LongeviQuest is saddened to report the passing of Luis Cano of Linden, New Jersey, United States. Mr. Cano, who was recognized by LongeviQuest as America’s oldest living man, was 111 years old.
His granddaughter confirmed to LongeviQuest that he passed away quietly in his sleep at the family home.
Mr. Cano was born in Andes, Antioquia, Colombia, on 9 December 1914. As a young man, he served in the Colombian Army, where he completed practical training in the battalion’s bakery and ranked second in target-shooting practice in 1939. After his military service, he became a businessman, owning and operating a fleet of buses that transported passengers between towns at a time when such transportation was not yet widely available in the region.
Although he did not have the opportunity to pursue formal education, Mr. Cano became highly skilled in mathematics through his work, performing calculations mentally as part of his business.
He married Alicia Arango Cano on 28 June 1948. The couple had ten children: Nelly, Damaris, Gilberto, Luz Dary, Luis Hernán, Germán, Cecilia, Marina, César, and José. In later years, his family grew to include grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren.
Mr. Cano and his wife moved to the United States in 1990, settling first in Far Rockaway, New York. After his wife’s passing in 2004, he moved to Linden, New Jersey, where he remained surrounded by family and community.
In retirement, Mr. Cano enjoyed gardening, especially planting tomatoes, cilantro, and onions. He also loved fishing, billiards, bowling, and spending time with his family. He credited his longevity to a healthy lifestyle, saying he never smoked or drank alcohol, and often emphasized natural foods including beans, lemons, chili peppers, and avocado.
Following the passing of Eugene Baltes on 29 December 2024, Mr. Cano became the oldest known living man in the United States. His age was validated by LongeviQuest on 19 December 2025. Upon his passing, America’s oldest living man is now 111-year-old Ed Martin of Lehigh Acres, Florida.
In January 2026, LongeviQuest’s Ben Meyers visited Mr. Cano at his home in Linden, along with Linden Mayor Derek Armstead. During the visit, Mr. Cano was presented with a LongeviQuest plaque recognizing his status as America’s oldest man, while Mayor Armstead honored him with a city proclamation.
During that visit, Mr. Cano was alert, engaged, and surrounded by the family members who had been central to his later life. Much of his day was spent in his favorite chair by the window, watching the activity of his Linden neighborhood, where neighbors and passersby had come to recognize and celebrate their city’s oldest resident.
LongeviQuest extends its sincere condolences to the family, friends, and community of Mr. Cano.
