World's Unofficial Oldest Man is Oakland's Own

By AUTUMN JOHNSON

What do you get for someone turning 117 years old? A good back scratch, if you are celebrating with supercentenarian Andrew Hatch. The Oakland man, who is believed to have been born in 1898, turned 117 on Wednesday.

According to Inside Bay Area News, there are some conflicting records that indicate he may only be 111 years old. But whether Hatch is 111 or 117, he qualifies as a supercentenarian— someone over the age of 110. Even at 111, he would be the oldest man in the country.

Daughter Delane Sims is his full-time caregiver. She says that one of his favorite sayings is “I hope you live forever, and I never die.”

“He use to say that to me instead of goodbye,” Sims told Patch.

According to Sims, if you ask Hatch how he is doing, he will tell you, ”I‘m doing 100 in the shade and 1 on ice.”

Sims says her dad has inspired her to care for all elders.

“I have a program, that is part of the San Leandro Chamber of Commerce called Senior Moments (SM),” Sims said. “SM was created to help all elders but especially those (unlike my dad) who are without support and who are homebound and disabled.”

The former world traveler, cab driver and blacksmith has lived in Oakland for more than 80 years and really just enjoys the simple things now, like a good back scratch, according to his daughter.

Watch as his daughter and his granddaughter sing a touching rendition of “Happy Birthday” to their favorite triple-digit family member.

Photos courtesy Delane Sims

Photo #1: Andrew Hatch, age 117; Photo #2: Hatch and Sims; Photo # 3: Hatch with grandson Phillip Cole.

Video embed courtesy Bay Area News Group via YouTube