BIOGRAPHY

Albano Andrade was born in São Miguel de Souto, Aveiro District, Portugal, on 14 December 1909, to parents António Domingos Andrade Júnior and Maria Ferreira. His younger brother Alberto was born on 2 December 1911. The two brothers have always lived together in the house where they were born and raised. The brothers studied up to the fourth grade. After completing his education, Albano passed an admission examination to become a teacher but ultimately decided against pursuing this career when assigned to a school far from home. Despite this, he maintained a lifelong love of learning, enjoying reading and staying informed about national politics.

Albano was described as an introvert—calm, kind, and a good friend to everyone. In contrast, his younger brother Alberto was outgoing, with a strong personality and a playful demeanor, known for his great sense of humor. Music played a significant role in Albano’s life. He was an accomplished violinist, continuing to play well past his 100th birthday. He also served as the maestro of the local philharmonic band for several years. Faith was a cornerstone of the brothers’ lives. Raised in a devout Roman Catholic household, they remained deeply involved in religious activities and nurtured a strong belief in God throughout their lives. Albano chose never to marry, but he always lived with family, including nieces and nephews, maintaining close relationships throughout his life.

His brother Alberto Andrade died on 8 October 2021, at the age of 109 years, 310 days. His family was known for their longevity; his mother lived to 96, his father to 95, and one of his nephews (the son of his eldest sister) lived to 101.

In 2013, at the age of 103, it was reported that Albano had no cognitive impairment and remained independent in performing basic daily activities. Despite his frail appearance, he had never experienced any major health issues up to that point. He rarely took medication, even when prescribed by his doctor, and had no history of chronic diseases.

Albano Andrade passed away in São Miguel de Souto, on 29 June 2021, at the age of 111 years, 197 days.

RECOGNITION

Following the passing of Manuel Rodrigues Horta (16 March 1908 – c.23 August 2016), he became the oldest living man in Portugal, at the age of 106 years, c.253 days. He held the title for almost five years, until his own passing in June 2021, when he was succeeded by his younger brother, Alberto Andrade.

On 2 April 2019, the two brothers were officially recognized by Guinness World Records for having the highest combined age of two living siblings, which totaled 216 years and 230 days at the time.

ATTRIBUTION

* “Oldest brothers with combined age of 216 set new record for living siblings” – Guinness World Records, 3 June 2019

* “Exceptional Siblings: The Andrade Brothers” – Wiley Online Library, 9 March 2020

* “Albano de 110 anos e Alberto de 108: Conheça a incrível vida dos irmãos Andrade” – Correio da Manhã, 22 November 2020

* “Morreu Albano Andrade, metade da dupla dos irmãos mais velhos do mundo” – Publico, 30 June 2021

GALLERY