The Oldest Man in the World Passes Away at 114 – A Legacy Remembered
Juan Vicente Pérez, the world’s oldest man according to Guinness World Records, died in Venezuela just weeks before his 115th birthday. He left behind a legacy of hard work, faith, and a life spanning over a century of monumental historical events.
The Remarkable Life of Juan Vicente Pérez
Juan Vicente Pérez, who held the title of the oldest living man, passed away just weeks before his 115th birthday, Guinness World Records announced on Wednesday.
Early Life and Guinness World Record
Pérez was born on May 27, 1909, in Venezuela. He earned his Guinness World Record title on February 4, 2022, after Saturnino de la Fuente García’s passing. At that time, he was 112 years and 253 days old, the fourth oldest validated living person globally and notably the only man alive born before 1911.
Secrets to Longevity and Legacy
Pérez said his secret to a long life is “working hard, resting on holidays, going to bed early, drinking a glass of aguardiente every day, loving God, and always carrying him in his heart.” Faith has also been a big part of his life. He prayed twice a day and believed in a life where his actions were guided by prayer. Pérez wished to be remembered as “a hard-working man, faithful to his wife and his religion.”
Family and Values
Throughout his life, Pérez was known for his deep-rooted values, hard work, and dedication to family. He and his wife, Ediofina del Rosario García, had 11 children, leading to a large extended family of 42 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren, and 12 great-great-grandchildren.
Life Achievements and Historical Events
At only five years old, Pérez began working in agriculture. He went to school when he was ten, but was only enrolled for five months because his teacher, Carmen got sick. However, she did not leave him stranded. She left him with a book that would help him learn how to read and write. Pérez went on to serve as a sheriff in Caricuena, where he resolved land and family disputes for ten years.
Remembering a Legend and Paying Respects
His passing was felt by many, including, Governor Freddy Bernal of Táchira who expressed profound sadness over Pérez’s passing, stating: “With deep sadness and pain we say goodbye to this archetype of Tachirense man, humble, hardworking, peaceful, enthusiastic about family and tradition…”
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro also honored Pérez, expressing his condolences and highlighting Pérez’s lasting impact on the community of El Cobre, Táchira.
Looking to the Future
Throughout his life, Pérez witnessed significant historical events, including both World Wars, the invention of television, and the moon landing, and he even survived COVID-19 in 2020. The Gerontology Research Group is in the process of identifying the new oldest living man, with candidates like Gisaburō Sonobe and Josias de Oliveira who were both born in 1911 under consideration. Their birthday dates still need to be confirmed.
If you enjoyed this, click here to read about how the world’s tallest woman overcame her tough childhood.
Related Topic: Overcoming Challenges and Embracing Uniqueness
This Girl Was Bullied for Her Height as a Child – At 27, the World’s Tallest Woman Is Deemed ‘Beautiful’
Rumeysa Gelgi from Turkey was named the tallest woman living, with a height of 215.16cm (7ft 0.7in). This was not the first time she broke the record; in 2014, she was named the tallest living female teenager.
A Unique Journey with Challenges and Achievements
Her extraordinary height comes from a rare condition called Weaver syndrome, which causes accelerated growth and other abnormalities such as skeletal maturation. Gelgi’s condition comes with a few challenges; for instance, because of it, she has to use a wheelchair for the majority of the time but can walk for a short period using a walker.
Inspiring Others and Building a Future
Although life has not been easy for the 27-year-old, she felt honored to be included in the Guinness World Records and used the title to raise awareness about the many rare conditions in the world. Gelgi has also had the support of her family, who are incredibly proud of her Guinness World Record title. Growing up, Gelgi could not attend a regular school and had to complete her studies at home.
Embracing Uniqueness and Spreading Positivity
However, she has always dreamed of working in the tech industry, so she studied web development and eventually became a self-taught front-end developer. Aside from reaching her tech dreams, she is also an advocate and a researcher. When she’s not working, Gelgi loves swimming, shopping, enjoying a meal with her family, or exploring new places. While the record-breaker holds on to the positive aspects of her life, she admitted that she was bullied a lot.
Finding Strength in Adversity and Self-Acceptance
She still receives negative comments from people on the internet, but after being awarded the Guinness World Record title, the mean words do not affect her as much as they did. Instead, Gelgi is proud of her uniqueness, and when she was handed over her certificate, she was called “Officially amazing.”
Spreading Awareness and Encouraging Acceptance
Gelgi hopes that people who come across her story will do more than learn about her condition; she hopes they will appreciate people for their differences because those unique parts are what make people beautiful. Although the front-end developer credits her Guinness World Record title for adding positivity to her life, she also got a lot of support and great advice from her parents.
A Message of Resilience and Self-Love
She revealed that from a young age, her parents told her she had a syndrome and not an illness, so there was nothing about her that needed to be fixed. “This is just how I was born and how I am. Thanks to this approach, I never defined myself as a sick person or felt miserable. It also helped me to deal with all the painful words I received from bullies,” reiterated Gelgi.
Celebrating Achievements and Embracing Uniqueness
Gelgi admitted that in the beginning, the bullying would make her sad, but with time, she realized it was not about her but about the bullies themselves. The title of the tallest living woman was not the only one that Gelgi was awarded. She added three more titles, which include the longest finger of a living female, the largest female hands, and the longest back for a female.
A Journey of Growth and Self-Discovery
At the beginning of the year, Gelgi turned 27, and many people wished her a happy birthday. Her Instagram posts are also filled with people praising her beauty. One commenter said, “You are so beautiful.” “So wonder, so beautiful. Noble,” gushed another internet user.
Conclusion: Rising Above Challenges and Inspiring Others
Even though Gelgi did not have an easy life and had people bullying her for her condition, she grew up to break many records and became known as an amazing and beautiful woman. Here is a story about the first couple with Down Syndrome whose marriage broke the record 28 years later.