GRG visit to Ilie Ciocan of Romania, 111, Europe’s Oldest Man
Following the Bucharest conference on Longevity Map of Romania, the Gerontology Research Group (GRG) representatives for both Romania and Poland & Nordic Countries, Lăcrămioara Frăsineanu and Wacław Jan Kroczek, had the great distinction of visiting Romania’s oldest living resident Mr. Ilie Ciocan in the village of Bratia din Vale, Vâlcea County. Ilie Ciocan was born on 28 May 1913 (O.S.)/10 June 1913 (N.S.) and is 111 years old.
Mr. Ilie Ciocan remains under a loving care of his closest family. Remarkably, he lived alone until the age of 107. After his eldest son’s death at age 88 in 2020, he has been living with his grandchildren. Having lost his parents at a young age, Ilie was determined to start a family of his own. He married Floarea, and together they had six children. In his youth, he was a tall, robust man who enjoyed cold baths. A World War II veteran, he fought on the Eastern Front. After the war, he worked as a farmer and road builder. He retained excellent vision, reading without glasses until the age of 103. Until age 108, he lived independently, with his family occasionally assisting with shopping. Ilie still has two natural teeth and does not use dental prosthetics.
Ilie’s diet is simple and balanced. It includes bread and coconut oil (believed to help prevent dementia), eggs, kefir, cheese, and omelets. His dinners typically consist of soups, a mixed main course, and lean meats like chicken, beef, or turkey. Vegetables, milk, and honey are staples in his meals. He has never smoked but enjoys a small amount of alcohol daily – 50 ml of Romania’s traditional Tuică, consumed before his main meal. His character is best described as self-confident and having a natural leadership quality. Despite his resilience, he never shared stories from the war. He has a deep affection for animals and remembers their names long after they have passed.
We had the great pleasure of informing the Ciocan family about Mr. Ilie Ciocan’s new status as the oldest living man in Europe, following the death of 112-year-old John Tinniswood (1912–2024) of the UK on 25 November 2024. For the second time in history, that prestigeous title belongs to a Romanian man. Previously, to Dumitru Comănescu of Bucharest (1908-2020) who became Europe’s Oldest Man following the death of 112-year-old Robert Weighton (1908-2020) of the UK.
Ilie Ciocan’s case was verified by Dejan Vujić, GRG Correspondent for Serbia, specializing in the Balkan region, with the support of Mr. Ciocan’s closest family, his granddaughter Camelia Ciocan, and validated by the Gerontology Research Group (GRG) on 9 November 2023. As of 30 November 2024, he is the third-oldest validated living man in the world, behind 112-year-old Joao Marinho Neto of Brazil and 111-year-old Josino Levino Ferreira also of Brazil.
