BIOGRAPHY

Salvatore Caruso was born in Molochio, Calabria, Italy, on 2 November 1905. His father passed away in 1913, and both his mother and brother nearly died during the influenza pandemic of 1918–1919. In 1925, he was discharged from his army unit after accidentally falling and breaking his leg in two places.

He had at least one son, Ottavio.

After attending high school in Salerno and the Academy of Human Sciences in Urbino, he continued his education independently, pursuing a path of self-study. Eventually, he began documenting his reflections and research in writing. In 1990, he published his first book, Meditazioni vagabonde. In 2008, at the age of 103, he wrote his second book, A Story of the Cemetery Guardian (“Un racconto del guardiano del cimitero”), dedicated to his wife Maria Rosa, who had passed away in 2000.

In 2013, National Geographic conducted an investigation titled “On Beyond 100”, during which they interviewed Salvatore Caruso, then 106 years old. He told researchers that he was in good health, and his memory appeared to be remarkably sharp. When geriatrician Maurizio Berardelli asked him about the secret to his longevity, Caruso replied with a playful smile: “No Bacco, no tabacco, no Venere”—no drinking, no smoking, no women. He added that he had grown up mostly eating figs and beans, and had rarely consumed red meat.

At 108, it was reported that he was still remarkably lucid. He wrote books, watched television without glasses, and read newspapers regularly.

Salvatore Caruso passed away in Molochio, Calabria, on 22 December 2015, at the age of 110 years, 50 days.

RECOGNITION

On 24 April 2014, following the passing of Arturo Licata, he became the oldest living man in Italy, at the age of 108 years, 173 days. Upon his own passing, he was succeeded by Valerio Piroddi.

Caruso’s age was verified by Paolo Scarabaggio and was validated by the European Supercentenarian Organisation (ESO) on 28 July 2021.

ATTRIBUTION

* “On Beyond 100” — National Geographic, May 2013

* “Come è lunga la vita a Molochio, il paese degli ultracentenari” — La Voce di New York, 10 March 2014

* “Nonno Salvatore Caruso, 109 anni di buona salute e di buoni consigli” — La Voce di New York, 4 November 2014

* “Molochio, morto il nonno d’Italia” — Approdo Calabria, 23 December 2015

GALLERY