Juan Vicente Perez, a Venezuelan countryman considered the world's oldest person, died Tuesday at the age of 114. He would have turned 115 next month, according to Guinness World Record, which certified his status.
Perez's death was confirmed by Freddy Bernal, governor of Tachira, Venezuela, where the supercentenarian lived.
"Our dear Juan Vicente Perez Mora, with deep sadness and pain we say goodbye to you today. An archetype of a man from Tachira, humble, hard-working, peaceful, enthusiastic about family and tradition," the politician wrote in a tribute to the resident in X (former Twitter).
Nuestro querido Juan Vicente Pérez Mora, hoy con profunda tristeza y dolor nos despedimos de usted, de ese arquetipo de hombre tachirense, humilde, trabajador, apacible, entusiasta de la familia y la tradición. pic.twitter.com/ohiPzrsWgD
— Freddy Bernal (@FreddyBernal) April 3, 2024
Perez was a farmer and had 11 children, 41 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren and 12 great-great-grandchildren, according to the Daily Mail. He celebrated his 110th birthday in 2019, becoming the first male supercentenarian from Venezuela. He became the oldest man in his homeland in 2020 and officially became the oldest man alive in May 2022 when he was recognized by the Guinness Book of Records.
Perez was the ninth child out of 10 and began working with his dad and brothers in agriculture at age five, assisting with sugar cane and coffee harvesting. He would then go on to become sheriff in Caricuena in 1948 and was responsible for resolving land and family disputes for ten years while still working in agriculture.
He was married to Ediofina del Rosario Garcia, whom he shared a life with for 60 years until she passed away in 1997.
Perez lived through a variety of significant events in world history, including both World Wars, the invention of the television and the internet. He witnessed the landing of a man on the moon and COVID-19. When he was 51 years old, he had his ID photograph taken for the first time in black and white, according to the Daily Mail.
When he turned 110, his daughter Nelyda Perez said "my dad is in very good health. He does not suffer from any disease that requires medical treatment. The next day after resting, he woke up very well. The whole family is very grateful for my daddy's health."
The personality's passing has received an outpour of reactions from politicians and other public figures who were familiar with him.
"It's been an honor 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, is now history's fourth oldest male whose age has been officially ratified," Craig Glenday, Guinness World Records Editor-in-Chief, said in a statement.
"How remarkable to think that we've just said goodbye to a man born before Louis Bleriot flew across the English Channel!," he added.
Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro also paid homage to the deceased senior.
"Juan Vicente Perez Mora has transcended into eternity at 114 years old. 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."
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