The world’s oldest man, Bob Weighton, has died of cancer at 112 years old, his family confirmed.
Weighton, of Hampshire, England, was a former teacher and engineer. He held the title since February, when the previous holder, Chitetsu Watanabe of Japan, passed away, his family told The Guardian.
“With great sadness, the Weighton family announces the death of our beloved Bob Weighton,” the family said in a statement to the outlet.
“He died peacefully in his sleep, from cancer, on the morning of Thursday 28 May 2020 at his flat in Alton, Hampshire, where he lived independently.”
Weighton was born in Hull, east Yorkshire, on March 29, 1908 — which happens to be the exact same day as Great Britain’s oldest woman, Joan Hocquard.
Family described Weighton as a compassionate relative and friend who loved to talk politics, religion and ecology, even up until his dying day.
“A role model to us all, he lived his life interested in and engaged with all kinds of people from across the world,” the family continued. “He viewed everyone as his brother or sister and believed in loving and accepting and caring for one another.”
Weighton was active into his old age, converting his apartment’s spare bedroom into a workshop where he made furniture, windmills and puzzles from reclaimed wood that he would sell for charity, his family said.
His 112th birthday celebration came under lockdown on March 29, during which he lamented that the “world is in a bit of a mess,” the Guardian reported.
Out of respect for taxpayers, he declined a birthday card from Queen Elizabeth, saying he didn’t want the well wishes on the public’s dime and that he had received 10 cards from her on previous birthdays, the outlet reported.
Weighton is survived by two of his three children David and Dorothy, as well as 10 grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren.
“We are so grateful that until the very end Bob remained our witty, kind, knowledgeable, conversationalist father, grandfather and great grandfather, and we will miss him greatly,” the family said.