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27/05/2026 10:50 am
Mr. Ilie Ciocan of Bratia din Vale, Galicea, Vâlcea County, Romania, sadly passed away on 27 May 2026, aged 112.
He was born in the village of Cremenari, Vâlcea County, Romania, on 10 June [O.S. 28 May] 1913.
On 30 January 2024, following the death of 111-year-old Japanese veteran Tsuneji Oyama, he became the world’s oldest known living World War II veteran.
On 13 August 2024, following the death of 111-year-old Briton John Farringdon, he became the last surviving European man born in 1913.
On 25 November 2024, after the death of 112-year-old Briton John Tinniswood, Ciocan became the Oldest Living Man in Europe.
On 16 January 2025, at the age of 111 years and 220 days, Ciocan surpassed the final age of Dumitru Comănescu (1908–2020), who lived to 111 years and 219 days, becoming the oldest validated man — and the oldest validated person — in Romanian history. Two Romanian emigrants, Istvánné Fejes and Barbara Poth, however, lived longer. On 12 April 2025, Ciocan surpassed Fejes’s final age, becoming the oldest known person ever born in Romania. In June, he became the first documented Romanian to reach the age of 112.
On 5 October 2025, after the death of 112-year-old Josino Levino Ferreira, Ciocan became the 2nd World Oldest Living Man.
His age was validated by LongeviQuest on 7 November 2025.
The hero who defied time has left us. Ilie Ciocan, the veteran from Galicia, passed away one day before his 113th birthday.
The commune of Galicea and the entire Vâlcea county are in mourning after the disappearance of Ilie Ciocan, the war veteran who had become a symbol of longevity and of an almost extinct generation. The sad news was announced by the mayor of the commune, Florin Alexandru Mărăcine, who sent a message of condolences and tribute to the man considered by many to be a true landmark of the community.
Ilie Ciocan passed away just one day before his 113th birthday, leaving behind not only a grieving family, but also the feeling that with him an important page in the history of the place was closing. He was one of the last people who could tell, from his own experience, what war means, sacrifice and the hardships of an era that today seems almost impossible to imagine.
A Life of a Century of History
Born in the summer of 1913, in the commune of Galicea, Ilie Ciocan saw the world change radically over the course of an extraordinary existence. He grew up in rural Romania, in a time when life was simple but harsh, and work began at a young age. Life did not offer him privileges, but it formed a strong character, built around discipline, modesty and respect for work.
His youthful years would be overshadowed by one of the most dramatic moments in human history. He participated in World War II, living experiences that left their mark on his entire life. Like many veterans of his generation, he did not often speak of the horrors of the front, but those close to him said that he always carried in his heart the memory of his lost comrades and the trials he went through.
For him, the war was not a reason for praise, but a duty that he carried out to the end. However, he remained with deep respect for the uniform, for the country, and for the people who went through the same hardships.
The veteran who became a symbol
In recent years, the name of Ilie Ciocan has gone beyond the borders of Vâlcea County. His impressive age and his life story have transformed him into a symbol of resistance and longevity. People looked at him with admiration not only for his years lived, but also for the lucidity, calmness and modesty with which he lived his life.
Although he had become known throughout the country, he remained the same simple man, tied to his birthplace and the quiet life in Galicia. He never sought notoriety and did not turn his past into a reason for personal glory. For those who knew him, he was, above all, "Uncle Ilie", the man who always had a calm speech and a serene look.
Last year, the county authorities decided to grant him the title of honorary citizen of Vâlcea County, a gesture by which they wanted to recognize both his merits as a veteran and the example of a life lived with dignity.
A lesson about time, patience and dignity
Ilie Ciocan's death is felt today as the loss of a living witness to history. Few people have the chance to cross more than a century, to see wars, political changes, technological transformations and entire generations growing up before their eyes.
In an era in which everything seems to be consumed quickly, Ilie Ciocan's life remains a lesson in patience, strength and continuity. He was a man who lived almost 113 years, but who maintained his discretion and modesty until the end.
The community of Galicia loses a veteran, Vâlcea County loses a symbol, and Romania loses one of the last representatives of a generation that experienced the hardships of war firsthand.
Ilie Ciocan is gone, but his story will remain long in the memory of those who knew him and those who understood that true heroes never seek applause.
Rest in peace, Mr. Ciocan.
This topic was modified 2 months ago 6 times by Ale76
http://www.supercentenariditalia.it/persone-viventi-piu-longeve-in-italia.
Persone viventi più longeve in Italia – Supercentenari d'Italia (supercentenariditalia.it)
4
27/05/2026 11:12 am
May he rest in peace.
And a huge thank you to his family, who were caring for him with all their love, tirelessly, and extended his life by many years. Mulțumesc mult!
ESO Correspondent for Hungary (since 2020)
GRG Correspondent for Hungary (2020-2023)
Tracker and researcher of Hungarian and other Central European (super)centenarians (since 2016)
Enthusiast of extreme longevity (since childhood)
2
27/05/2026 11:31 am
R.I.P. Mr. Ciocan. What sad news, I was hoping he might reach his 113th birthday, but it was not to be. 😔
ESO Correspondent for Portugal (since 2026)
____
When the young commander of the guard declared his love for her, she rejected him simply because his frivolity startled her. "See how simple he is," she told Amaranta. "He says that he’s dying because of me, as if I were a bad case of colic."
-One Hundred Years of Solitude
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27/05/2026 12:07 pm
Rest in Peace Mr. Ciocan. What life lived!
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Topic starter
27/05/2026 2:57 pm
https://longeviquest.com/2026/05/ilie-ciocan-worlds-second-oldest-man-dies-at-112/
Ilie Ciocan, World’s Second-Oldest Man, Dies at 112
Ilie Ciocan, the world’s second-oldest living man, and the oldest man in Europe, passed away today in Bratia din Vale, Vâlcea County, Romania, at the age of 112 years, 351 days.
Ilie Ciocan was born in the village of Cremenari, Vâlcea County, Romania, on 10 June [O.S. 28 May] 1913. He lost both of his parents at a young age, and was forced to begin working very young in order to survive. He worked as a cowherd in the village in exchange for bread, and continued tending cattle until he was 14. With no close relatives able to support them, his eldest brother, Alion, became the primary caretaker of the younger siblings.
On 28 January 1932, at the age of 18, he married Floarea Obogeanu. The couple would eventually have six children (three sons and three daughters). At age 22, already a father, he was drafted into the 6th Pitești Artillery Regiment. After being drafted, he went through several training camps before leaving for the front in 1941 during the Second World War. By that time, he already had children. He served as a courier, delivering orders from the Battery to the battlefield, and fought on both the Eastern and Western Fronts. He was also assigned duties as a gun crew member, and at times as infantry — carrying food and ammunition.
In 1945, he was discharged from the army because he already had a large family, returning home without combat wounds, though in weakened health. After 1990, Ciocan was awarded the rank of major in retirement. His wife died in 1992, at the age of 87.
On 25 November 2024, after the death of 112-year-old Briton John Tinniswood, Ciocan became the Oldest Living Man in Europe.
At the time of his passing, he was the world’s second-oldest living man, only after João Marinho Neto, and the oldest validated person ever born or deceased in Romania.
http://www.supercentenariditalia.it/persone-viventi-piu-longeve-in-italia.
Persone viventi più longeve in Italia – Supercentenari d'Italia (supercentenariditalia.it)
1
27/05/2026 3:00 pm
Rest in peace, Ilie Ciocan.
Interested in supercentenarians since 27 July 2018.
First supercentenarian I learned about: Kane Tanaka (1903-2022)
28/05/2026 12:43 am
R.I.P.
He was one of my favorite supercentenarians. For me, he defied many expectations, reaching the age of almost 113 despite everything.
28/05/2026 6:48 am
Very sad news to hear.
Rest in peace Mr Ciocan.
Oldest person ever, from Romania.
1
Topic starter
31/05/2026 10:15 am
This post was modified 2 months ago 2 times by Ale76
http://www.supercentenariditalia.it/persone-viventi-piu-longeve-in-italia.
Persone viventi più longeve in Italia – Supercentenari d'Italia (supercentenariditalia.it)
2
31/05/2026 10:48 am
May he rest in eternal peace.
02/06/2026 7:16 am
May you rest in eternal peace, Mr. Ilie Ciocan (1913-2026).
1
19/06/2026 4:38 am
He is the oldest person in the history of the Balkans, surpassing Serbian Jelisaveta Veljković who died at 112 years, 94 days on October 20, 2016.
He was the oldest living person in the Balkans since April 5, 2023 (3 years 53 days), the longest time since data began to be collected in 1999, surpassing the 2 years, 186 days of Greek Anastasia Athanassoulas who held that position from February 9, 2007 to August 15, 2009.
He is the 4th man to hold this position (interestingly, the 3rd Romanian), the first since Dumitru Comănescu who died on June 27, 2020.
He is also the 4th Romanian in this place of honor; the last time Romania held the top spot was also with Dumitru Comănescu.
His successor is Romanian Paladia Noja, born on July 20. 1915 and 9th oldest person in the history of this region
He was the oldest man in the Balkans since March 15, 2021 (5 years 74 days), also the longest time since data began to be collected, surpassing the 3 years, 270 days of the also Romanian Dumitru Comănescu who reigned from October 1, 2016 to June 27, 2020
Dumitru Comănescu was also the oldest man to hold this position before Ciocan, he died at 111 years, 219 days and the last Romanian to be the oldest living man in the Balkans before Ciocan, who was the 7th Romanian in history in this position
His successor was Iosif Rus, the 13th oldest person in the history of the Balkans
Ciocan is the oldest man in Romanian history, his successor, Iosif Rus is the 3rd and was born on October 28, 1915
He was the oldest living person In Romania since February 2, 2022 (4 years, 114 days), the longest time since records began, surpassing Dumitru Comănescu who lived from May 16, 2017 to June 27, 2020 (3 years, 42 days), who was also the oldest to die in that position at 111 years, 219 days.
Ciocan was the first person from Vâlcea to be considered the oldest living person in that country.
He was the 8th man to be considered the oldest person in Romania, the first since Ioan Lascău who lived from December 28, 2020 to February 15, 2021.
His successor is the 3rd oldest person in Romanian history (4 of the 5 oldest in Romanian history were alive until May 24, 2026; 2 of them died 3 days later).
He was the oldest living man in Romania since February 15, 2021. (5 years, 101 days), the longest time since records began, surpassing again Dumitru Comănescu, who held the position from fl. 1 Feb 2016 - 27 Jun 2020 (fl. 4 years, 147 days) and was the oldest man to die in that position before Ciocan.
Ciocan was the first man from Vâlcea to be the oldest living man in Romania.
His successor, Iosif Rus, is the 4th oldest person in Romanian history and the 3rd oldest man in the country's history.
He is the 121st oldest European person in history, tied with
Mollie Walker F 5 Feb 1909 22 Jan 2022 UK.
He is the 5th oldest European man in European history, his successor Vitantonio Lovallo, born on 28 Mar 1914, is the 15th.
He was the oldest man in Europe since 25 Nov. 2024 (1 year, 183 days), the longest time since Frenchman Georges Thomas, who lived from July 15, 2022 to June 1, 2024 (1 year, 322 days).
He was the oldest person to die in this position since German Gustav Gerneth, who died at 114 years and 6 days on October 21, 2019.
He is the second Romanian to occupy this position; the first was Dumitru Comanescu, who died on June 27, 2020.
He is the oldest person born in 1913 to die to date.
He was the 8th oldest living person in Europe.
He was the 28th oldest living person in the world.
He is the 29th oldest man in history.
He is the 567th oldest person in history.
He was also the oldest living person from World War II since January 30, 2024 (2 years, 117 days), the longest time since Frenchwoman Gabrielle des Roberts. who held this position from September 25, 2014 to December 3, 2018 (4 years, 69 days)
He is the 14th man in this position, 6 in a row.
He is the oldest to die in this position since Chitetsu Watanabe (Japan), who died at 112 years, 355 days on February 23, 2020.
He was the first Romanian to be considered the oldest in this position.
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