Ilie Ciocan
Ilie Ciocan | |
|---|---|
Ilie Ciocan on 9 September 2023 at the age of 110 | |
| Born | 10 June 1913 (age 112 years, 32 days) |
| Known for |
|
| Spouse |
Floarea Obogeanu
(m. 1932; died 1992) |
| Children | 6 |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance | Romania |
| Branch | Army |
| Years of service | 1935–1945 |
| Rank | Major |
| Battles / wars | World War II |
Ilie Ciocan (born 10 June [O.S. 28 May] 1913) is a Romanian soldier, World War II veteran, and supercentenarian, who is currently the oldest living person in Romania and the Balkans, as well as the oldest living World War II veteran in the world and the oldest living European man. He is also the oldest Romanian ever documented. His age is verified by the Gerontology Research Group (GRG).[1]
Biography
Early life
Ilie Ciocan was born in the village of Cremenari, Galicea, Vâlcea County, Romania on 10 June [O.S. 28 May] 1913. He had a difficult upbringing, having lost his father at 6 years old, and then his mother at the age of 12.[2] He had to start working as a child to survive. He worked as a shepherd in the village.[3]
At 18, he married Floarea Obogeanu, who was seven years older than him, and they were officially married on 28 January 1932, in the Romanian Orthodox Church. Together they had six children, three daughters and three sons. His wife died in 1992, aged 87.[4]
Military service
He was drafted into the army at the age of 22, then he was drafted into the 6th Artillery Regiment Pitești in 1935 and went to the war fronts in 1941. He participated in World War II as a machine-gunner and courier on the Eastern Front, in Odessa and the Don elbow, but also went to the Western Front and even as far as Czechoslovakia.[5]
Following orders of general promotion issued after 1990 by the Ministry of National Defense of Romania, Ciocan reached the rank of major.
He could ride a bicycle until 90 years old. At the age of 93, he slipped in the snow and broke his leg, and successfully recovered, despite refusing to let the doctors put his leg in a cast.[6]
Longevity records
- On 15 February 2021, following the death of 108-year-old Ioan Lascău, Ciocan became the oldest known living man in Romania.
- On 2 February 2022, following the death of 109-year-old Maria Mihai, Ciocan became the oldest known living person in Romania.
- On 10 June 2023, Ciocan celebrated his 110th birthday, becoming a supercentenarian.[7][8]
- On 13 August 2024, following the death of 111-year-old Britisher John Farringdon, Ciocan became the last surviving European man born in 1913.[9]
- On 25 November 2024, following the death of 112-year-old Briton John Tinniswood, Ciocan became the oldest living man in Europe.[10]
- On 16 January 2025, at the age of 111 years, 220 days, Ciocan surpassed the final age of Dumitru Comănescu (1908–2020) of 111 years, 219 days, becoming the oldest validated person ever in Romania.[11]
Ilie Ciocan currently lives in the village of Bratia din Vale, Galicea, Valcea County, Romania, at the age of 112 years, 32 days.
References
- ^ "World Supercentenarian Rankings List". Retrieved 5 March 2025.
- ^ "Ilie Ciocan". Gerontology Research Group. Retrieved 5 March 2025.
- ^ "In comuna Galicea traieste azi cel mai in varsta veteran de razboi din Valcea" (in Romanian). Ziare. 29 April 2022. Retrieved 5 March 2025.
- ^ "Vâlceanul Ilie Ciocan, 112 ani de viață și eroism – cel mai în vârstă veteran al planetei" (in Romanian). Ziarulde Vâlcea. 29 May 2025. Retrieved 11 June 2025.
- ^ "Cel mai longeviv veteran de război din România. "Nu am omorât pe nimeni pe front. Calul m-a salvat din război" FOTO" (in Romanian). Adevărul. 31 July 2022. Retrieved 5 March 2025.
- ^ "Cel mai longeviv veteran de război mai îmbătrânește cu un an. Ilie Ciocan nu este fumător și bea doar ocazional VIDEO" (in Romanian). Adevărul. 29 April 2023. Retrieved 13 April 2025.
- ^ "Ilie Ciocan, the country's oldest war veteran, turns 110" (in Romanian). Radio Romania Actualitați. 28 May 2023. Retrieved 5 March 2025.
- ^ "Ilie Ciocan, cel mai bătrân om din România, a împlinit 111 ani / A luptat în Al Doilea Război Mondial / "Cât am fost pe front am luptat ca ţara să fie liberă şi independentă"" (in Romanian). G4Media. 29 May 2023. Retrieved 5 March 2025.
- ^ "REPORTAJ Viața la 111 ani. Ilie Ciocan, cel mai în vârstă român, trăiește în Galicea, Vâlcea, și e îngrijit cu devotament de nepoții pe care nu i-a iubit: „I-am promis tatei că o să avem grijă de el!"" (in Romanian). Libertatea. 15 August 2024. Retrieved 5 March 2025.
- ^ "Ilie Ciocan of Bratia din Vale, Romania, becomes the oldest living man in Europe at 111". Gerontology Research Group. 28 November 2024. Retrieved 13 April 2025.
- ^ "Ilie Ciocan becomes the oldest Romanian ever, breaking the previous record of Dumitru Comănescu (1908–2020) – 111 years, 219 days". Gerontology Research Group. Retrieved 13 April 2025.