‘Oldest Man in the U.S.’ Says These 3 Things are the Secret to Living a Long Life

At 111 years old, Luis Cano has lived through wars, political upheaval, global transformation, and the rise of modern America — and now the New Jersey great-grandfather believed to be the oldest man in the United States is sharing the simple advice he says helped him make it this far.

Cano, who lives in Linden, New Jersey, was born on Dec. 9, 1914, and is believed to be the oldest man in the country. According to LongeviQuest, the organization that tracks the world’s oldest people, he was recently ranked as the 112th oldest person on Earth. His remarkable story has now drawn attention far beyond his neighborhood, turning the father of 10 into a local legend.

When asked about the secret to living such an extraordinarily long life, Cano did not point to miracle cures, expensive diets, or wellness trends. Instead, he offered three pieces of plainspoken advice rooted in discipline and moderation: don’t drink too much, get enough sleep, and don’t smoke.

His fourth lesson may be the simplest of all — and perhaps the hardest for many people to follow.

“Behave well,” Cano said when asked what makes for a life well lived.

That quiet wisdom seems to reflect the life he built over more than a century. Originally from Colombia, Cano served in the Colombian Army as a young man before later running a fleet of buses. In 1948, he married Alicia Angelo Cano, and together they built a large family. Decades later, in the 1990s, they moved to Long Island, New York, continuing a journey that Cano now considers the greatest accomplishment of his life: creating a future for his family in the United States.

It is a deeply American story, shaped by immigration, hard work, sacrifice, and devotion to family. Cano’s life stands as a reminder that the country’s strength has always been built, in part, by people who arrived from elsewhere and helped shape their communities through perseverance and grit.

Today, Cano’s family continues to grow. He has 11 grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren. After the death of his wife in 2004, he began living with two of his children, who now help care for him as he enjoys the slower rhythm of daily life.

The former fishing enthusiast and airplane lover spends much of his time looking out the window and reflecting on life. His family says that even now, watching planes pass overhead still brings him happiness.

In January, Cano’s relatives told LongeviQuest that he has become something of a celebrity in Linden. Every year, they place a birthday sign on the lawn, and passing drivers honk in celebration when they see it. The attention has even reached city hall. Mayor Derek Armstead has reportedly visited Cano’s home several times to speak with him and recently presented him with a proclamation honoring his long life and many achievements.

In an era obsessed with hacks, shortcuts, and self-optimization, Cano’s message cuts through the noise. His advice is almost startlingly simple: rest, avoid harmful habits, and carry yourself with decency.

After 111 years of life, loss, work, love, and survival, the man believed to be America’s oldest is offering a lesson that feels both old-fashioned and urgently relevant: a meaningful life may not be built on excess, but on steadiness, discipline, and how we treat other people.