Joan Riudavets



Joan Riudavets-Moll (15 December 1889 – 5 March 2004) was a Spanish supercentenarian and the oldest verified person ever in the history of Spain. He was born in Minorca. He became the oldest recognized living person in Europe following the death of Italian Maria Teresa Fumarola Ligorio in May 2003, and the oldest recognized living man in the world following the death of Japanese supercentenarian Yukichi Chuganji in September 2003. At age 113, he was the oldest man ever to accede to that position. Riudavets is one of only four men in history who have undisputably lived to age 114 or more.

Biography


His mother, Catalina Moll Mercadés, died at age 25 before the end of December 1889.[1] Riudavets' wife, whom he married in 1917, was born in 1889 and died around 1979.[2] He worked as a cobbler until retiring in 1954, and was a former village councillor of Es Migjorn Gran.[1] He was on a Mediterranean diet, which included: olive oil, tomatoes, fish and bread.[1] Riudavets was able to walk by himself and ride a bicycle until his death. Some of his hobbies were playing the guitar, singing, and playing football.[1] He died aged 114 after having a cold for a few days (but not being seriously ill) in Minorca, Spain.[2] He was the last recognised surviving man documented as born in the 1880s. He is the sixth-oldest verified man in history.

Moll was survived by two younger brothers: Pere, who died in 2006, and Josep, in 2009.[1]

As of October 2008, Riudavets is one of the 70 longest lived people on record.