Ko Tin Maung Lay (M69) found his love Margaret when he visited his former classmate and friend Ko Kyaw Sint (Edward Tai, T69er, Tennis & Soccer, GBNF) in Southern California.
She is the younger sister of Elizabeth (GBNF, spouse of U Kyaw Sint) and a cousin of U Tun Aung (Jeffery, EC68, GBNF).
Long Separation
He moved to California, but spent most of his time working abroad — in Europe and Middle East.
He came back home only for the breaks.
Since they are well off and did not have children, a suggestion to retire was made.
Final Trip
He agreed to retire, but his boss & friend asked him for a final trip to train / handover.
He passed away unexpectedly — before he could retire — on a Friday (which was Sabbath & Holiday in the country). His company tried its best to have his body flown back to California.
He was a Health Enthusiast and worked out daily. Kyaw Sint was also health conscious. Both were felled by Byadi ဗျာဓိ and Marana မရဏ. May they rest in peace.
Worked for IBM Burma as System Engineer before moving to USA.
Still has a good memory
Has shared some stories
Aunt Daw Khin Khin Htwe
Aunty Khin Khin Htwe
Aka Flora San Pe
Younger sister of Dr. Pe Nyun (Pediatric Surgeon)
Taught Psychology at Rangoon University
Studied Library Science in USA
Headed Burmese Section of the Library of Congress
Selected Stories
From March 1, 1929
U Thein Han
It’s been a long journey. I’ve passed the aged barrier of 90. From now on everyday is a bonus for me. My health is the same, no problem. Blood tests results are good. Memory is still sharp. I can drive my car for grocery shopping. I think I will be with you all this year.
I’m living proof that Exercise and Healthy food will keep you in good health and prolong your life. I’ve been doing exercise since I retired in 1994 after I joined HP Senior Center using the Physical Equipment and having lunch at the center. I use light weights (30, 40 lbs) for arm, leg, thigh exercise and walk fast for 1/2 mile (10 minutes) on a Treadmill.
At night before I go to bed, I do Balance exercise 3 times a week given to me by my Physical Therapist.
So Folks, “It’s your life, Exercise, Eat Healthy Food, No Smoking and Drinking, Travel and Enjoy your good life”.
A True Story
When I was working at Montgomery County, Division Of Parking, during my lunch break I took a cab to go to a Chinese Restaurant in Silver Spring [Maryland, USA]. The driver was an African-American from Jamaica. On the way I had a conversation with him and came to know he had a daughter studying at Howard University (African-American University) to be a Lawyer. It happened that my wife was working as a Librarian at Howard University at Washington D.C. so I had a good chat with him. When we arrived at the restaurant I asked him if he had his lunch. He said, “No”. I invited him to have lunch with me. He accepted. I had a long talk with him about Jamaica. After lunch he dropped me at my work.
A few days later while I was walking back from lunch in Silver Spring, it rained heavily. I did not have an umbrella. All of a sudden a car stopped beside me. It was James the Taxi driver that I gave lunch. He told me to hop in and took me to my office. When I asked him, “What is the fare?”, he said, “It’s on the house. No problem”.
When you do a good deed to a person, you will be rewarded back one day with a good deed. This is my true story.
I believe in luck
It was in 1948 during my Rangoon University days I did Nation Newspaper Crossword Puzzle and won 2000 Kyats. At that time the value of Kyat was very good. With the money I won I bought a Jeep costing 3000 Kyats.
My next luck was also during my University days when I went to a movie with my friend Ko Sein Lwin. On the return while I was driving my Jeep with my friend beside me, at the corner of Prome Road and Medical College I, we picked up 800 Kyats which was lying on the Road.
When I arrived in Maryland (USA), I went to Safeway Grocery to buy bread. When I took the bread from the shelf I found $20 on the shelf. It was a great help to me when I was penniless.
Another time was when I was walking on Wheaton Avenue with my son, we found $40 on the street.
During our Burmese Christmas Party I won the door prize which was a Television.
At the Thai King’s Birthday party given by our Thai friend, I won Thai Airways luggage for the door prize.
At our Senior Center I won a Cup as a door prize.
While working at Montgomery County, in 1977, I won 2nd prize of the Maryland Lottery which was $2000, because I hit five numbers out of six numbers. At that time $2000 was a lot of money. The 2nd prize is now one million Dollars.
The 1st prize then was one million Dollars. On 25 August 2018 the 1st prize went up to 522 Million and it was won by 11 employees of a bank because they were lucky.
The 13 Thai Cave Footballers survived because of their luck.
My University friend Billy Wu From Maymyo went back home during a holiday, the UBA Dakota plane crashed due to bad weather, but he was lucky and he survived.
Everyone has luck, but we don’t know when we will be lucky.
My Barber
Ko Aye Pe has been my barber since my University days in 1947 till 1971. He also cut the hair of my two sons. He worked at Varsity Hair Dressing Salon in Bogyoke Aung San Market. We were friends till I left for USA in 1971. He was a kind and obliging person and whenever I travel abroad I brought a shirt for him.
On my first visit back to Myanmar in 2005. I wanted to see him and asked my friend U Hla Soe if he knew Ko Aye Pe’s whereabouts. U Hla Soe told me that he has retired and cuts people hair at his home and gave me his address.
Ko San Aung (Sydney Tin, Ko Pyu) and I took a taxi and went to search for him. We found him living in an apartment near the Old Central Jail behind Medical College 1. He was very happy to see me. He told me he’s retired and he’s working at home and the barber chair that I’m sitting on was given by U Hla Soe. I had a long chat with him and returned back to Winner Inn Hotel.
On my next visit to Myanmar two years later, we went to his apartment but was told by his neighbor that he had moved to Ahlone and gave us the address. We went there and found him living with his niece’s family. When we met him he was BLIND. His niece told him there’s someone to see him but did not tell who we were. I sat down next to him and asked him if he knew who I was. He touched my face with his hand to find out who I was. I then told him that I was Ko Charlie and came back to Myanmar for a visit. When he touched my face with his hand my eyes became wet and I was very sad to see him blind, he must be about 75 years then.
It must have been Cataract which could have been treated and cured, maybe no one told him to see an Eye Doctor or that he may not have the cash for the surgery.
Before we left I gave him Kyats 100,000 for being a good friend who was always willing to cut hair for my kids at home. We then said goodbye to him and returned back to Winner Inn Hotel.
Ko Aye Pe was kind to me when I needed his services and his METTA to me. In return I was able to share what I can with him when he needed it.
Uploading a picture of Saya U Kyaw Myint from RIT Textile Department now living in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada – a suburb of the City of Vancouver.
KMZ, U Kyaw Myint
I did a day trip from Kirkland, a suburb of Seattle, Washington, US to go see him and his wife Daw Shirley Saw Thant Yee on Thursday September 12th 2024.
We had a light lunch with his middle daughter at nearby Restaurent. Ma Shirley was sleeping so decided to let her sleep. We ended up having a good chat for couple of hours reminiscing life, our friends, families among many subjects. We used to do that quite often since they migrated to Canada. We haven’t met for over a year, other than occasional phone calls, so we were having a good time this time.
We forget to take some pictures, then realising we haven’t, took this picture while coming down the stairs. It was taken by his youngest daughter.
Universities’ Computer Center (UCC) was succeeded by Department of Computer Science (DCS), Institute of Computer Science and Technology (ICST) and University of Computer Studies Yangon (UCSY).
UCC Founders
Dr. Chit Swe
Dr. Chit Swe
Founder & Director of UCC
Rector, RASU
Taught / supervised in Bangkok and Sydney
He passed away in Sydney
There are several posts about Saya
U Ko Ko Lay
U Ko Ko Lay
UCC Co-founder
He served as Operations Manager and nScientific Applications Manager
Professor at DCS
Professor of Information Technology at ICST
Staff (mostly at UCC)
Dr. Tin Maung
Dr. Tin Maung
He succeeded Saya Chit as Director of UCC.
During his tenure, Department of Computer Science (DCS) and Institute of Computer Science and Technology (ICST) were established.
He served as the inaugural Rector of ICST
CO U Hla Min
CO U Hla Min
Joined UCC as Chief Operator.
He attended a post-graduate course in UK, where he met his beloved one.
He is an early casualty (passing away at the tender age of 30+).
U Aung Zaw
U Aung Zaw
Systems Programmer, Systems Division
Taught at UCC, CSO, Assumption University and in Sydney.
Wrote two books “Bawa and Dhamma” and “Cetana Thi Thar Kan”
U Mya Thein
Joined the Department of Commerce, Institute of Economics
Transferred to UCC as Business Applications Programmer
Retired as Business Applications Manager
Taught at UCC, DCS, ICST, and ITBMU
Daw Nge Ma Ma Than
Ma Nge
Business Applications
Taught at UCC, DCS and ICST
Prisoner of Conscience
U Kyaw Nyein
Win May Thoung, Kyaw Nyein, Aung Myint, Kyu Kyu Lwin, Aung Zaw, Soe Win
Joined UCC as Scientific Applications Programmer
Taught Numerical Methods
Joined UNV
Dr. Kyaw Thein
Dr. Kyaw Thein
Retired as Rector of ICST
Succumbed to Covid
U Soe Myint
U Soe Myint
M72
Joined Operations Division
Teaching Staff at ICST
Retired as Pro-Rector, ICST
U Soe Win
EC70
Engineer, Systems Division
Moved to PTC
More GBNF
U Win Naing : Science Scholar for Mathematics; Attended the 1st batch of M.Sc. (CS) with the Systems Option; Scientific Applications Programmer.
U Soe Thein : Joined as Offline Operation; Moved to Business Applications
U Maung Maung Gyi : Joined as Operator; later Chief Operator
U Maung Maung Lay : Offline and later Online Operator
Daw Hla Hla Win : Operations
Daw Kyu Kyu Lwin : Operations; Moved to Social Security Board
Daw Win May Thaung : Operations
U Aung Myint : Joined Systems Division; Computer Technician; later Engineer
U Shein Soe Myint (EC83) : Systems Division; Passed away in Singapore while doing his doctorate
U Aung Aung Thein : Systems Division; Colleague of U Kyaw Zwar Soe
UMyint Aung : Admin Officer
Daw Khin Lay Myint : Joined as Secretary; later BC at Admin
U Khin Maung Aye (M73) : 1st batch of M.Sc. (CS) with Applications Option; Joined Railways
Daw Khin Mya Swe : Attended M.Sc. (CS)
Daw Khin Toe Nyein : Attended M.Sc. (CS)
U Thein Tan — Attended M.Sc. (CS)
Daw Thida Aung : M.Sc. (CS); Classmate of Thida Khin
Daw Khin San Hlaing (Cynthia) : Joined UCC as Librarian; Attended M.Sc. (CS); Worked at AIT; Asian Institute; Migrated to Australia
Conventional wisdom says, “Practice makes perfect.”
Unconventional wisdom says, “Perfect practice makes perfect.”
Horowitz (pianist)
If I do not practice for a day, only I will know.
If I do not practice for three days, my mom will know.
If I do not practice for a week my audience will know.
Brother Clementian
Bro Clementian
In our Matriculation class, Brother Clementian — former Brother Director who continued teaching — gave a weekly one-hour Mathematics test on Saturdays. We had to answer three questions. With the practice, most of us did well in the examination where we had to answer six questions in three hours.
It was an example of “Perfect practice makes perfect.”
He would hand out the answer papers on Monday. He would call those who did not do well to a special session after school.
Thoughts on Practice
There are several practice sessions before an event (e.g. Entertainment at SPZP). There may be a Full Dress Rehearsal (final practice).
Giving a reasonably good “Prepared Speech” requires practice, but the practice should not involve blind repetition. One should try to remember the main points and the transitions.
Practice helps a good athlete to become a great athlete.
Dr. Richard Yu Khin (MEHS61, GBNF)
He wrote about the tough practice sessions given by Mr. Matsuda for ten selected Burmese swimmers.
They had to swim five 50 yard sprints with one minute interval.
The coach helped Tin Maung Ni shine in Burma and beyond.
TTC
TTC (Teachers’ Training College) had a practicing school.
Dr. Thane Oke Kyaw Myint wrote :
And why do qualified doctors keep on “practicing”?
He is an alumnus of PPBRS, SPHS and Institute of Economics.
He is a founding member and Principal at Burma Astro Research Bureau (BARB).
He asked me if I can help him speed up some Veda processes (e.g. generation of a Natal Horoscope).
I assigned two students Ko Win Latt and Ko Zaw Tun and supervised them for the Veda projects.
Ko Win Latt
Win Latt
He owned a computer and was also an excellent programmer.
Under my supervision and with the guidance of U Myint Sein, Ko Win Latt came up with three versions.
He named them WinHoro V3, V6 and V9.
V3 produces the “basic” horoscope with Yathi (Rasi), Bawa and Nawin (Navamsa). It is also known as “Tri Cekka Zatar” referring to the three parts. It takes some time (a few minutes to an hour) if done manually.
V6 produces a better horoscope.
V9 produces the best horoscope.
WinHoro was implemented using BASIC (an interpretive language).
BASIC (Beginner’s All-purpose Symbolic Instruction Code) was designed by Professors Kemeny & Kurtz for use with the Dartmouth College Time Sharing System (CSS). Bill Gates and Paul Allen implemented “Tiny BASIC” for the MITS Altair. They co-founded Microsoft. BASICA, GWBASIC and variants became a popular language for microcomputers and PCs.
Ko Win Latt later established classes for Computer Programming & Applications.
He co-founded SysMagic
He is currently in Bangkok
Ko Zaw Tun
Zaw Tun (center at Back)
One needs expert knowledge to interpret a Zartar.
Ko Zaw Tun used Prolog (language for Logic Programming) to implement the Bedin Rules.
He tested his program with several sets of data.
He was surprised when his program said that “a Two Year Old is a rich person (possibly a Millionaire)”. He thought that there must be a bug. It turned out that the Two Year Old is a grand son of a wealthy Sawbwa, who decided that his grand son should inherit his wealth.
He later moved to Singapore.
He is a core organizer at Singapore Chan Myei Yeik Tha.
Update
U Myint Sein later founded IDEA Astrology. He also served as Visiting Professor of Medical Astrology at တိုင်းရင်းဆေးပညာကျောင်း
U Myint Sein is now GBNF. It was good news and bad news for his son, who was back in Yangon to take examination for Master Mariner. He was present at his father’s last journey.
The Law of Dependent Origination Exposition and Practical Application to Emancipate from the Round of Rebirths (Samsara)
Author : U Than Daing Preface by Sayadaw U Thittila, Aggasmahapandita Second Edition, 1996 Reviewer : U Sway Tin (son-in-law of U Than Daing) Publisher : Society for the Propagation of Vipassana (Mogok Sayadaw’s way)
Chapters
1. What is Paticcasamupadda? 2. Sections, Links, Factors and Periods 3. Khanda Paticcasamupadda (Present Aspect) 4. How Cycle of Paticcasamupadda starts revolving from Vedana 5. Revolving of Paticcasamupadda from the beginning 6. Revolving of Paticcasamupadda from the end … 13. Sakkaya Ditthi. The Cause and Consequences 14. Sakkaya Ditthi and How it arises (Culla Vedalla Sutta, Mulapannasa)
Yamaka Sutta (Samyutta Nikaya …
Glossary
Notes
U Than Daing is a disciple of Mogok Sayadaw.
He and his son-in-law U Sway Tin recorded Sayadaw’s dhamma talks.
He told attendees that I was Generation Zero, Bo Htay was Generation One, and he was Generation Two.
I. Sc (A)
He was a fledgling tutor in the Mathematics Department in 1963.
He held Tutorial for the topics taught by U Khin Zaw, Mr. Choudry and Daw Khin Ma Ma.
He encouraged me.
I was a Top student in I.Sc. (A).
UK
U TAG (EC69), Soe Win (EC70) and I visited Southampton University to see Saya U Soe Paing and U Aung Zaw.
Dr. Kyaw Thein (Rightmost)
He was doing his Ph.D. He was working on Differentiable Manifold and related topics. He and U Aung Zaw joined us to see Stonehenge, Salisbury Cathedral, and a Safari.
New Maths & Children’s Treasury of Knowledge
As Dr. Chit Swe’s assistant and general hand, I worked on several projects with the Maths sayas (including Dr. Kyaw Thein).
Proponent of the “Twinning Program” between the Faculty of Engineering, RU and prestigious universities in the USA
Passed away in Rangoon
ဦးနန်ကောက် H Num Kok
H Num Kok
BOC ကောလိပ်မှာ စာ စသင် Started as a teacher at BOC College
Saya of our sayas
Passed away in Portland, Oregon, USA
ဦးအောင်ကြီး U Aung Gyi
Dr. Aung GyiDr. Aung Gyi, U Min Wun
နောက် — Dr.၊ ပါမောက္ခချုပ် Rector
Passed away in Napean, Canada
ဦးမင်းဝန် U Min Wun
U Min Wun
နောက် — ပါမောက္ခ Professor
Passed away in Southern California, USA
ကိုအယ်လင်ဌေး (C58) Allen Htay
Saya Allen Htay
နောက် — ကထိက Lecturer
Thingyan, RIT Campus
President, RIT Photography Association
Leader, San Francisco Bay Area RIT Alumni Group
ဥက္ကဌ၊ RIT Alumni International / President
SPZP-2000 Organizers
Organizer, SPZP-2000
Author, “Brother, can you afford to spare $500 and more?”
He passed away in Northern California, USA
In saya’s memory, his spouse Daw Mu Mu Kin donated saya’s books to YTU Library. She also provided financial aid to eligible YTU students.
ကိုစံလှအောင် (C58) San Hla Aung
Donation to SDYFAt Winner Inn
နောက် — ကထိက
President, RIT Swimming Association
President, RIT Rowing Association
Line Judge, RUBC Regattas
နောက် Doctorate
Tulane University ပါမောက္ခ Professor
Donated to Swel Daw Yeik Foundation; Donation was accepted by U Moe Aung
ကိုဝင်းသိန်း (C58) Win Thein
Dr. Win Thein
နောက် — Dr.
ပါမောက္ခ Professor
He passed away in Yangon
In saya’s memory, his sister donated to Swel Daw Yeik Foundation, MES and Starvation Eradication
SPZP-2000 ဆရာပူဇော်ပွဲ Saya Pu Zaw Pwe
Sayas at SPZP-200
RIT Alumni International (headed by Saya Allen Htay) hosted the First RIT Grand Reunion and Saya Pu Zaw Pwe in October 2000. Benny Tan (M70) and Maurice Chee (M75) were co-Chair of the Working Committee.
Several Civil Engineering sayas attended SPZP-2000. They include Dr. Aung Gyi, U Min Wun, U Allen Htay, Dr. San Hla Aung, Dr. Aung Soe, U Myint Lwin, U Tin Maung, and U Myat Htoo.
မြို့ပြဆရာပူဇော်ပွဲ Civil Engineering Pu Zaw Pwe
Civil Engineering Sayas
Before the pandemic, there used to be All-Civil Reunion and PZPs.
