Luis de Jesús Cano Vásquez is a Colombian-born American supercentenarian who is currently the oldest known living man in the United States. His age has been validated by LongeviQuest.
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Luis Cano, America's oldest known living man, holding his LongeviQuest trophy.
Supercentenarian Profile
Luis Cano
✔ Age Certified by LongeviQuest
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BIOGRAPHY
Luis de Jesús Cano Vásquez, also known as Luis Cano, was born in Andes, Antioquia, Colombia on 9 December 1914 to parents Leocadio Cano Arroyave and Ana Rita Vásquez Franco. He had at least nine siblings: Tulio, Margarita, Camila, Roberto, Magdalena, Cruzana, Olga, Carmen Luisa, and Gildardo (all deceased).
He joined in the Colombian Army in 1937 and completed his practical training in the battalion’s bakery. In 1939, he ranked second in target-shooting practice. After his military service, he owned and operated a fleet of buses that traveled between towns at a time when this type of transportation was unavailable in the region. Although he did not have the opportunity to pursue formal education, through his work on the bus, he became highly proficient in mathematics and performed all calculations mentally.
He married Alicia Arango Cano (1931-2004) on 28 June 1948, and they had ten children: Nelly, Damaris, Gilberto, Luz Dary, Luis Hernán, Germán, Cecilia, Marina, César, and José. In later years, the family expanded to include 11 grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren.
Luis and Alicia arrived in Far Rockaway, New York, United States in 1990, where they lived with two of their children. When his wife passed away in 2004, Luis moved to Linden, New Jersey, where he has resided ever since. In his retirement and after arriving in the United States, his summer hobby was planting tomatoes, cilantro, and onions. He also thoroughly enjoyed fishing, although he never liked to eat fish. He also loved playing billiards and bowling.
Luis stated that the secret to his longevity was eating beans, lemons, chili peppers, and lots and lots of avocado. He also said that the secret lies in a healthy lifestyle; he never smoked or drank alcohol.
He was one of the first residents of the Home Sweet Home daycare in Elizabeth, New Jersey (2004-2022). Now he enjoys life at home with his family, who visit him frequently.
On his 110th birthday, Mayor Derek Armstead visited him to present a proclamation and a birthday card in his honor. On 6 December 2025, he celebrated his 111th birthday with his family and received many congratulations from all his neighbors, who eagerly await the announcements in his yard each year.
On 24 January 2026, he was visited by LongeviQuest founder and CEO Ben Meyers, along with Mayor Derek Armstead. On the occasion, he was presented with a mayoral proclamation and a LongeviQuest plaque in recognition of his status as the oldest living man in the United States.
VIDEO
RECOGNITION
Following the passing of Vincent Dransfield on 26 June 2024, he became the oldest known living man in the U.S. state of New Jersey.
Following the passing of Eugene Baltes on 29 December 2024, he became the oldest known living man in the United States.
His age was verified by Santiago García Medina, Fabrizio Villatoro, Gabriel Ainsworth and Ben Meyers, and validated by LongeviQuest on 19 December 2025.
ATTRIBUTION
(LongeviQuest thanks his family for providing biographical information and photographs.)
* “Happy 110th Birthday to Luis Caño from the City of Linden.” – Linden NJ – City Government (Facebook), 11 December 2024
* “New Jersey man Luis Cano celebrates his claimed 110th Birthday” – LongeviQuest, 12 December 2024
* “Luis Cano, Believed to Be Oldest Man in the U.S., Turns 111” – LongeviQuest, 9 December 2025
* “Luis Cano, America’s Oldest Man, Validated at 111” – LongeviQuest, 19 December 2025
* “Luis Cano: America’s Oldest Man” – LongeviQuest, 27 January 2026
* “Meet America’s Oldest Man: 111-Year-Old Luis Cano” – YouTube, 27 January 2026
GALLERY
On 1 January 1939, aged 24. (Source: Courtesy of the family).
From left to right: Luis, daughter Damaris, daughter Nelly and his wife Alicia, in 1952.
In 1958, aged 43. (Source: Courtesy of the family).
In Cartagena, Colombia, in the 1980s. (Source: Courtesy of the family).
In the 1980s. (Source: Courtesy of the family).
From left to right: his brother Gildardo, Luis and his wife Alicia, in the 1990s.
In the 1990s. (Source: Courtesy of the family).
In the 1990s. (Source: Courtesy of the family).
In the 1990s. (Source: Courtesy of the family).
In the 1990s. (Source: Courtesy of the family).
On his 94th birthday in 2008. (Source: Courtesy of the family).
On 10 September 2010, aged 95. (Source: Courtesy of the family).
In 2017. (Source: Courtesy of the family).
In 2018, aged 103. (Source: Courtesy of the family).
On his 104th birthday in December 2018. (Source: Courtesy of the family).
On 21 June 2019, aged 104. (Source: Courtesy of the family).
On 21 June 2020, aged 105. (Source: Courtesy of the family).
On his 107th birthday celebration in 2021. (Source; Courtesy of the family).
On his 110th birthday. (Source: Linden NJ – City Government)
On his 111th birthday party, 7 December 2025. (Source: Courtesy of the family)
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