BIOGRAPHY

García was born in Aldea Los Sitios, Santa Rosa, Guatemala on 30 September 1912, although he and his family claimed that he was actually born a year or two earlier due to his birth being registered late. Aged five, he was taken to live in Aldea Las Joyas de San Nicolas, an experience he would later recount with great enthusiasm. Throughout his life, he worked in agriculture, specialising in coffee harvesting. He was married twice; his first wife died just one year after marriage, but he later remarried and had 8 children with his second wife.

At the time of his 106th birthday in 2018, García had, in addition to his eight children, 24 grandchildren, 36 great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren. He needed a wheelchair as a centenarian, but was still mentally sharp and could still see and hear.

García died in Pueblo Nuevo Viñas, Santa Rosa, Guatemala, on 16 December 2020 at the age of 108 years, 77 days.

RECOGNITION

García claimed birth in 1910, but research conducted by LongeviQuest found him to be two years younger.

García’s age was verified by Stefan Maglov, Fabrizio Villatoro, and an anonymous researcher, and validated by LQ on 10 August 2024.

ATTRIBUTION

• Don Chomito García vive en Santa Rosa y cumplió 108 años Relato, 18 October 2018

• El Señor Alcalde, la Municipalidad y su Honorable Concejo Felicitan y bendicen a Don Gerónimo García… Municipalidad de Pueblo Nuevo Viñas, Santa Rosa Administración on Facebook, 1 October 2020

GALLERY