Joan Riudavets
Joan Riudavets Moll | |
|---|---|
| File:JRiudavets3.jpg Joan Riudavets at age 114 | |
| Born | December 15, 1889 |
| Died | March 5, 2004 aged 114 years, 81 days |
Joan Riudavets Moll (Menorca, December 15, 1889 – March 5, 2004) was a supercentenarian and the oldest verified person ever in the history of Spain. He became the oldest recognized person in Europe on the death of Italian Maria Teresa Fumarola Ligorio in May 2003, and the oldest recognized man in the world on the death of Yukichi Chuganji in September 2003. At age 113, he was the oldest man ever to accede to that position.
Uncommonly fit for a supercentenarian, he was able to walk and ride a bicycle until he was 113 years old. He worked as a cobbler until retiring in 1954, and was a former village councillor of Es Migjorn Gran. He died, aged 114, after having a cold for a few days, but not being seriously ill. He was the last recognized surviving man of the 1880s.
His mother, Catalina Moll Mercades, died at age 25 before the end of December 1889, quite possibly giving her son the record for longest period by which anyone has survived a parent.
He was survived by two younger brothers: Joseph celebrated his 100th birthday in January 2007, and Pere died in 2006, aged 105, the oldest living resident on the island at the time of his death.