A self-sufficient 110-year-old man who drives daily has shared his wisdom on living a long life.
On March 28, New Jersey resident Vincent Dransfield, a former chief of Singac Volunteer Fire Company #3 in Little Falls, celebrated his milestone birthday.
According to the world supercentenarian rankings list, Dransfield is the eighth oldest man currently living. He is among the few guys in the 110+ group who had a lengthy life.
Men rarely live to be 100 years old; only 15% of centenarians are men, according to the Boston University-based New England Centenarian Study.
Dransfield, a remarkably long-living father of one, grandpa of three, and great-grandfather of seven was born on March 28, 1914.
He disclosed to Today that he has never experienced severe illnesses, migraines, or backaches. He said, “I’ve been very, very, very lucky in my lifetime.”
He is independent and doesn’t need assistance with everyday tasks. He can move between the main level of his home, the upstairs bedroom, and the basement, where he does his laundry.
At 110 years old, Vincent Dransfield still drives his car every day to get coffee at the convenience store and buy lunch
— NBC New York (@NBCNewYork) April 23, 2024
He lives independently in his own house in New Jersey, where he has resided since 1945https://t.co/eNS0ReB34Z
According to the publication, he gets groceries from his grandchildren once a week, and they also give him a call every other day to see how he’s doing.
Dransfield quips that he’s ready to put on boxing gloves and go to war when asked how he feels at 110. “I accomplish everything,” he declared. “I’m not too bad at driving.”
Erica Lista, his granddaughter, added, “He drives completely better than some other people I see.”
Dransfield attributes his longevity to several factors, one of which is his eight decades of service as a volunteer firefighter in the community.
The 110-year-old explained that working as a volunteer with the engine allowed him to exercise while answering calls. He also touchingly mentioned that his coworkers had become his family, particularly following the 1992 death of his 54-year-old wife.
That’s actually what kept him going after my grandmother went away. He would go to the firehouse every day between three and five, and all the old guys would hang out and sit there. That reminded him of his family, Lista said to the newspaper.
The great-grandpa also mentioned that “luck” and “milk” were important factors in his lengthy life. He related how he started off working at a dairy farm and had an endless supply of milk to distribute for the next five years.
“Because I worked on a farm, I was eating properly and drinking milk. And I frequently think back on that and feel like they gave me a solid foundation for my physique and for life,” he remarked.
Ultimately, Dansfield concluded that his longevity has been attributed to his optimistic outlook, as well as the love and support of his family.
“I live longer because I know and love people,” he remarked. “I stay upbeat. When anything is wrong, I never think of anything else.”
“I’m doing fine and I hope the good Lord keeps me that way,” Dansfield added.
