe family.

A celebration of the 117th birthday of Maria Branyas Morera, a Spanish woman recorded as the "world's oldest woman." [Image source=Facebook capture]

Meanwhile, the world's oldest living woman certified by GWR is Maria Branyas Morera, who celebrated her 117th birthday last month. Born on March 4, 1907, in San Francisco, USA, Morera moved to Spain at the age of eight and settled there. She was recognized as the world's oldest living person after Lucile Randon from France, who was 118 years old, passed away in January 2023. With the help of her family, she actively communicates with people through X.