Leopold Vietoris was born in Bad Radkersburg, Styria, Austria-Hungary (present-day Austria), on 4 June 1891. He attended elementary school in Vienna from 1897 to 1902. His secondary education was from 1902 to 1910, when he attended Stiftsgymnasium Melk in Lower Austria, where he completed his Matura (equivalent to a higher secondary school certificate). He pursued studies in Mathematics and Descriptive Geometry at the Vienna Technical University until 1914, earning his doctorate (Dr. Phil.) in 1920.
In 1925, he received an 18-month scholarship to study in Amsterdam. Following this, he was appointed to a position at the Technical University of Vienna, focusing on Mathematics and Geometry. In 1930, he secured a professorship at the University of Innsbruck, where he continued his teaching career. His scientific contributions gained him recognition far beyond Austria. The Mayer–Vietoris Sequence, an algebraic tool for computing invariants of topological spaces, is named in his honor. Among numerous accolades, he was awarded the prestigious Great Golden Decoration of Honor of the Republic of Austria in 1981.
At the end of August 1914, Vietoris began his military service. He was held in Italian captivity from 4 November 1918, to 7 August 1919.
In 1928, Vietoris married his first wife, Clara von Riccabona, with whom he had six daughters. After Clara’s passing, he married her sister, Maria, who helped him raise his six children. Beyond his passion for mathematics, Vietoris was an avid mountain climber and skier.
Leopold Vietoris passed away in Innsbruck, Tyrol, Austria, on 9 April 2002, at the age of 110 years, 309 days.
Following the passing of Theresia Pichler (29 March 1891 – 15 February 1999), he became the oldest living person in Austria, at the age of 107 years, 256 days. He held the title for over three years, until his own passing in April 2002. He was succeeded by Adda Tinter (27 March 1893 – 10 August 2002).
In June 2001, he celebrated his 110th birthday, becoming the first (and so far the only) Austrian man to attain the supercentenarian status. He was also the second documented supercentenarian in Austria, after Maria Mika (1882–1994).
At the time of his passing, he was the third-oldest (known) living man in Europe, after Joan Riudavets and Giovanni Frau.
His age was validated by the European Supercentenarian Organisation (ESO) on 25 April 2021.
* Leopold Vietoris – Lernwelt.at, 23 November 1996
* “Prof. Leopold Vietoris feiert den 110. Geburtstag” – Universität Innsbruck, 1 June 2001
* Leopold Vietoris – Notices of the AMS, November 2002
* Prof.Dr. Leopold Vietoris – chronisten.at