Pammu Yohan Rao

Pammu Yohan Rao (May 27, 1969 – April 18, 2026) Yohan Rao, affectionately known as "Yo" to his family, friends, & colleagues, was born on May 27, 1969, at the Safdarjung Hospital in New Delhi, India. He was the fourth and youngest child to Swartha and Venkanna Pammu, both of whom preceded him in death. Raised in a humble and close-knit family, the family grew with two additional members on the Hailey Road campus, where they lived for more than 30 years. 

As a child, he would dress up and be the first to attend Sabbath School class. He was quiet yet very mischievous. He loved playing pranks on his close friends, and nobody was spared from his sense of humor. From childhood, he was the handyman who would dismantle anything and reassemble it. His mother recognized this talent in him and said this boy was going to be a mechanic one day. He would run away from boarding school as he felt lonely after all his siblings had moved to another school. He found it hard to focus on his studies and was always found playing cricket in the neighborhood. His parents decided to send him to Bangalore to complete his high school under the loving care of the Lall Dass family, and he was able to complete his high school education. His parents never went to school themselves; however, they were very passionate about ensuring all their children received an Adventist education. 

After completing his high school education, he moved back to Delhi and started working in a sports shop for several years due to the financial constraints the family was facing. In his free time, he loved playing tennis ball cricket with neighborhood teams in the streets of New Delhi. They would make bets — the winning team would get ten rupees, a lot of money in those days — and winning was all that mattered to him. He was very passionate about following the Indian Cricket Team on their international tours and had in-depth knowledge of the sports he loved. He was also a die-hard fan of the Washington Commanders.

 In 1997, he migrated to the United States to seek a better life and future, and pursued auto mechanic training, completing his certification from Lincoln Tech in Maryland. He fulfilled his mom's dream of him becoming a certified mechanic, even though she was not alive to see it. He leased a mechanic shop in Washington DC and had seven mechanics working for him. He loved fixing cars, had thorough knowledge of American and European vehicles, and knew how to diagnose and fix them quickly. He always recommended buying American-made cars, as parts were readily available and easy to source. He loved buying every new sneaker that came to market and would wear a new pair each time you saw him — along with a hat that became his signature trademark. 

Yohan's greatest source of joy and pride was his family, and in particular his two sons, Ethan and Rao-Rao. He loved them deeply and did everything in his power to provide them with what they needed. Through all of life's challenges, his unwavering support for his family never faltered. He worked hard, was a wonderful cook who prepared sumptuous meals for family and friends, and enjoyed life to the fullest — always with his door open and his table set for whoever came. He leaves behind his two sons, two brothers, a sister, sisters-in-law, brothers-in law, nephews and nieces, their children, and a host of well-wishers and friends who will dearly miss him. 

As we gather to honor Yohan's life and legacy, we celebrate a man who gave generously of himself — to his family, to his friends, and to those who were struggling and needed a helping hand in Washington DC. He left his mark not in grand gestures but in the quiet, steady way he showed up for the people around him. We are eternally grateful to God for the gift of Yohan Rao, and for the warmth, laughter, and love he brought into our lives