BIOGRAPHY

Mauro Ambriz Tapia was born in Panindícuaro, Michoacán, Mexico, on 21 November 1897, and was baptized on the same day. His parents were José Dolores Ambriz López and María de los Ángeles Tapia León.

Between the 1910s and the 1950s, he frequently traveled to the United States for work. He worked as a merchant, farmer, shoemaker, trader in farm products, yard laborer, and also devoted himself to agriculture and livestock. He married Celia Vidal in Tangancícuaro, Michoacán, on 22 July 1925. The couple had at least three children: José (born 1926), Virginia (born 1928), and Gilberto (born 1931).

At the age of 100, he underwent a head surgery. His family members described him as a strong, kind, and extremely hard-working man. He always had a love for work and was dedicated to his multiple occupations.

Ambriz Tapia passed away in Tangancícuaro, Michoacán, Mexico, on 18 April 2011, at the age of 113 years, 148 days.

RECOGNITION

On 14 April 2011, following the death of 114-year-old Walter Breuning, he became the oldest living man in North America. He held the title for only 4 days before his passing, when he was succeeded by James Sisnett of Barbados.

At the time of his passing, he was the third-oldest (known) living man, after Horacio Celi Mendoza of Peru, whose age is currently pending validation, and Jiroemon Kimura of Japan.

Ambriz Tapia held the title of the oldest (known and documented) person to have died in Mexico until 23 August 2020, when his final age was surpassed by Sofía Mendoza Valencia, also from Michoacán.

His age verified by James Roberts, Stefan Maglov, and Fabrizio Villatoro, and listed as a pending validation by the Latin American Supercentenarians (LAS) as of 2 October 2021. The validation process was completed with the assistance of his family, and his age was officially validated by LongeviQuest on 30 March 2024.

ATTRIBUTION

GALLERY