Vitantonio Lovallo
Italian supercentenarian (born 1914)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Vitantonio Lovallo (born 28 March 1914) is an Italian farmer, veteran and supercentenarian, whose age has been confirmed by the Gerontology Research Group[1] (GRG), LongeviQuest (LQ),[2] and the European Supercentenarian Organisation (ESO).[3] On 27 May 2026, following the death of Ilie Ciocan, he became the oldest living man in Europe[4] and the oldest living veteran of World War II. He is also the oldest living man in Italy,[5][6] the third oldest living man in the world, after João Marinho Neto and Ken Weeks and the second oldest person in Italy,[7] after Lucia Laura Sangenito.
(age 112 years, 163 days)
- Oldest living World War II veteran (since 27 May 2026)
- Second oldest living person in Italy (since 17 February 2026)
- Oldest living man in Italy (since 31 March 2024)
- Oldest living European man (since 27 May 2026)
Vitantonio Lovallo | |
|---|---|
| Born | 28 March 1914 (age 112 years, 163 days) |
| Known for |
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| Children | 4 |
Biography
Vitantonio Lovallo was born on 28 March 1914 in Avigliano, Basilicata, Italy. From the age of 16, he worked as a shepherd and helped his family in the wheat and corn fields.[8]
He married in 1936 (his wife died in 2015 at the age of 98). They had four children, two girls and two boys (one of whom died a few months after birth from meningitis).[1][2]
During World War II he was sent to the front, and was captured in the city of Corfu. After his release he returned home and found work as a mule-hauler of wood.[9]
He remained a hard worker throughout his life, retiring only in his late nineties. In his 100s, Lovallo tended his vineyards and herded his sheep every morning. Lovallo himself attributed his longevity to his lack of stress and his focus on life. At the age of 108, he received his fourth dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.[10]
In May 2026, Coldiretti received the 80th Anniversary Medal directly from the association's leadership as a tribute to his achievements as the association's longest-serving member.[1][2][11]