Juan Vicente Perez Mora, a Venezuelan man, passed away on April 3rd, just four weeks shy of his 115th birthday.
According to the Guinness World Records, the death of Juan Vicente Perez Mora was confirmed by Freddy Bernal, the governor of Táchira, the state where he resided.
“Our esteemed Juan Vicente Perez Mora, with deep sadness and sorrow, we bid farewell to you today – a model man from Táchira, humble, hardworking, peaceful, and passionate. We will always remember you for your optimism in life, for your faith, hope, and deep love for Táchira,” Bernal wrote yesterday.
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro also paid tribute to the deceased: “Juan Vicente Perez Mora has entered eternal rest at the age of 114. I send hugs and condolences to his family as well as to all the people of El Cobre, Táchira. May God receive him in holy glory.”
The cause of Perez’s death has not yet been determined.
Juan Vicente Perez Mora. (Photo: AFP).
Born on May 27, 1909, Perez was confirmed as the oldest living man in the world on February 4, 2022, at the age of 112 years and 253 days. He became the record holder after his predecessor, Saturnino de la Fuente Garcia from Spain, born on February 11, 1909, passed away on January 18, 2022, at the age of 112 years and 341 days.
Immediately following the announcement, GBWR released a statement celebrating Perez’s remarkable milestone, stating: “Juan Vicente had exceptional health and memory. He often enjoyed cheerful conversations with his family and friends.”
Throughout his long and incredible life, Perez witnessed many iconic historical moments, including World War I, World War II, the Spanish flu pandemic, and most recently, the COVID-19 pandemic.
Perez, who became the first Venezuelan man to reach the age of 110 in 2019, also witnessed the advent of groundbreaking technologies from radio and the internet to even artificial intelligence. When he received his first photo ID at the age of 51, the photograph was in black and white.
Family was particularly important to Perez. He was married to Ediofina del Rosario García, with whom he lived for 60 years until her passing in 1997. During their marriage, they had 11 children: 6 sons and 5 daughters. They also had 41 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren, and 12 great-great-grandchildren.
Perez believed that his longevity could be attributed to hard work, going to bed early, and enjoying a glass of aguardiente, a locally distilled spirit, every day, among other factors.
