Ilie Ciocan – Gerontology Research Group

Full name: Ilie Ciocan
Lifespan: 10.06.1913
Age: 110 years
Birthplace: Cremenari, Galicea, Valcea, Kingdom of Romania
Last residence: Bratia din Vale, Galicea, Valcea County, Romania
Application date: 09.10.2023
Validation date: 09.11.2023
Validation source: Dejan Vujic/Camelia Ciocan/the Ciocan family

Biography

Ilie Ciocan claimed to have been born in the village of Cremenari, Galicea, Valcea County, Romania, on May 28, 1913. Nevertheless the study of his age, performed by the Gerontology Research Group (GRG) established that his actual date of birth was June 10, 1913. Life dealt him a challenging hand, orphaned first by his father at the tender age of 6, and later by his mother at 12, compelling him to enter the workforce early to survive. Young Ilie toiled as a shepherd, earning his sustenance with what he described as a “piece of bread.” His early years were marked by hard work, particularly with “cows,” until he reached the age of 14.

At 18, he entered the institution of marriage with Floarea Obogeanu, a woman seven years his senior. The two were officially united on January 28, 1932, in the Romanian Orthodox Church. Together, Ilie and Floarea raised six children, a harmonious blend of three daughters and three sons.

The tribulations of life extended to the battlefield, as Ilie Ciocan found himself mobilized into the army at 22. Assigned to the 6th Pitesti Artillery Regiment in 1935, he marched to the front lines in 1941 during the tumult of the Second World War. As a gunner and courier servant, his service took him across the Eastern Front, from Odessa to the Don Bend, and even to the Western Front, reaching as far as Czechoslovakia.

His resilience and tenacity earned him release from military service in 1945, granted due to his status as a father of many children. Ilie returned from the front unscathed, a testament to his survival in the crucible of wartime challenges. Post-World War II, he received the esteemed status of a war veteran, an acknowledgment of his service to his country.

The pages of Ilie Ciocan’s life were marked by more than just his military feats. In the post-1990 era, following general promotion orders from the Ministry of National Defense of Romania, Ciocan ascended to the rank of major.

His life partner, Floarea, journeyed by his side until her passing in 1992 at the age of 87, leaving a void in Ilie’s life but also a legacy of resilience and family.

At the time of his 110th birthday, Ciocan resided in the village of Bratia din Vale, Galicea, Valcea County, Romania.

Longevity Recognition

Ilie Ciocan’s life story unfolds with remarkable resilience and a spirit that defied the limitations of age. Even in his nineties, he embraced the freedom of two wheels, cycling until the age of 90. A testament to his robust health, he weathered a leg injury at 93, refusing the conventional “plaster” and recovering successfully.

Ciocan’s vitality extended to his eyesight, enabling him to read the Bible and the newspaper without glasses until the age of 103. However, the inevitable passage of time brought changes, with the loss of both hearing and sight by the age of 106.

His journey was marked by milestones that reflected not just his longevity but his status as a living historical figure. On numerous occasions, he ascended to the title of the oldest known living man in Romania and the Balkans:

February 15, 2021: He became the oldest known living man in Romania following the death of 108-year-old Ioan Lascau.
March 15, 2021: After the passing of 108-year-old Stelios Fragiadoulakis of Greece, he claimed the title of the oldest known living man in the Balkans.
February 2, 2022: With the demise of 109-year-old Maria Mihai, he became the oldest known living person in Romania.
February 28, 2023: Following the death of 109-year-old Constantin Hertoiu, he became the last known surviving person in Romania born before 1915 and the last known Balkan man born before the outbreak of World War I.
April 5, 2023: After the passing of 111-year-old Ioanna Proiou-Dimitriadou of Greece, he took the mantle of the oldest known living person in the Balkans.
May 2023: Celebrating his 110th birthday, he joined the exclusive ranks of supercentenarians.
July 2, 2023: Following the death of 108-year-old Ramiz Selmani of North Macedonia, he became the last known surviving Balkan man born before the outbreak of World War I.

His legacy extends beyond Romania, making him the second-oldest known documented Romanian man ever, following 111- year old Dumitru Comanescu (1908-2020).

In a significant acknowledgment of his age, the Gerontology Research Group bestowed upon Ilie Ciocan the pending status through the World Supercentenarian Forum on October 10, 2023. His journey remains a testament to the enduring strength of the human spirit.

Longevity Titles

Doyen of Romania (15.02.2021 – present)
Oldest living person in Romania (02.02.2022 – present)

Validation

Ilie Ciocan’s case was verified by Dejan Vujic, an excellent GRG Correspondent for Serbia (since February 2023), with interim coverage on Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, and Kosovo, specializing in the Balkan region, with the support of Mr. Ciocan’s closest family, and validated by the Gerontology Research Group (GRG) as of November 9, 2023.