A 109-year-old man who still drives and does all of his chores without any assistance has revealed his top tips for longevity – from drinking milk to engaging in unstructured exercise.
New Jersey native Vincent Dransfield can still be seen whipping around town in his Hyundai running errands and buying lunch, despite his age.
And while many would think the centenarian requires help navigating the city, the retired firefighter is as independent as ever, frequently travelling from his home’s main floor to his bedroom upstairs and the basement, without any complaints of a body ache, his family says.
According to Vince, the secret to his long and healthy life that has kept him feeling ‘perfect’ is remaining optimistic, drinking a glass of milk every day, and continuously moving his body.
New Jersey native Vincent Dransfield, 109, still drives and does all of his chores without any assistance
Vince (pictured with his family) can still be seen whipping around town in his Hyundai running errands and buying lunch despite his age
Speaking to Today, the centenarian – who recently celebrated his 109th birthday with pizza and carrot cake – revealed how he has avoided getting any major diseases, such as cancer and heart disease, throughout his long life.
Vince – who was born on March 28, 1914 – said the key to having a lengthy life was to spend time doing what you loved.
For the 109-year-old, that meant serving as a member of the local volunteer fire department.
Vince – who has one child, three grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren – spent more than 80 years on the fire department and even became a chief for a period of time.
He told the outlet that serving on the department brought him an immense amount of happiness because he ‘met so many friends.’
His 48-year-old granddaughter, Erica Lista, revealed that being apart of a team kept Vince going after his wife of 54 years passed away.
‘After my grandmother passed away, that’s really what kept him going. Every day, he would go to the fire house from 3 to 5, and all the old guys would sit there and hang out. That was like his family,’ she said.
Erica said her grandfather quickly became a regular at the fire house, becoming part of the ‘three to five club.’
Volunteering at the fire house also helped Vince stay fit throughout his life, which he said played a huge role in keeping healthy.
Although he never lifted weights or exercised in a gym, Vince made sure to always keep his body moving.
‘I was 21 years old when I joined the fire department and that’s the exercise I got every day — answered the fire alarms in Little Falls,’ he said.
‘I was active and ran out when the alarm went off for 40 years. Then for the next 40 years, (I continued) when I felt like it,’ he told Today.
Vince (pictured during his time as a firefighter) – who was born on March 28, 1914 – said the key to having a lengthy life was to spend time doing what you love
Vince (pictured as a firefighter) – who has one child, three grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren – spent more than 80 years on the department and even became a chief
Erica often jokes that structured exercise amuses her grandfather, noting that he frequently laughs at those who jog.
Vince worked for 60 years of his life – spending most of those years as an auto parts manager – before retiring in his late 70s, noting that while he still wanted to work, his wife pushed him to take a break.
In addition to doing something he loves everyday, Vince makes sure he chugs a glass of milk to keep his bones strong.
The beverage has been apart of Vince’s life for a whopping 94 years.
He left school right after eighth grade and worked for a dairy farm from the age of just 15 to help support his family.
Vince delivered milk for five years and frequently helped himself to a cold glass.
He credits his good health to the beverage, which he says helped get him through the Great Depression in the 1930s.
Vince told Today: ‘I was drinking milk and eating well because I worked on a farm. And I often go back and think they gave me a good start in life and for my bones in my body.’
And more than nine decades later, Vince makes sure he still includes the drink in his daily routine.
In addition to doing something he loves everyday, Vince (pictured on his 105th birthday) makes sure he chugs a glass of milk to keep his bones strong
The centenarian never shies away from Italian food, hamburgers, chocolate and other sweets
Now, he drinks Ovaltine – a milk flavoring and nutrition supplement – every day after breakfast.
And he has even convinced his family of the powers of milk, persuading them to all sip on a cold cup of Ovaltine during his 100th birthday party.
Vince doesn’t just focus on keeping his diet healthy, he revealed he frequently indulges in what makes him happy.
The centenarian never shies away from Italian food, hamburgers, chocolate and other sweets.
In addition to his cup of Ovaltine, he also a coffee every day and occasionally a beer.
Erica revealed her grandfather has never been ‘careful’ about his diet and hasn’t ever had to lose weight because he has always been fit.
At 109 years old, Vince is still cooking for himself, although that tends to mean just heating up some soup on the stove or buying meals from a restaurant down the road.
Although he sips on some beer every now and then, the centenarian avoids all other alcohols and has even kicked his smoking habit to the curb.
Vince began smoking when he was 50 years old after a fellow firefighter offered him a cigarette. Once he had it, he was hooked.
Lastly, Vince notes that staying positive has helped him live a long life
However, he quit cold turkey 20 years later.
‘He told me one day that he was going to just stop smoking. He threw the cigarettes out and that was it. He just never smoked again,’ Erica said.
Lastly, Vince notes that staying positive has helped him live a long life.
Vince describes himself as an optimist and loves to crack jokes.
Erica told the outlet: ‘He always had such a positive upbeat attitude, even when my grandmother passed away. He lived for her, but he was determined to keep on living.’
Vince added: ‘I keep positive. I never think any other way when something’s wrong.’
He revealed he feels ‘perfect,’ and has been ‘very, very, very lucky’ throughout his life.
Although it’s not extremely rare for people to live above the age of 100 anymore, with nearly twice as many centenarians as there were 20 years ago, it is less common for men to live as long as Vince.
According to the New England Centenarian study, 85 per cent of centenarians are women and 15 per cent are men.
However, the reason for women living longer than men remains unclear.
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