Chester Meros, who was recognized as Maryland’s oldest known resident, died Thursday at his home in Brooklyn Park at age 110, his family said. He lived in the house for seven decades and was days away from his 111th birthday on July 14.
What changed for neighbors and family
Neighbors and relatives described Meros as a lifelong worker who remained active well into old age. He retired at 60 after careers that included coal mining, truck driving and shipyard welding, and family members said he continued to go crabbing into his late 80s.
“He would have been one hundred and eleven on the fourteenth of July,”
The remark came from his son, Eugene Meros, who served as his father’s caregiver. His daughter, Debbie Zawitoski, recalled his love of singing and socializing.
Life and validation
Meros was born in 1915 in Port Carbon, Pennsylvania, the son of Anthony and Veronica Meros. Early in his career he worked alongside his father in the coal mines and later drove trucks hauling coal from Schuylkill County to New York City. He also worked as a shipyard welder before retiring.
The Gerontology Research Group, a Los Angeles–based nonprofit that researches and validates supercentenarians, confirmed his age when he turned 110 on July 14, 2025. At the time he was classified as a supercentenarian — a person 110 or older — and was noted as the oldest known living man in Maryland and the second-oldest known living man in the United States.
Family memories and local ties
Family members said Meros was social and enjoyed music, often breaking into songs by Bing Crosby or Frank Sinatra. He was photographed crabbing on the waters off Ocean City during retirement, a pastime he pursued for many years.
- He lived in Brooklyn Park for about 70 years.
- He continued crabbing until age 89.
- Age validated by the Gerontology Research Group on July 14, 2025.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Chester Meros |
| Age at death | 110 |
| Birth year | 1915 |
| Residence | Brooklyn Park, Maryland |
| Validation | Gerontology Research Group, July 14, 2025 |
Officials at local agencies were not listed in family notices about Meros’ death, and no public memorial details were available at the time of reporting. The family provided photographs of Meros at leisure on a crabbing trip in Ocean City.
This report is based on information provided by Meros’ family and validation records from the Gerontology Research Group, as reported by The Baltimore Sun.
Darius Holloway is the Maryland correspondent for News Block.
