Saturnino de la Fuente Garcia

Saturnino de la Fuente Garcia presented with the GWR certificate.

**Saturnino de la Fuente Garcia** (Spanish: *García*; 11 February 1909 – 18 January 2022) was a Spanish supercentenarian who was recognized as the world's oldest living man by the Guinness World Records, and held the title until his own death at the age of 112 years, 341 days. His age was also validated by the European Supercentenarian Organisation (ESO).

## Biography

Saturnino de la Fuente Garcia was born in Puente Castro (a neighbourhood of Leon), Castile and Leon, Spain, on 11 February 1909, although he always celebrated his birthday a little earlier, on 8 February. He was the youngest child born to parents Salustiano and Josefa. His father was from Leon while his mother was from Asturias. He had four older siblings: Miguel, Angel, Manolo and Maria.

In 1933, he married Antonina Barrio Gutierrez. The couple had seven daughters and one son, including Angeles, Rosi, Carmen Nieves, Maria Jesus and Mari. Their only son died an infant. He stood 150 cm during his life, and claimed that it's thanks to his short height that he later avoided fighting in the Spanish Civil War (1936–1939). He used to create boots for the army. He found himself trapped under the rubble left by an air crash, when a Condor Legion plane went down in 1937 in Leon, however, he survived. He played for and co-founded the local football team, Puente Castro, and was a constant supporter of Leon's team, Cultural y Deportiva Leonesa. His wife died around 1982.

On his 110th birthday in February 2019, Puente Castro paid homage to the former player as the oldest member of the soccer club. He started taking a medicine only few months prior to his 110th birthday. The local residents knew him as "El pepino" (which translates as "the cucumber"). At the age of 112, he lived with his daughter Angeles, and his son-in-law, Bernardo. At the time he had 14 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren. When asked about the secret of his longevity, he replied: "A quiet life… and do not hurt anyone."

Saturnino de la Fuente Garcia died at his house in Leon, Castile and Leon, Spain, on 18 January 2022, at the age of 112 years, 341 days.

## Longevity records

Saturnino de la Fuente Garcia became the oldest living man in Spain following the death of Jesus Mosteo Perez on 28 August 2019. On 27 June 2020, he became the oldest known living man in Europe following the death of 111-year-old Dumitru Comanescu. He became the oldest living Spanish-born person following the death of Vicenta Prieto Santos on 2 December 2020.

Following the death of 113-year-old Emilio Flores Marquez of Puerto Rico on 12 August 2021, he became the world's oldest living man, and one month later, he was recognized by the Guinness World Records. His age was later validated by the ESO on 8 December 2021. Following the death of Marcel Meys of France on 15 December 2021, he became the last man in Europe born in the 1900's decade (Delio Venturotti was born in Italy, but lived in Brazil).

## References

* «El último año fue largo, pero pienso vivir más» Diario de León, 7 February 2019
* Saturnino de la Fuente García confirmed as oldest living man aged 112 Guinness World Records, 30 September 2021
* World's oldest man, Saturnino de la Fuente García, dies aged 112 Guinness World Records, 18 January 2022