Dumitru Comănescu

Supercentenarian data for Romania

  • Full name: Dumitru Comănescu
  • Lifespan: (08.08.1908 (O.S.) 21.11.1908 (N.S.) – 27.06.2020)
  • Age: 111 years, 219 days
  • Birthplace: Drăgăneasa, Prahova County, Kingdom of Romania (now Romania)
  • Last residence: Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania
  • Application date: 25.12.2019
  • Validation date: 15.06.2020
  • Validation source: Guinness World Records/Dr. Bogdan Alexandrescu/Robert Young/Mihai Matei

Biography

Dumitru Comănescu was born in the village of Drăgăneasa (now Provița de Jos), Prahova County, Romania, on 21 November 1908 (8 November 1908, according to the Julian calendar, which was in use in Romania at the time). He was one of six siblings. His parents, Ion and Susana, were 37 and 35 years old, respectively, when he was born. At university, he studied mathematics and agronomy and graduated in 1933. After college, Comănescu moved to Târgoviște, where he met his wife, who was a pediatrician and a primary cousin of nuclear physicist Horia Hulubei. They got a son and a daughter. During the World War II, as an agronomist engineer, he was mobilized to work behind the front lines, contributing to the country’s food supply. After the death of his wife in 1990, Comănescu moved to his daughter and son-in-law in Bucharest.

Comănescu was an agronomist engineer and one of the most valuable phytopathologists, being the disciple of the founder of the Institute of Agronomic Research, Gheorghe Ionescu Siseşti. Initially, he enrolled in the Faculty of Mathematics, having as a teacher one of the greatest mathematicians, Gheorghe Ţiţeica. He would then find his vocation in the world of plant research. Comănescu worked for over 70 years until 2003. When he was 86, a competition for agricultural experts was organized in Bucharest. He took part in it and, out of dozens of candidates, he took 5th place in the country.

On 18 May 2014, following the death of 108-year-old Traian Grancea of Sibiu, Comănescu became the oldest known living man in Romania.

On 16 May 2016, at the age of 108 years, 177 days, Comănescu surpassed the final age of Gheorghe Covaci (1905–2014) of 108 years, 176 days, becoming the oldest validated man ever in Romania.

On 1 October 2016, following the death of 110-year-old Jovan Jovanović of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Comănescu became the oldest known living man in the Balkans.

On 16 May 2017, following the death of 108-year-old Sofia Vrabie of Bacău, Comănescu became the oldest known living person in Romania.

At the age of 108, Comănescu had a hip fracture but no hospital was able to operate on him. Eventually, he went to the Foisor Hospital where he was considered ‘a local attraction’ for both doctors and patients.

On 29 October 2018, following the death of 110-year-old Nina Valjalo of Croatia, Comănescu became the oldest known living person in the Balkans.

On 4 November 2018, at the age of 109 years, 348 days, Comănescu surpassed the final age of Elena Lungoci (1895–2004) of 109 years, 347 days, becoming the oldest validated person ever in Romania.

Celebrating his 110th birthday in November 2018, Comănescu became the first known documented supercentenarian ever recorded in Romania.

On 28 May 2020, following the death of 112-year-old Bob Weighton of the United Kingdom, Comănescu became the oldest living man in Europe. At the time, it was assumed Comănescu also succeeded Weighton as the world’s oldest living man, and he was recognized by Guinness World Records on 28 May 2020. However, it was later revealed that both Tomás Pinales Figuereo (1906–2020) of Dominican Republic, and Emilio Flores Márquez (1908–2021) of Puerto Rico were older than he was.

Dumitru Comănescu died in Bucharest, Romania, on 27 June 2020, at the age of 111 years, 219 days. Three days before his death, he was awarded the Patriarchal Cross, the highest ecclesiastical honor of the Romanian Orthodox Church.

Dumitru Comănescu at the age of 111.

Longevity recognition

  • Oldest living man in Europe (28.05.2020 – 27.06.2020)
  • Longevity recordholder for Romania (04.11.2018 – 16.01.2025)
  • Oldest living person in the Balkans (29.10.2018 – 27.06.2020)
  • Oldest living person in Romania (16.05.2017 – 27.06.2020)
  • Oldest living man in the Balkans (01.10.2016 – 27.06.2020)
  • Oldest man ever in Romania (16.05.2016 – 16.01.2025)
  • Oldest living man in Romania (18.05.2014 – 27.06.2020)

Validation

His age was meticulously examined and verified by Guinness World Records, Dr. Bogdan Alexandrescu, Robert Young, and Mihai Matei, and validated by the Gerontology Research Group (GRG) on 15 June 2020.

Dumitru Comănescu as a young boy.

Dumitru Comănescu with his parents.

Dumitru Comănescu at the age of 110.

Dumitru Comănescu on his 111th birthday in 2019.