He’s 110 and Ageless: New Jersey’s Vincent Gives Longevity Advice

A 110-year-old New Jersey man lives alone, drives daily and enjoys every day, giving longevity advice.

This is Vincent Dransfield, a former New Jersey volunteer fire chief and great-grandfather of seven who turned 110 last month – joining the rare centenarians around the world.

Vincent, of Little Falls, celebrated a milestone birthday on March 28 at his former engine room at the Volunteer Fire Department – becoming the eighth oldest person.

He is 110 years old and lives in New Jersey

With women making up 90% of centenarians worldwide, according to the New England Centenarian Study, the 110-year-old is one of the few men in the 110+ group and has lived a healthy life over the years with only some knee pain for whom he is complaining about, according to Today.

He lives alone without any help at home, cooks simple food for himself, walks up and down his three-story house and drives “fairly well” every day without problems.

He has never had cancer, dementia or other serious illnesses and has no headaches or back pain. But Vincent, born way back in 1914, is no health fanatic.

He smoked for 20 years and worked all his life, from the age of 15 until his late 70s. He eats whatever he likes – including hamburgers, milk chocolate and Italian food, drinks an occasional beer and drinks coffee every day.

“He laughs at people jogging. He’s like, ‘Where are they running?'” his granddaughter Erica Lista told Today.

He is a father of one, grandfather of three and great-grandfather of seven – he credits his long life to luck, milk and doing what he loves.

“I’ve been very, very, very lucky in my life,” he said.

The New Jersey native had to drop out of school before high school to help support his family. At 15 he started working on a dairy farm and delivered milk for the next five years while having his own unlimited supply.

“I drank milk and ate well because I worked on a farm. And I often look back and think that they gave me a good start in life and for the bones in my body,” said Vincent.

These days, he’s upgraded his cow’s milk with Ovaltine – a powder that adds flavor and vitamins to the milk. One of the biggest factors that kept him happy, smart and healthy was spending time doing what he loved – or his long career as a volunteer firefighter, he points out.

Excerpt from last year’s interview

When asked by Today what kept him on his toes, he answered without hesitation: “The fire service … I met so many friends.”

The centenarian – who built a career as a car parts manager – spent 80 years at his local fire service, including a spell as fire chief.

His fellow firefighters became his family, especially after the death of his wife of 54 years in 1992.

“After my grandmother died, that’s what kept him alive. Every day he would go to the firehouse from 3 to 5 and all the old guys would sit there and hang out. They were like his family,” his granddaughter said, according to the New York Post.

Finally, the great-grandfather said that keeping a positive mindset and sharing love helped him live over a century.

“Knowing people and loving people makes me live longer,” he clarified, delivering his own life lesson, a very long life…