BIOGRAPHY

Juan Bautista Quiróz Pití (sometimes spelled Pittí) was born in the small town of Cochea in Boquete, Chiriquí, Panama on 29 August 1915, to parents Manuel de Jesús Quiróz and Serafina Pití. As was typical for rural children of his generation, he grew up around a large extended family which included his aunts, uncles, and cousins. At the age of 8, under the advice of his uncle, Santo, he began attending school at a small schoolhouse in their town. However, he would only attend for 3 months before he began working in the fields, growing crops such as corn, yucca, mangoes, and avocados.

At the age of 17, he met and married Clementina Espinosa, who was just one week older than him. She already had a daughter from a previous relationship, whom Quiróz would adopt and raise as his own. The couple would also later adopt a niece a few years later, but would have no biological children together. At some point, the family moved to Volcancito, a town in Boquete that was to the north of Cochea, making the trip aboard the cheapest available train on the Chiriquí Railway (each ticket reportedly cost just 40 cents). Upon arriving at a train station in Bajo Boquete, the family made the rest of their journey by horseback. With the help of his brother-in-law, Quiróz would build his family’s house, requiring them to carry the building materials for several miles to get to the property.

In 2010, following 78 years of marriage, his wife passed away at the age of 95. Shortly thereafter, he retired from his work as a farmer, and began living with his granddaughter. He currently resides in Volcancito, Boquete, Panama, at the age of 109.

In January 2024, following the death of 108-year-old Rubén Ibarra Samaniego, he became the oldest (documented) living man in Panama.

RECOGNITION

His age was researched by James Roberts, and is currently under review by LongeviQuest.

ATTRIBUTION

* “Juan Bautista Quiróz Pittí el Caballero mas Longevo de Boquete, 107 años” – Radio Boqueteon, 10 May 2023

* “JUAN BAUTISTA QUIRÓZ PITTÍ: TESORO VIVIENTE DE BOQUETE” – Melva Miranda/Facebook, 6 March 2024

GALLERY