The world’s oldest man has died, months shy of his upcoming birthday.
Juan Vicente Perez Mora lived through both World Wars and the Covid pandemic, and sadly died last night on April 2.
Mr Mora, an ex-farmer, was a Venezuelan icon and crowned the oldest man alive in May 2022. He was 112 years old at the time and officially given the title by Guinness World Records.
Mr Mora leaves behind 11 children, 41 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren as well as 12 great-great-grandchildren.
He was a supercentenarian, because he was over 110 at the time of his death, but there was another man who lived older than Mr Mora.
Jiroemon Kimura, was the oldest man recorded in history, and the title for the oldest living person in the world right now is a woman named Maria Branyas who is 117.
Mr Mora was born on May 27, 1909, and lived through the incredible inventions, like the television, phones and the internet.
Mr Mora’s nickname, Tio Juan, means Uncle Juan, and he had his first ID photo taken in the 1960s, when he was 51, and it was black and white.
Freddy Bernal, governor of Mr Mora’s home state of Tachira, paid tribute to him as he confirmed his death last night.
He wrote on Twitter: “Our dear Juan Vicente Perez Mora, today with deep sadness and pain we say goodbye to you, to that archetype of a man from Tachira, humble, hard-working, peaceful, enthusiastic about family and tradition.”
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“Together with my wife and children we had the pleasure and the pride of meeting him and sharing with his loved ones,” he added.
Governor Bernal also said: “My old Don Vicente, we will always remember him for his optimism in life, for faith, hope and that deep love for our state of Tachira.
“He will always be a symbol of goodness, wisdom and joy, which is why his legacy will live forever in our hearts and in our lives.
“Rest in peace my dear old man, my Don Juan Vicente. We will never forget you.”
Nicolas Maduro, Venezuelan president, also paid tribute.
He said: “Juan Vicente Perez Mora has transcended into eternity at 114 years old.
“From the town of El Cobre he gave Venezuela the Guinness Record for being the oldest man in the world.
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“I send my hug and condolences to his family and to all the people of El Cobre, Tachira state. May God receive him in his holy glory!”
Mr Mora’s wife, Ediofina del Rosario Garcia, passed away in 1997, after the pair had been married for 60 years.
Craig Glenday, Guinness World Records editor-in-chief has said: “It’s been an honour to recognize and celebrate the incredible long life of Venezuela’s first ever fully authenticated supercentenarian man.
“Not only was Sr Perez Mora his country’s oldest citizen and the first South American recognised by GWR as the oldest living man, he is now history’s fourth oldest male whose age has been officially ratified.
“How remarkable to think that we’ve just said goodbye to a man born before Louis Bleriot flew across the English Channel!“
The Guinness Book of World Records said about him when he became the oldest man in the world: “Juan Vicente has exceptional health and memory. He remembers his childhood, marriage, the name of his siblings, children and grandchildren.
“He loves to be surrounded by family and friends as they tell stories and engage in good conversation.”
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