Salustiano Sanchez-Blazquez, the world’s oldest man, has died at age 112. He had been a resident of a Grand Island, N.Y. nursing home since 2007.
Affectionately known as “Shorty”, Sanchez-Blazquez was born June 8, 1901 in El Tejado de Bejar, a small village province of Salamanca, Spain. Throughout his adolescent life, Sanchez-Blazquez developed a fervent admiration for music, and was also a self-taught musician. He was known for his musicianship playing the dulzaina, a Spanish double reed oboe. He’d used his skills playing the dulzaina as a source of income throughout his teenage years, performing for weddings and other celebrations around his village. He relocated to Cuba to work in numerous sugarcane fields at age 17.
By 1920, he immigrated to the United States to work in the Lynch, KY coal mines. Eventually, he settled in the Niagara Falls area of New York where he went on to marry his wife, Pearl, in 1934. He spent the majority of his adult life working diligently as a coal miner by trade.
Guinness World Records’ consultant Robert Young stated that Sanchez-Blazquez became the world’s oldest man three months ago in June when Jiroemon Kimura passed away at age 116. Young went on to say that Sanchez-Blazquez was a gin rummy enthusiast, which was one of his favorite hobbies. He played nearly every evening. He also enjoyed solving crossword puzzles and gardening. Sanchez-Blazquez handled the announcement of the record setting feat with docile ease saying, “living so long was not a special accomplishment.” He simply accredited his longevity to one banana a day and Anacin aspirin daily.
According to CBS New York, Sanchez-Blazquez is survived by his 76-year-old son named John, 69-year-old daughter, Irene, seven grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren, and five great-great-grandchildren.
John Colucci, spokesperson for M.J. Colucci and Son Funeral Chapels stated that the service will be private, and that Sanchez-Blazquez’s interment will be at Gate of Heaven cemetery located in Lewiston, N.Y.
Image Courtesy of CBS News
