| Vincent Dransfield | |
 Dransfield on his 109th birthday in 2023 | |
| Birth: | 28 March 1914 Paterson, New Jersey, USA |
| Death: | 26 June 2024 Little Falls, New Jersey, USA |
| Age: | 110 years, 90 days |
| Country: |  USA
|
| Validated | |
Vincent W. "Vince" Dransfield ( 28 March 1914 - 26 June 2024) was an American supercentenarian who was the oldest known living man in the United States since the death of Morrie Markoff on 3 June 2024. However, Atilio Zepeda Navarrete may have been older but his age is not validated. A resident of New Jersey, he was the oldest known living man in the state since the death of Edward Verlangieri on 28 September 2021 (though he did not become the oldest known living man born in New Jersey until the death of Phil Corio). He was also the last living man in New Jersey born before 1917. He is the sixth-oldest man ever from the US state of New Jersey. His age is validated by the Gerontology Research Group (GRG).
Biography[]
Dransfield was born in Paterson, New Jersey, USA, on 28 March 1914. His parents were William Delisio and Dorothy Dransfield.
Dransfield left school after the eighth grade and went to work on a dairy farm at the age of 15 to help support his family. He delivered milk for five years. While working on the dairy farm, he drank as much milk as possible to remain healthy, and continues to drink a lot of milk to this day, especially Ovaltine, which he attributes his longevity to.
In 1939, Dransfield joined the Singac Volunteer Fire Company #3 in Little Falls, New Jersey, USA, and has spent more than 80 years serving as a volunteer there. He served as the department's fire chief in the 1960s. He avoided service in ww2 by having a job at the Schmid Company which supplied Condoms to US troops Overseas. Other jobs included Delivering Milk and working as a Manager at Crane Motorers for 25 Years. He was married to his wife Ann for 54 years when she died in 1992. On his 100th birthday in 2014 the fire department unveiled a plaque honoring him. He celebrated his 110th birthday a week early on 16 March 2024, which was attend by 50 people, including his family and several firefighters, such as 87 year old Harry Seebode who presented him with $110. When he turned 110 he became the first Living Male Supercentenarian in New Jersey since 2016
Dransfield lived in his own house in Little Falls, where he has lived since 1945 (the road was not there when it was built). He reportedly still lived on his own, walked unassisted, cooked for himself, drived his Hyundai Sedan everyday, does his own errands, taked no daily medications, had a great memory, and had never suffered from any serious illnesses. His favorite food was pizza and he has been a New York Yankees fan since 1957 when the Brooklyn Dodgers moved to LA. His favorite player was Derek Jeter. He had one child, three grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren.
Dransfield died on 26 June 2024 in Little Falls, New Jersey, USA at the age of 110 years, 90 days. Following his death, 109-year-old Eugene Baltes of Illinois became the oldest living man in the USA.
Gallery[]
References[]
- World Supercentenarian Rankings List Gerontology Research Group
- Vincent W Dransfield in the 1940 Census Ancestry
- 100-year-old NJ man cited as oldest active firefighter FireRescue1, 31 March 2014
- Oldest Active Member My Firefighter Nation, 31 March 2014
- Former Fire Chief receives honor by having street named after him Firefighting News, 19 November 2015
- Great Notch Fire Co4 wishes Vince Dransfield a very Happy 105th birthday! Great Notch Fire Company on Facebook, 2 April 2019
- 108-year-old man is oldest firefighter at New Jersey volunteer fire department PIX11, 26 January 2023
- Happy birthday! He may be the oldest man in New Jersey New Jersey 101.5, 15 March 2023
- A man from NJ turns 109. Here’s his simple advice for longevity. Local Today, 28 March 2023
- Man, 109, who still drives his car every day has simple tips for long life Yahoo News, 19 April 2023
- Former NJ fire chief turns 110 he credits his longevity to this beloved sweet drink NJ, 28 March 2024
- Man, 110, still drives his car every day, lives on his own TODAY, 19 April 2024
- Obituary Echovita