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LORETTA PAN Obituary

PAN--Loretta Renqiu.

Loretta Renqiu Pan was born on October 1, 1917, Changzhou, Jiangsu Province, China and died in New York on April 12. Ms. Pan graduated from Ginling College, the first university for female students in China. She came to the US in 1951, teaching Chinese to diplomats at the US State Department in Washington. In 1953, she moved to New York teaching Chinese at Columbia University, where she taught until 1987. Michael Oksenberg and Kenneth Lieberthal, diplomats, are among her distinguished students. Her beloved brother, professor of management Chenglie Pan, died three days after Ms. Pan in China. Ms. Pan is survived by her younger sister Renchou Pan in Beijing China, niece Qi Pan in Toronto, Canada, and niece Wei Pan in Beijing China. Please send inquiries to Thomas McGovern at [email protected].

Published by New York Times on Apr. 19, 2015.
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I am learning belatedly that Loretta Pan passed away. She was an unforgettable presence in our lives from my childhood on. While aware of her legendary status as a teacher of Chinese at Columbia, we knew her, not as her students, but through her personal vivaciousness and generosity extended to our family. Her parties, gifts, and care were a constant source of happiness in our lives. Brett de Bary

September 22, 2017

It's been one year since you left. I knew from my mom for the first time today that you had completed an autobiogrphy written in Chinese. But no one has it. I wonder if any of your friends or students had the honor to have it. I can be reached at [email protected].

Qi Pan

April 12, 2016

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Shiye Fu

September 12, 2015

Qi Pan

May 12, 2015

Loretta Pan touched many lives. She was an extraordinary Chinese language teacher, one of the most effective educators at Columbia University. Her caring nature was a model for her students, many of whom became diplomats and experts in China affairs.
I called her Auntie Pan, because she had been a dear friend of my mother-in-law, Kong Ming Yin Kaung, paternal aunts Gloria Kaung Chao and Anne Kaung Wang since their days together at Ginling High School and Ginling College in China. And she was a loving auntie, always thoughtful, helping me and others, especially young people and friends with health problems. She was unstintingly generous to charities and social causes to which she always added a personal touch, like tutoring newly-arrived immigrants for free.
Auntie Pan loved to host parties, wonderful get togethers over special dishes in Chinatown with colleagues, students and friends. She particularly enjoyed spending time with my extended family and invited me to many affectionate afternoons at her home. I'd bring her flowers from my garden, and she would gift me with impromptu lessons to improve my Chinese.
Auntie Pan lived her life full of love, courage, and concern for others. As people of her generation passed away, Auntie became more reclusive, but she told me she was not afraid to die and she longed to join her dearest friends.
To those living, her personal generosity never ceased. It was her habit to find little gifts for everyone. A number of years ago, she told me she wanted to give each of the women in my family something special. Then she brought out a pearl ring with an unusually lovely setting for me. I was overwhelmed, hesitant to accept it, but she insisted. It was her special bond with me. I wear it daily on my ring finger together with a ring of small diamonds given to me by my mother-in-law. Both these friends, my loved ones, are together, and with me every day.
Sinforosa Tan Kaung, Ph. D., OCA Westchester & Hudson Valley Chapter Past President, Westchester Community College Professor Emerita for Mathematics

April 28, 2015

April 27, 2015

Ms.Pan took care of me and my family like a mother. We made an appointment that I will go back to NY on her one hundred years old birthday. We will miss her and bless her forever.

Shuhua

April 27, 2015

Loretta Pan was my Godmother. Ms Pan and my mom, Kong-Ming Kaung, meet in school, back in China. My Mom and Ms Pan were good friends for over 70 years. Ms Pan loved big family get togethers & spent many holidays & birthday celebrations with my extended family, which included my siblings & all my cousins and their family. She loved to eat and had treated us to many Chinese feast. She so enjoyed the many years that she taught at Columbia University and was very dedicated to her students. Ms Pan was a very generous, kind and a very intelligent person.

Jenny Keenan

April 23, 2015

I was able to visit Loretta at her apartment in March at least one last time. So glad I did. My father was "her brother" since we shared the same last name. She had an ever giving, hearty, entertaining presence that makes her legendary. Missed by many.

Judy Pan

April 22, 2015

Miss Pan was demanding, but she also gave unstintingly. Will always remember tasting the first persimmons of the year in her class. Very grateful to have been her student.

Martha Huang

April 22, 2015

Studying with Miss Pan was my favorite part of doing my PhD at Columbia (1974-82). Her take-no-prisoner approach to the si sheng makes me fear a misspoken tone even today. Her tales of the uncivilized Americans who ate ma cai and who consumed food while walking along Broadway left us all in stitches. By giving me an outstanding foundation in modern Chinese and by treating me to a big dose of Chinese culture, Miss Pan was a critical part of my training as a China anthropologist. She created wonderful memories of a precious time that will be with me til I too pass from this earth. Thank you, Miss Pan!

Susan Greenhalgh

April 21, 2015

I was lucky to be among her first class of students at Columbia--1958. She had standards that often seemed impossible to live up to, but we're all better off for that.

James Seymour

April 21, 2015

Recollections of Miss Pan figure significantly in my memories of college days. I was a nice and neat person, but not too smart, said Miss Pan. I was so frightened of her gimlet stare and her "Oh really..." as I attempted to translate a difficult passage. She held herself and her expectations of her students to the highest standard. After they made Miss Pan, they broke the mold!

Pamela Cole

April 20, 2015

Miss Pan was an excellent teacher and a sweet person. She was my teacher during the summer session at Columbia In 1963. She taught me much more than the Chinese language, helping to prepare me for my later Peace Corps (Thailand) service and teaching career.

Gerald Isaacson

April 20, 2015

Loretta Pan's students were her life and now her legacy -- Her wisdom and teaching remain with us - always

Gail Heidecorn Kedrus

April 20, 2015

As a rising college freshman, I took Beginning Chinese language from the extraordinary "Pan Laoshi" during the summer of 1971. She was demanding, but learning under her masterful tutelage during an exceptionally difficult time between China and the West was an unexpected gift for which I will be forever grateful.

Eva Lerner-Lam

April 20, 2015

Weiyee In

April 20, 2015

Ms. Pan was an amazing teacher and mentor, and the best part of my Columbia experience. I am proud to be a small part of her legacy.

Mark Lewis

April 20, 2015

Loretta Pan was a truly remarkable lady, enormously dedicated to her teaching and students. Studying under her strict guidance was a a valuable, unforgettable experience.

Kenneth Lieberthal (Washington, DC)

April 19, 2015

I studied with Ms. Pan at Columbia University from 1982-1985. She was the toughest teacher I ever had, but also one of the best. I have fond memories of being in her class.

Paul Mooney

April 19, 2015

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