An American man, Normand Tousignant, has earned a place in the history books after being recognised by Guinness World Records as the world’s oldest first-time grandfather, having met his granddaughter at the age of 92 years and 24 days.
Tousignant first became a grandfather on September 22, 2022, when his granddaughter, Madison, was born to his only child, Kerry. The extraordinary milestone has since drawn attention to the special relationship between the elderly man and the little girl, whose arrival reportedly brought renewed happiness and energy into his life.
According to Guinness World Records, Tousignant’s achievement surpassed the previous record held by Australia’s Charles Smith, who became a first-time grandfather at 91 years and 209 days after his granddaughter, Isla, was born in August 2025.
The recognition was formally celebrated at Tousignant’s 96th birthday party in August 2026, when he received his Guinness World Records certificate alongside Madison.
His daughter described the occasion as particularly meaningful, placing it among the happiest moments of her life.
Kerry said she had always treasured her time with her parents because her father became a parent later in life, leaving her conscious that their time together might be limited.
She recalled becoming emotional at her wedding when she realised her father, who was 86 at the time, was present to witness the occasion.
However, she said the birth of Madison and the subsequent announcement of her father’s world record had become equally significant milestones in their family.
Tousignant was born on August 29, 1930, and grew up in Gardner, Massachusetts, in a large French-Canadian Catholic family. He was one of 17 children and maintained close connections with his extended family, including 56 nieces and nephews.
He spent most of his professional career working as a clinical psychologist and later retired around the time Kerry entered kindergarten.
His daughter recalled that he became a stay-at-home parent during a period when men taking on such responsibilities was less common. She also remembered accompanying him to local fairs and festivals, where visitors attempted to guess people’s ages.
According to Kerry, her father frequently surprised participants because they often guessed he was 15 to 20 years younger than his actual age.
The family received the news of Kerry’s pregnancy in a memorable way. On Valentine’s Day in 2022, she and her husband, Jeffrey, presented her parents with a photo book featuring their dog, Cooper.
The final photograph revealed a baby outfit bearing the message, “Cooper’s Best Friend: Arriving September 2022.”
The announcement delighted the family, who eagerly awaited the baby’s arrival later that year.
When Madison was born on September 22, 2022, Tousignant gently held his granddaughter for the first time and embraced his new role as a grandfather, affectionately known as “Pépère”, an informal French term for grandfather.
Despite being hard of hearing, he has developed a close relationship with Madison through playful activities and shared moments.
Kerry said her father enjoys teasing the little girl by pretending to take her French fries, chasing her around playgrounds and treating her to mini doughnuts.
She also recalled that he climbed up a playground slide during the previous year, demonstrating his willingness to join in his granddaughter’s activities.
The family has since moved closer together, with Tousignant and his wife, Mary Louise, relocating from Virginia to the Charlotte, North Carolina, area to spend more time with their loved ones.
Madison particularly enjoys visiting her grandparents and playing in the swimming pool at their residential community. During one recent visit, Kerry said her daughter jumped into her grandfather’s arms at least 10 times.
For the family, these everyday moments have become even more precious because of the remarkable circumstances surrounding their relationship.
The decision to apply for the Guinness World Records title came after one of Kerry’s cousins shared a newspaper article about the previous record holder.
Although the family initially hesitated because Tousignant prefers to keep his life private, they eventually submitted an application and received confirmation shortly before his 96th birthday.
The surprise announcement brought together relatives and family friends to celebrate the achievement, with Tousignant and Madison wearing matching record-holder T-shirts.
Looking ahead, Kerry hopes her father will continue building memories with his granddaughter, particularly by passing on the family’s love of reading.
She described reading as one of the greatest gifts their family could share across generations, noting that she and her husband regularly read bedtime stories to Madison.
For Tousignant, however, the significance of the record extends beyond the certificate. His relationship with Madison has created another chapter in his family’s story, demonstrating how a new generation can bring fresh joy to life even at an extraordinary age.
