Luis de Jesús Cano Vásquez is a Colombian-born American supercentenarian who is currently the oldest known living man in the United States. His age has been validated by LongeviQuest.
On his 111th birthday party. (Source: Courtesy of the family).
✔ Age Certified by LongeviQuest
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Luis de Jesús Cano Vásquez is a Colombian-born American supercentenarian who is currently the oldest known living man in the United States. His age has been validated by LongeviQuest.
Luis de Jesús Cano Vásquez, also known as Luis Cano, was born in Andes, Antioquia, Colombia on 9 December 1914 to parents Leocadio Cano Arroyave and Ana Rita Vásquez Franco. He had at least nine siblings: Tulio, Margarita, Camila, Roberto, Magdalena, Cruzana, Olga, Carmen Luisa, and Gildardo (all deceased).
He joined in the Colombian Army in 1937 and completed his practical training in the battalion’s bakery. In 1939, he ranked second in target-shooting practice. After his military service, he owned and operated a fleet of buses that traveled between towns at a time when this type of transportation was unavailable in the region. Although he did not have the opportunity to pursue formal education, through his work on the bus, he became highly proficient in mathematics and performed all calculations mentally.
He married Alicia Arango Cano (1931-2004) on 28 June 1948, and they had ten children: Nelly, Damaris, Gilberto, Luz Dary, Luis Hernán, Germán, Cecilia, Marina, César, and José. In later years, the family expanded to include 11 grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren.
Luis and Alicia arrived in Far Rockaway, New York, United States in 1990, where they lived with two of their children. When his wife passed away in 2004, Luis moved to Linden, New Jersey, where he has resided ever since. In his retirement and after arriving in the United States, his summer hobby was planting tomatoes, cilantro, and onions. He also thoroughly enjoyed fishing, although he never liked to eat fish. He also loved playing billiards and bowling.
Luis stated that the secret to his longevity was eating beans, lemons, chili peppers, and lots and lots of avocado. He also said that the secret lies in a healthy lifestyle; he never smoked or drank alcohol.
He was one of the first residents of the Home Sweet Home daycare in Elizabeth, New Jersey (2004-2022). Now he enjoys life at home with his family, who visit him frequently.
On his 110th birthday, Mayor Derek Armstead visited him to present a proclamation and a birthday card in his honor.
On 6 December 2025, he celebrated his 111th birthday with his family and received many congratulations from all his neighbors, who eagerly await the announcements in his yard each year.
Following the passing of Eugene Baltes on 29 December 2024, he became the oldest known living man in the United States.
His age was verified by Santiago García Medina, Fabrizio Villatoro, Gabriel Ainsworth and Ben Meyers, and validated by LongeviQuest on 19 December 2025.
* “Happy 110th Birthday to Luis Caño from the City of Linden.” – Linden NJ – City Government (Facebook), 11 December 2024
(LongeviQuest thanks his family for providing biographical information and photographs.)
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