Olav Hovatn
- Full name: Olav Hovatn
- Lifespan: 23.10.1892 – 26.04.2003
- Age: 110 years, 185 days
- Birthplace: Froland, Agder fylke, Norway
- Last residence: Froland, Agder fylke, Norway
- Application date: N/A
- Validation date: 28.10.2002
- Validation source: Dag Hoelseth
Biography
Olav Hovatn was born in Froland, Aust-Agder, Norway, on 23 October 1892. There, he married in 1917. In working life, Hovatn worked as a timber floater and sheep farmer in Froland. In 1907, he saw a car for the first time in his life and it took him until 1964 to buy his first car.
He became a widower in 1973 when his 79-year-old wife, Ingeborg, died. Since then, aged 81 until he was 108, he stayed home alone at the farm in Froland. Then he thought it was time to move on to a retirement home. In 1999, Hovatn received the stamp “fitness general” from NTB, a Norwegian press agency, because he led the senior gym.
Hovatn’s secret to longevity was living a healthy life (he never smoked or drank alcohol) and his heritage (his mother died at 87 and his father at 84). He left a number of descendants, including a daughter of 85 years. He was the father of nine children, grandfather of 17 and great-grandfather to 32.
Following the death of Johannes Fosse, Hovatn became the oldest living man in Norway. (August 11, 2000).
He became the oldest living person in Norway following the death of 108-year old Herborg Tjoflot on December 19, 2000.
Hovatn got ill just before Easter and died in a hospital in Froland, Aust-Agder, Norway on 26 April 2003 at 8:55 PM at the age of 110 years, 185 days. He is the second-oldest Norwegian male ever after Herman Smith-Johannsen.
Longevity Recognition
- Doyen of Norway (11.08.2000 – 26.04.2003)
- The oldest living person in Norway (19.12.2000 – 26.04.2003)
Validation
The supercentenarian case of Harriet Holm was meticulously examined and verified by Celvin Ruisdael, GRG Correspondent for Norway, and validated by the Gerontology Research Group (GRG) as of November 24, 2003.
Olav Hovatn as a young man.
Olav Hovatn at age 106, exercising with his 80-year-old daughter Gunhild Marie (left) in 1999.
