Jovan Jovanović
Supercentenarian data for Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Full name: Jovan Jovanović [Serbian Јован Јовановић]
- Lifespan: (16.09.1906 – 01.10.2016)
- Age: 110 years, 15 days
- Birthplace: Donji Brčeli, Bar, Principality of Montenegro (now Montenegro)
- Last residence: Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Application date: 03.09.2023
- Validation date: 13.10.2023
- Validation source: Dejan Vujić/Adela Bahto
Biography
Early life
Jovan Jovanović was born in village Donji Brčeli, Bar, Principality of Montenegro (present-day Montenegro) on 16 September 1906. His parents were Pero Jovanović and Stana Vujačić. He was born in poor family. His father came from America when First Balkan War started, but disappeared during World War I. He was always interested in schooling. In 1934, he graduated literature and Russian language in Belgrade, Serbia (then Kingdom of Yugoslavia). His first job was at the Gymnasium of Berane. In December 1943, he married Zagorka and came to live in Bosnia with her in 1944. They had no children.
World War II and life after war
He lived in Podgorica, Montenegro during World War II. His sister Ljubica was killed during war. After war, he became Director of Gymnasium in Foca, where at the same time he was a professor of Russian language and philosophy. In April 1946 he was arrested by OZNA, a security agency of post-war Yugoslavia and spent half year in Cetinje prison. After that, he worked at gymnasiums in Pljevlja, again in Foca and Sarajevo. In January 1957, he went to the University Library in Sarajevo and worked there until retirement. His wife Zagorka died in 1973. During his life, he published 222 scientific papers.
Late life
At the time of Bosnian War, in 1992, his apartment was demolished and he spent five months living in shelters. In the shelling in March 1993, he was severely injured in his leg. In his last years, he devoted himself to studying about “Gorski vijenac” (The Mountain Wreath), a poem and a play by Petar II Petrović- Njegoš. In March 1996 he moved to Gerontological Center in Sarajevo. All of his time he spent with Fahira Turković, who came to Center one day before him.
He became the oldest known living person in Bosnia and Herzegovina, following the death of 109-year-old Mara Kvrgić on 4 December 2012. Following the death of 109-year-old Krsto Vojvodić of Montenegro on 22 November 2015, he became the oldest living man in the Balkans.
In September 2016, he celebrated his 110th birthday and became a supercentenarian, making the first known (documented) supercentenarian who ever lived in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Jovan Jovanović died in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina on 1 October 2016 at the age of 110 years, 15 days. He was buried on 5 October 2016 on Bare Cemetery, Sarajevo. Following his death, then-106-year-old Dragoljub Galić became the oldest known living man and person in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and then 107-year-old Dumitru Comanescu of Romania became the oldest known living man in the Balkans.
Jovanović held the title of the oldest person in the history of Bosnia and Herzegovina, until 20 May 2024, when his age was surpassed by Ajka Lokmić (1914–2024).
Longevity recognition
- Oldest living man in Bosnia and Herzegovina (Unknown – 01.10.2016)
- Oldest living person in Bosnia and Herzegovina (04.12.2012 – 01.10.2016)
- Oldest man ever in Bosnia and Herzegovina (Unknown – present)
- Oldest living man in the Balkans (22.11.2015 – 01.10.2016)
- Oldest man ever in the Balkans (25.04.2016 – 07.12.2018)
- Oldest person ever in Bosnia and Herzegovina (07.04.2016 – 20.05.2024)
Validation
Jovan Jovanović’s age was meticulously examined and verified by Dejan Vujić (GRG Correspondent for Serbia & Bosnia and Herzegovina) and Adela Bahto (Gerontology Center Sarajevo), and validated by the Gerontology Research Group (GRG) on 13 October 2023.
Jovan Jovanović as centenarian.
Jovan Jovanović as a young man and as an older man.
Jovanovic (aged 107) and Fahira Turkovic (aged 75), in February 2013
Jovanovic reads newspapers with a magnifying glass, in his centenarian years.
Jovanovic (aged 108), in October 2014.
Jovanovic (aged 109) and Fahira Turkovic (aged 77), in December 2015.
Jovanovic (aged 109), in December 2015.
Photo courtesy of Adela Bahto, and Bosniainfo.ba.
