Supercentenarian Profile

Arturo Licata

Born:

1902-05-02

Enna, Sicily

Italy

Died:

2014-04-24

Enna, Sicily

Italy

✔ Age Certified by LongeviQuest

Arturo Licata was an Italian supercentenarian. His age has been the European Supercentenarian Organisation (ESO).

BIOGRAPHY

Arturo Licata was born into a family of four brothers and two sisters in the city of Castrogiovanni (now Enna), Sicily, Italy, on 2 May 1902. However, his family believed that he was born on 28 April.

He began working at the age of just nine in the Pasquasia mines, where he remained employed for 20 years. In 1921, at the age of 19, he joined the Italian Army. He later served in the Second Italo-Ethiopian War (1935–1937), spending a couple of years in Addis Ababa. Upon returning from Africa, he also worked at a tuberculosis clinic in Enna. His military service ended in 1939.

In December 1929, he married Rosa Iannello, who was his age, and the couple had seven children. Rosa died in 1980 at the age of 78.

Arturo had a great passion for music and was a self-taught composer and musician, with the guitar being his favorite instrument. For many years, he was one of the most popular musicians in the city. His passion for music eventually became a second profession, as he composed songs for serenades commissioned by young lovers in Enna.

At the age of 110, Licata was reported to have experienced significant physical decline. His joints had deteriorated, and he could only move between his armchair and bed with difficulty. He had also stopped watching television as his eyesight had deteriorated, partly as a result of an accident in his childhood, when an acetylene lamp exploded in his face and impaired his vision. His hearing had also declined considerably, causing him to speak less and less. Despite these physical limitations, he remained mentally lucid.

His longevity was reportedly attributed to a healthy lifestyle. His diet consisted largely of vegetables, raw onions, and a glass of red wine with meals. His favorite dish was pasta with ricotta. He ate little red meat, while coffee was a regular part of his routine, both in the morning and after lunch. His diet was complemented by a physically active lifestyle. As a young man, Licata reportedly walked as much as 22 kilometers a day.

Arturo Licata passed away in Enna, Sicily, Italy, on 24 April 2014, at the age of 111 years, 357 days. He was survived by his seven children, eight grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.

RECOGNITION

On 30 March 2012, following the passing of 110-year-old Giuseppe Mirabella, he became the Oldest Living Man in Italy. Upon his own passing two years later, he was succeeded by Salvatore Caruso.

On 7 September 2012, following the passing of 111-year-old Francisco Fernández Fernández (Spain), he became the Oldest Living Man in Europe. Upon his own passing, he was succeeded by Rezso Gallai (Hungary).

On 26 March 2014, following the passing of 112-year-old Ernest Peronneau (USA), he became the World’s Oldest Living Man, at the age of 111 years, 328 days. However, Peronneau’s age was not validated until October 2023. Therefore, it was originally believed that Licata became the world’s oldest man following the death of Salustiano Sánchez Blázquez in September 2013. Licata held the title for 29 days, until his own passing, when he was succeeded by Alexander Imich.

Licata’s age was verified by Paolo Scarabaggio, and was validated by the European Supercentenarian Organisation (ESO) on 21 September 2020.