| Luisa Sanchez | |
 | |
| Birth: | 14 February 1884 Havana, Cuba or Manhattan, New York, USA |
| Death: | 5 October 1996 Manhattan, New York, USA |
| Age: | 112 years, 234 days |
| Country: |  CUB USA
|
| Validated | |
Luisa Valentina Sanchez (née Aguiar; 14 February 1883/1884 – 5 October 1996) was a validated American supercentenarian.
Biography
Luisa Valentina Aguiar was variously reported to be born in Havana, Cuba on 14 February 1884, or in Manhattan, New York, USA in 1883/1884 while on a visit, the daughter of a Cuban cigar maker and a half Native-American-half African woman who died giving birth to her. Moving to New York with her father, Luisa married a Cuban émigré named Marco Sanchez when she was 14 years old. The couple had four children, two of whom died in infancy. When Luisa was 21, Marco also died, leaving her with their two surviving children Julia (1899–19??) and Elvera (1905–2000). To support herself, Luisa took a variety of jobs, including (according to her obituary printed in the New Amsterdam News in 1996) that of personal maid to celebrated actress Laurette Taylor.
She was the maternal grandmother of renowned singer and actor Sammy Davis, Jr. (1925–1990), who was a member of the famous Rat Pack, along with Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Joey Bishop, and Peter Lawford. Davis' mother, dancer Elvera Sanchez Davis (1905–2000) was Sanchez' youngest daughter, and Sanchez helped raise her famous grandson while his vaudevillian parents were on tour.
Luisa Sanchez died in in New York, USA on 5 October 1996 at the age of 112 years, 234 days.
External links
References
- GERONTOLOGY RESEARCH GROUP
- Gary Fishgall, "Gonna Do Great Things: The Life of Sammy Davis Jr." (2003), p.6
- GRANDMOTHER OF SAMMY DAVIS JR. TURNS 111
- Luisa Valentina Aguiar Sanchez Find A Grave
- Obituary (dead link)