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| -Short Attention Span Theater- |
| World's oldest man dies in New York State |
| 2004-11-20 |
| Fred Hale Sr, an American documented as the world's oldest man, has died in New York State. He was 113 years old and had lived up to name. At age 95 Hale even gave boogie-boarding a try, while flying home from Japan where he had visited a grandson who was in the Navy. At 103, Hale was still living on his own and shovelling the snow off his rooftop. Hale died in his sleep at The Nottingham in suburban Syracuse, while trying to recover from a bout of pneumonia, said his grandson, Fred Hale III. He was 12 days shy of his 114th birthday. Born on December 1, 1890, Hale last month watched his lifelong favourite baseball team, the Boston Red Sox, win the World Series again after 86 years. Hale retired 50 years ago as a railroad postal worker and beekeeper, his grandson said. He enjoyed gardening, canning fruits and vegetables and making homemade applesauce. He had a routine and he rarely broke it because anyone else was around," Hale III told The Post-Standard of Syracuse. "He didn't need a lot to be happy." Born in New Sharon, Maine, when there were only 43 stars on the American flag, Hale married Flora Mooers in 1910. Hale lived in his native Maine until he was 109, when he moved to the Syracuse area to be near his son, Fred Jr, now 82. On March 5, 2004, the Guinness World Records acknowledged him as the oldest living man when Joan Riudavets Moll, of Spain, died at age 114. Hale was also a Guinness record-holder for the oldest driver. At 108, he had still found slow drivers annoying, Fred Hale III said. Hale outlived his wife, who died in 1979, and three of his five children. He had nine grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren and 11 great-great-grandchildren. |
| Posted by:Mark Espinola |
| #7 I'll step in for Raptors, he's busy breaking up a drunken fight between his greatgreatgranddad and granny. |
| Posted by: Shipman 2004-11-20 6:48:08 PM |
| #6 At 108, he had still found slow drivers annoying . *chuckle* If i die at 70 , thats still 55 years of suffering these over cautious buggers , the bloke endured more than i could ever handle hehehe ! And Raptor , could you send me some of what yer Great Granddad drank and ate . |
| Posted by: MacNails 2004-11-20 5:52:07 PM |
| #5 raptor : Your great grand-dad... At 102 he built an addition to his house. At 93 his wife gave birth to a son. I didn't know that carpentry and virility were related? Gimme that hammer and nails... |
| Posted by: BigEd 2004-11-20 5:34:36 PM |
| #4 I will have to check with my Aunt,Frank. |
| Posted by: raptor 2004-11-20 10:29:53 AM |
| #3 *ahem* Raptor ? How old was that last wife? 24 ya say? |
| Posted by: Frank G 2004-11-20 9:42:50 AM |
| #2 My Great Granddad lived to 115,out lived 4 wives and had a 5th when he died.At 102 he built an addition to his house.At 93 his wife gave birth to a son. |
| Posted by: raptor 2004-11-20 9:17:50 AM |
| #1 At 103, Hale was still living on his own and shovelling the snow off his rooftop. My granddad died falling off the roof while helping re-shingle with 20 year material. He was ever (seriously) an optimist. Showed me how to do a hook slide when he was about 85. A man with the proper priorities. Horses Shotguns Dogs FireWorks Children Women |
| Posted by: Shipman 2004-11-20 7:19:05 AM |