Yi Pan

Yi Pan was born in Beijing, China on October 4, 1955, to the late Yutong Pan and Xiangchun Zhang. Yi is survived by her husband Randolph Henry Bretton, mother Xiangchun Zhang and brother Jianmin Pan. She passed away on August 23, 2026, at the age of 71

Yi Pan, MD, Ph.D, had a fulfilling career a neurologist at Department of Neurology, Saint Louis University, St Louis, MO. In 2002. She was diagnosed with ovarian cancer stage IIIc. She continued working as a physician, educator, and researcher with multiple recurrences, surgeries and countless chemotherapies. As a patient herself, she was a better physician to understand her patients’ needs and concerns to treat their neurological diseases. In 2021, she was diagnosed with breast cancer, then retired from the position of full professor. Yi was also working part time at John Cochran VA Medical center, St Louis, MO. She provided her service as a clinical neurophysiologist to perform electromyograph and electrocephalogram. She had an opportunity to help from World War II veterans from her early career to golf war veterans when she retired on October 31, 2025 when her breast cancer progressing regardless surgeries and chemotherapies.

Yi lived with her husband Randolph Bretton for 30 years. She enjoyed reading and traveling and became passionate about photography after she retired from medical practice. She will be remembered most of all, as a good physician, teacher, friend and a person who was always helping others in need.

Yi will be buried in Spencer Masachescess, where her husband’s family are from. A Visitation for friends and family will be held at Our Lady of the Rosary Church Spencer, MA local at 7 Church St on Saturday Sept 12, 2026 beginning at 0930a.

Followed by a Mass Sept 12, 2026, beginning at 1030a.

Followed by a burial at Our Lady of the Rosary Cemetery taking place at 1130a.

Followed by a reception at 308 Lakeside, East Brookfield, MA, beginning at 1p.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Yi’s memory to her husband at …

2440 Pro Tour Dr., Belleville, IL 62220. A permanent memorial is planned in St. Louis where she practiced medicine.