A ‘brilliant’ cardiothoracic surgeon has died two weeks after being knocked to the ground in a brutal Brooklyn traffic jam.
Dr. Jaime Yun, 56, a beloved married father of two, died on June 16 from a traumatic brain injury he sustained as a result of a violent brawl that took place on June 8, just miles away from the hospital where he worked.
Yun, a respected and gifted surgeon, was sitting in his vehicle at the corner of Schenectady and East New York Avenue in Crown Heights around 11:30 a.m. when a verbal altercation occurred between him and motorist Dexter Alexander, 31.
According to police, Yun hit the side mirror of Alexander’s vehicle with a stick and at that point, Alexander allegedly punched Yun in the face, knocking him onto the sidewalk. Daily news reported.
When medics arrived, they found Yun lying on the ground with a massive head wound. They took him to King County Hospital, where he was initially expected to survive until his health took a turn for the worse and he died days later.
Dr. Jaime Yun, 56, a victim of a road rage incident in Crown Height’s Brooklyn earlier this month succumbed to his injuries and died on June 16
Family and friends were heartbroken at his sudden and senseless death, describing him as “brilliant” and someone who “excelled at everything he did.” He is survived by his wife Tyan, his children, Christopher and Lauren, and five brothers Alfonso, Julio, Enrique, Fernando and Jairo, their wives and several cousins. He was predeceased by his parents, Yen Yu Yun Chang and Cecilia Yun Yee
Yun’s death was ruled a homicide by the town’s medical examiner, and Alexander was arrested and charged with assault.
It is unclear if the assault charges against Alexander will be upgraded after Yun’s death. The New York Post reported.
A dedicated cardiac surgeon, Yun served his community and worked at a hospital in the East Flatbush neighborhood of Brooklyn.
Family and friends were heartbroken at his sudden and senseless death, describing him as “brilliant” and someone who “excelled at everything he did.”
Yun was born in Venezuela and later moved to Colombia with his parents and five brothers. They emigrated from Colombia to New York in the 1970s.
He was an exemplary student and an overachiever from a very young age. Yun attended Bronx Science High School after being valedictorian in his elementary school, and he graduated summa cum laude from Columbia University before attending New York University Medical School.
Loved ones said, “Jaime cared deeply about those around him.” He knew he wanted to be a doctor at a young age and make an impact on the lives of many, according to his obituary.
One of his medical professors nicknamed him “99” because his exam scores were always in the 99th percentile.
Yun enjoyed being a mentor and loved being in the operating room teaching medical students to be a better version of themselves, his loved ones said.
He was also known for his quirky sense of humor and was usually the first to laugh at his own jokes.
Yun was a devoted family man and an extraordinary cardiac surgeon. One of his neighbors called him a ‘great human being’
The corner of Schnectady and East New York in Crown Heights, Brooklyn (pictured) where the June 8 traffic accident that later killed Dr. Jaime Yun, a respected and dedicated heart surgeon
“Family was everything to Jaime and his children were the light of his life. He beamed with pride after both of his children went to his alma mater and was excited to talk about his days as a lion,” his obituary read.
“He’s visited the campus many times over the past five years to hang out at his son’s dorm and watch his daughter play lacrosse. He was an enthusiastic spectator and his enthusiasm was contagious to many people on the sidelines.’
During the COVID-19 pandemic, his family, his neighbors in Manhasset and his patients described him as “selfless.”
Neighbor Vihas Patel called him a ‘great human being’.
Many paid tribute to the special person Yun turned into a online tribute book.
“At this time of sorrow, let us all remember Dr. Remembering Jaime as the unique and wonderful person he was – always quick with a smile or sharing his wisdom gently but confidently,” a close friend wrote.
He will be fondly remembered for his generous nature, as well as his immense intellect and dedication to his work.
“Memories of those warm hugs from teddy bears will comfort us in our grief. Dr. Jaime’s friendly presence in the background has brightened so many lives, and we will miss him dearly.”
Another wrote: ‘Jaime was one of the kindest, smartest and funniest people I’ve ever met. He had such a brilliant mind and was so dedicated to his work as a cardiothoracic surgeon.”
“He really enjoyed working and helping people. One of them is Stu. It touched my heart when he and Stu got along so famously like they knew each other forever. Jaime will be so missed, but knowing Stu, he’ll be hanging out with Jaime and, I might say, partying freestyle together.”
Yun is survived by his wife Tyan, his children, Christopher and Lauren, and five brothers Alfonso, Julio, Enrique, Fernando and Jairo, their wives and several cousins. He was predeceased by his parents, Yen Yu Yun Chang and Cecilia Yun Yee.
A vigil was held Friday at the Fairchild Funeral Home in Manhasset, followed by his burial in the chapel. A private grave was held at Flushing Cemetery on Sunday.