The world’s oldest living man has died, his family announced Tuesday.
John Alfred Tinniswood, 112, died Monday at the Hollies Rest Home in Southport, on England’s west-central coast.
Tinniswood’s family said he was “surrounded by music and love” in his final days. He is survived by his daughter Susan, grandchildren Annouchka, Marisa, Toby, and Rupert, and great-grandchildren Tabitha, Callum, and Nieve.
He was born to Ada and John Bernard Tinniswood on August 26, 1912, during King George V’s reign, making him the great-grandfather of King Charles III and grandfather of the late Queen Elizabeth II.
He was a widower when he met his future wife, Blodwen, at a Liverpool dance. They married in 1942 and remained together for 44 years before her death in 1986.
He “had many fine qualities” and was “intelligent, decisive, brave, calm in any crisis, talented at math, and a great conversationalist,” according to his family’s statement.His final day was filled with music and affection.
“I can’t think of any special secrets I have,” he said during his previous birthday party. “I was quite active as a child; I walked a lot. But, to me, I am no different. There is no difference at all.
Tinniswood was just over four months old when the Titanic sank, and six months old when Arizona became the 48th state of the United States. He had a career in banking and served in the Royal Army Pays Corps during WWII.
Tinniswood was officially crowned the world’s oldest living man by Guinness World Records in April, at the age of 111, following the death of Juan Vicente Pérez, 114, of Venezuela.
Gisaburo Sonobe, a 112-year-old Japanese man, died on March 31. Meanwhile, the world’s oldest living lady, Japan’s 116-year-old Tomiko Itooka, was recognized in September on Respect for the Aged Day.
Tinniswood credited his longevity to “pure luck.”
“You either live long or short, and you can’t do much about it,” he told Guinness in April. He had earlier stated that: “you drink too much or you eat too much or you walk too much; if you do too much of anything, you’re going to suffer eventually.”