Melitón Augusto Pihuave Cochea is an Ecuadorian supercentenarian whose age has been validated by LongeviQuest. He is currently the nation’s oldest living man.
Translate:
On 25 September 2026, at age 110. (Source: Courtesy of the family).
BIOGRAPHY
Melitón Augusto Pihuave Cochea was born in the Libertador Bolívar commune, within the Manglaralto parish, Santa Elena province, Ecuador, on 16 September 1916. In his youth, he moved to the Palmar commune where he has resided ever since.
Throughout his life, Pihuave Cochea has been a hardworking man of many trades and a pillar of his community. He dedicated many years of his life to agriculture, livestock farming, carpentry, and the trade of agricultural products such as bamboo, green plantains, mocoche, mamey, and oranges.
In May 1937, he married Juana Reyes Barzola, and together they had 15 children, ten of whom are still alive (as of September 2026): Edilberto, Ángel, Artidoro, Isauro, Lindorfa, Alicia, Víctor, Sara, Nery, and Griselda.
He served in the Ecuadorian Army, attaining the rank of First Sergeant and participating in an armed conflict in the country. Later, he established a popular general shop (bazar) on the Palmar commune’s waterfront. After a period of closure, he celebrated the business’s reopening as a gift of life, remaining at the helm to personally serve his neighbors and customers.
During his centenarian years, the Autonomous Decentralized Municipal Government of Santa Elena awarded him a commendation and recognition for Civic Merit, honoring his qualities as an exemplary citizen, his healthy and active life in touch with nature, and his contribution to the development of the peninsula.
At the age of 109, he had 120 grandchildren, 30 great-grandchildren, and many great-great-grandchildren.
RECOGNITION
His age was verified by Fabrizio Villatoro and Gabriel Ainsworth, with assistance of his family, and validated by LongeviQuest on 25 September 2026.
ATTRIBUTION
(The biography of Melitón Augusto Pihuave Cochea was compiled entirely through interviews with his family.)
GALLERY
On 3 May 1936, aged 19. (Source: Courtesy of the family).
At the age 20. (Source: Courtesy of the family).
On 25 September 2026, aged 110. (Source: Courtesy of the family).
RELATED PROFILES
Related posts:
[crp limit='4' ]