Alfonso María Rojas Perdomo

BIOGRAPHY

Alfonso María Rojas Perdomo was born in Palermo, Huila, Colombia, on 31 May 1913, to parents Neftalí Rojas and Isabel Perdomo. He had four younger siblings, all of whom he outlived. He spent his childhood and youth alongside his parents and siblings until he reached the age of 20. Due to the violence that erupted between the liberal and conservative parties, which dominated Colombian politics at the time, the family was forced to relocate to the Vereda “La Primavera” in the neighboring municipality of Santa María, Huila. There, he and his brother acquired a rural property and, through their combined efforts, focused on agriculture and livestock.

After his brother’s passing, he married María Luz Dussán Mejía on May 12, 1951. The couple had eight children, seven of whom were still alive as of September 2023: Miguel Ángel, Luis Gerardo, Luz Mila, Amparo de Jesús, Jesús Alfonso, Carmenza, and María Luz. His wife passed away in 1962, leaving him responsible for raising their young children.

In 1985, at the age of 72, he moved to the municipal capital of Santa María, where he spent the rest of his life. Even at the age of 110, he was in good health and remained fully lucid. He had 17 grandchildren and 28 great-grandchildren.

Alfonso María Rojas Perdomo passed away in Santa María, Huila Department, Colombia, on 29 June 2024, at the age of 111 years, 29 days.

RECOGNITION

His age was verified by Fabrizio Villatoro, Stefan Maglov, and James Roberts, and validated by LongeviQuest on 5 October 2023, making him the first validated supercentenarian from the Department of Huila.