Update : December 28, 2020

Disciplines

• 300+ students admitted to 2nd BE in November 1964.
• There were 100+ students in Civil and Mechanical, 70+ students in Electrical, 15+ students in Chemical and Textile, and the rest in Mining, Metallurgy and Architecture.
• Most of them graduated in 1969.
• Some left before graduation.
• Some took sabbatical, and graduated a year or two later.

The Class of RIT 69++ consists of
(a) those who entered 2nd BE in 1964
(b) those who graduated in 1969
(c) those who studied a year or more with the above.

30th Anniversary in 1999

In 1999, Ko Tint Lwin (Daniel), Ko Sein Myint, Ko Sein Win (“Nar Yee”),  and several 69ers organized the reunion for the “30th Anniversary of Graduation” and also a mini-SPZP. Ko Tint Lwin (Daniel) e-mailed me a report. Ma Saw Yu Tint (Alice) e-mailed me photos.

Saya U Soe Paing e-mailed me about several mini-gatherings in Yangon (e.g. with Sayagyi Dr. Aung Gyi).

RIT Alumni Newsletter

• I started “RIT Alumni (Abroad) Newsletter” to share RIT-related news (such as the mini-gatherings) and solicited contact information (in the form a spread sheet) from interested sayas and alumni.
• I d”RIT” to stand not only for Rangoon Institute of Technology, but to all the engineering faculty, colleges and institutes that precede or succeed it.
• The name was changed to “RIT Alumni International Newsletter” to include alumni in Burma and the rest of the world.

RIT Web Site

• Ko Khin Maung Zaw (EC76) designed and implemented the first RIT web site.
• Ko Khin Maung Oo (Ivan Lee, M69), Ko Aung Myint (M69, Singapore) and the San Francisco Bay Area Group led by Saya Allen Htay (C58) provided some financial help to operate the web site.
• “RIT Alumni International” hosted the First RIT Grand Reunion and Saya Pu Zaw Pwe in October 2000.

SPZP

• There has been seven world wide SPZPs:
  SPZP-2000 in USA,
  SPZP-2002, SPZP-2007 and SPZP-2010 in Singapore,
  SPZP-2004, SPZP-2012 and SPZP-2016 in Yangon.
• Due to COVID-19 pandemic, SPZP-2020 was postponed.

40th Anniversary in 2009

The Class of 69 organized the “40th Anniversary of the Graduation” in 2009.

Golden Jubilee of Admission in 2014

The “Golden Jubilee of the admission to 2nd BE” in 2014, because the 69ers were concerned with the declining health of members and that some may not be able to make it to the True Golden Jubilee of graduation in 2019.

Declining Health of Members

At one moment, the Class of 69 had a median age of 69, and the list of GBNF has 69 members.

That symmetry no longer holds. The Class of 69 has a median age of 74, and the list of GBNF has 94 members.

• A recent GBNF was U Khin Maung Win (EP69).
• There were several KHIN MAUNG WIN in our class.
• He was known as SARGALAY.
• He was a natural for Machine Drawing. He would complete the drawings quickly and still get 5.
• He was training partner for Sai Kham Pan (then No. 2 in Singles and No. 1 in Doubles in Badminton; Burma Selected). He recently told us that the training prepared to be a Township Selected.
• He was a Top student.
• He was a regular at the 69er gatherings and was active at the Annual Dinner.
• Some time back he requested to pray for a successful operation and recovery.
• He changed his nickname twice : LA DA and GALON.
• May GALON (former SARGALAY) rest in peace.

The attendees at the mini-gatherings have decreased. Some (e.g. U Soe Thein (Peter Myint Maung)) could not drive, and had to ask their family members (e.g. daughter) to take them to the gatherings. Some had major or minor operations, and need time to recover fully. Some had medical problems for some time (e.g. a year or two).

Most are retired or semi-retired. A few did not retire or did not have the chance to retire.

• Ko Tin Maung Lay (M69)’s spouse wanted him to retire, but his boss requested him to perform a meticulous “hand-over” before retiring.
• He had daily work outs and supposedly had no known major health problems.
• We were sad to learn of his untimely demise in Dubai on a Friday (holiday in the country). His company and colleagues tried extra hard to make sure that his body could be flown back to Southern California, USA.

Let’s hope for the best, and prepare for the worst.
U Aung Min (M69), U Shwe (EP69) and team are the core volunteers for the 69er HCF (Health Care Fund).

U Khin Maung Oo (Ivan Lee, M69), U Sein Myint (EP69), Daw Myint Myint (C69) … are some of the major donors to HCF.

Ko Tint Lwin (Daniel, M69) added :

Thank you very much for your write-up about our 1999 “30th Anniversary of Graduation”. Actually. it all started in 1996 when I visited Burma and had dinner with a few of my close friends, including, Ko Shwe, Ko Win Mg, Ko Ye Pinn, Gabar Ko Myint Thein, etc. During dinner somebody mentioned that in 3 years time it would be 30 years since we graduated. Out of the blues I suggested to have a reunion in 1999. Everybody laughed as it was so far away. When I came back to Singapore and told Ko Sein Myint and Dickie they also laughed and told me that I must be crazy to think about so far away. However, time flies and in either late 1998 or early 1999 at Ko Win Htein’s funeral wake, some of our friends remembered the reunion proposal. They quickly formed a committee and organised the very first reunion at ‘Sait Taing Kya Restaurant. After the event I wrote you a report, Alice sent you a few photos and the rest is history.

Ko Ivan Lee (M69) wrote :

Dear Classmates,

Recently rather than optimistic good news, we heard spreading pessimistic health concern news mostly.
It clearly indicates that we are aging higher and health is going down lower and lower.
I can imagine 5 years from now how many will be terribly survived.
I am kind of depressed that sooner or later we will be meeting THERE.
At this moment all I can express is to wish our classmates who are in sickness to recover ASAP.

Ivan Lee (M69)

Zau Lai (EP69) wrote :

Thank you, Ko Hla Min, for your writings. If it’s not for you there will be no records and history of RIT. I am reading interestingly all your writings all the time. When we all are gone your writing will live on.

Aung Min (M69) added :

So thanks for your recordings.
Appreciations.

True Golden Jubilee of Graduation in 2019

The Class of 69 celebrated the true Golden Jubilee (50th Anniversary of Graduation) in December 2019.

Not so young 69ers

GBNF : U Tin Maung Soe (Tommy, EP69)

• Played basketball with U Soe Win (RIT Captain)
• Passed away on 22 August 2020 (Saturday )
• His funeral held at Yae Wai on 23 Aug.
• GBNF (Gone But Not Forgotten) Serial Number for the Class of RIT 69ers is 91.

GBNF : Khin Maung Win (EP69)

• Known fondly as “Sargalay” and “Nutty”
• Usually finished Mechanical drawings in about an hour and still get Grade 5.
• Later changed his name to “Lada” and “Galon”
• Training partner for Sai Kham Pan (EP69, Burma Selected in Badminton)
• Badminton selection at the Township level
• Asked his friends to pray for him
• Had an operation
• Passed away a few days later.

Some Members of the Class

Architecture 69

• Aung Khin
  After working in Botswana, he and Tin Tin Hla (A70) moved to Seattle, Washington, USA to be near their daughters and grand children. He attended the Golden Jubilee on December 14, 2019 in Yangon
• Kyaw Kyaw
  He belonged to an elite group who married before graduation.
• Myo Tun (Bobby)
  Won essay contests as Errol Than Tun. After retirement from PWD, he became Ashin Pannagavesaka. He is an editor of Pa Auk Sayadaw’s books and a dhamma librarian at the Mawlamyine Pa Auk Taw Ya. He went on dhamma dhuta missions (e.g. to Vietnam).
• Tobias K. Ku, Saw (Tobi)
  He attends 69er monthly breakfast gatherings.
• Thet Htun
  He moved to Taiwan.
• Thwin Thwin Aye Hmi, Daw (Olive)
  Used to play chinlon with her classmates.
  Spouse : H.E. U Han Zaw.
  Met both last at the lunch gathering at Crystal Jade in 2012 (preceding SPZP-2012).
• Tin Maung Hla
  Had some medical problems (which hopefully had gone away).

Chemical 69

• Aung Min Oo
• Aung San
• Aye Aye Kyu, Daw
• Ceril Shair (USA) ?
• Khan Za Lan
• Khin Maung Win
• Kyaw Minn (Ei Kun, Singapore)
• Kyaw Min (Albert)
• Moe Hein (Ajala, Swimming and Water Polo)
• Myat Tun
• Myint Ko
• Myint Myint Aye, Daw
• Mehm Myo Min
• Soe Win
• Swe Swe Oo, Daw
• Taing Oke, Dr. (Japan)
• Yi Yi Khaing, Daw (Vilma, Singapore)

Civil 1969

• Aung Chaw (Victor, Ashin Okkantha)
• Aung Kyaw Nyein (USA)
• Aung Myint
• Aung Than
• Aung Win
• Ba Than Chit (Saw Myint Naing)
• Han Sein (“Tone Kyaw”, Swimming and Water Polo, GBNF)
• Hla Myint
• Hla Myint Thein (Patrick Aye)
• Htay Aung (Canada)
• Htay Myint
• Htin Aung, Dr. (Chinlone)
• Khin Aung (Taiwan)
• Khin Maung
• Khin Maung Aye
• Khin Maung Myint (Mandalay)
• Khin Maung Tint
• Khin Maung Win, Dr. (Donald Ba Pe)
• Kyaw Min Thein (Kenneth)
• Kyaw Naing (Kyaw Thwin)
• Kyaw Thein
• Kyaw Tint
• Li Li Wai, Daw
• Maung Kyaw
• Myint Aung
• Myo Khin, Dr. (Japan)
• Myo Nyunt
• Myo Win
• Myo Chit
• Myint Myint, Daw
• Nyi Hla Nge
• Ngwe Tun (Tun Tun)
• Phone Kyaw (Mandalay)
• Phor Daw Khan
• Sam Nithang (Samuel, USA)
• Saw Lwin
• San Linn
• Saw Yan Naing (GBNF)
• Sein Tun
• Soe Myint
• Soe Tint
• Than Htwe
• Than Oo
• Thaung Htay
• Thaung Htwe, Daw

Electrical 69

• Abdul Rauf
• Aung Gyi Shwe (Track and Field, Soccer)
• Aung Kyaw Pe (Singapore, Myanmar)
• Aung Than
• Aye Thein (Volleyball)
• Ba Oak
• Bishnu Shahi (Badminton, Nepal)
• Chit Tin (GBNF)
• Dave Singh Saluja (Thailand)
• Hla Min (Rowing, USA)
• Hla Paik
• Hla Tun
• Khin Maung Hassan (Saudi Arabia. USA)
• Khin Maung Bo (Alan Saw Maung)
• Khin Maung Soe
• Khin Maung Tint
• Khin Maung Win (former Sargalay, now Lada, GBNF)
• Khin Maung Win (Roland Thein, Debate, Scrabble)
• Krishnan Lal (Australia)
• Kyaw Sein (Ashley Woo, Kyaukme)
• Kyaw Sein (Singapore)
• Kyaw Soe (GBNF)
• Kyaw Win
• Kyaw Zin (Australia, Myanmar)
• Kyi Shwin
• Kyi Win (Kyaw Gyi)
• Kyin Hwet
• Maung Toung (Tom, USA)
• Maung Kaung
• Maung Ko
• [Sa] Maung Maung (Volleyball, EE69er HCF)
• Maung Shwe (69er HCF, EE69er HCF)
• Mehm Paw Oo
• Mehm Aung Tin
• Min Aung (Hla Thaung, Singapore)
• Min Lwin
• Myat Soe Lwin (Sai Hwet)
• Myint Maung (Bu, Volleyball)
• Myo Aung
• Myo Hein
• Oo Kyaw Hla (Canada?)
• Sai Aik Yee
• Sai Kham Pan (Badminton)
• Sai Kyaw Aye (BBS Shan Program)
• Saw Aung
• Saw Edison (Volleyball, Australia)
• Saw Lwoi Lwin Thaw (?)
• Sein Myint (K K Wong, Rowing, Swimming and Water Polo)
• Soe Myint
• Soe Myint Thein
• Soe Thein (Peter Myint Maung)
• Tan Chaung Yin (USA)
• Thar Kyaw
• Than Hla (Cyril Ba Than)
• Than Htay
• Than Lwin (Henry)
• Than Myint
• Thein Swe (Singapore)
• Thein Tun (Michael)
• Thet Lwin
• Tin Maung Soe (Tommy Ah Nein, GBNF)
• Tin Oo
• Tin Shwe
• Tin Tin, Daw (Anne, USA)
• Tun Aung Gyaw, Dr. (USA)
• Victor Lwin
• Win Boh (Robert Gyi, Australia)
• Win Maung (Lake, Rowing, Swimming and Water Polo)
• Ye Win, Mehm
• Yi Tun
• Zau Lai, Duwa

Mechanical 69

The list is not exhaustive

• Aye Lwin
  Secretary of RIT Mechanical Engineering Association
  Editor of RIT Annual Magazine
  Attended RIT Alumni Gathering in Los Angeles in 2015
• Aung Myint
  Joined Faculty after graduation
  Taught at Singapore Poly
  Lives in New Zealand and Singapore
  Hobbies : Painting, Motivational Messages
• Mehm Aye Chan (Ohn Maung, M69)
  Joined Faculty after graduation
  Worked at sea before founding his own company
• Htay Aung
  Outstanding swimmer.
  Won 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, 1500m and Cross-lake.
  Burma selected in water polo for 1969 SEAP Games
  Spouse : Than Than (Burma Champion sprinter)
• Khin Maung Aye
  Joined Defense Industries
  Pen name : Maung Hmut
• Khin Maung Tin
  Joined Faculty after graduation
  Taught at RIT and Marine Engineering Institute
• Khin Maung Oo (Ivan Lee)
  Post graduate studies in USA
  Professional Engineer for New York and New Jersey
  Golden Sponsor of SPZP-2000
  Major donor to 69er Health Care Fun
  Host for RIT-UCC Gathering in New Jersey for more than a decade
• Tint Lwin (Daniel)
  Post graduate studies in Canada
  Retired as Associate Professor from Nanyang Technological University
  Guitarist / Vocalist

Metallurgy 69

• Myint Kyi
• Maung Tun
• Ohn Kyaw
• Sai Aung Win (Mandalay)
• Sai Kyaw Myint
• Tin Aung

Mining 69

• Aung Win
• Khin Kyaw Nyein
• Kyaw Tint
• Khin Maung Gyi
• Mya Win
• Tin Maung
• Tin Win (Hosted the lunch gathering at Crystal Jade in 2012)
• Win Thein Zaw (Wai Lu, Hluttaw MP)

Petroleum 69

• Aung Myint (Kyant Ba Hone)
• Kyaw Din
• Kyaw Than (Magwe)
• Kyaw Myint
• Myint Maung
• Myint Swe
• Paw Mya

Textile 69

• Aung Thein (USA)
• Aye Aye Kyi, Daw
• Cho Cho, Daw
• Hla Thaung
• Kyaw Min (Mandalay)
• Kyi San (Win Maung, Mandalay)
• Lyo Kyin Sein, Daw (Mabel Lee, USA)
• Lin Lin Aung, Daw (Singapore)
• Myo Myint Thein
• Nan Su Su, Daw
• Naw Mu Mu Aye, Daw
• Nyunt Nyunt Wai, Daw (Millie Hoe, Germany)
• San Kyi, Daw (USA?)
• San San Myint, Daw (Helen Wu, USA)
• Saw Yu Tint, Daw (Alice)
• Sein Sein Maw
• Than Win
• Thet Myint
• Tin Tun Aung
• Tint Swe (Zeegone)

Recollections of a 69er

• I wrote an article for the Commemorative Issue of Swel Daw Yeik Magazine in 2014 for RIT Shwe YaDu (Golden Jubilee of the then New Education System).
• Saya U Moe Aung (Tekkatho Moe War) served as the Chief Editor.

1969 Calendar

• Published for the Universities and Institutes

Some Memories

Alice visiting the San Francisco Bay Area

• Alice visited her son and family in the San Francisco Bay Area
• She took time off to attend the Literary Talks by Min Ko Naing and Aw Pe Kye

69ers at a gathering hosted by Ivan Lee (New Jersey)

• Ivan has hosted annual gatherings at his house for RIT and UCC Alumni.
• The timing is chosen to conincide with the visits of Sayagyi Dr. Aung Gyi and Saya U Soe Paing to the area.
• Fred (Pennsylvannia), TAG (Massachussetts), HM (California), Alice (Myanmar), Tom (Connecticut) and Ivan (New Jersey) had a mini-gathering.
• Ivan is co-founder and Patron of MASTAA (based in New York).
  MASTAA has broadcast interviews with Sayagyi Dr. Aung Gyi, Saya U Soe Paing and Saya Dr. San Hla Aung.
  MASTSAA members and friends donated for COVID-19 relief (prevention and treatment) in USA and Myanmar.
• Ivan is a major donor to the 69er HCF (Health Care Fund) along with Daw Myint Myint and U Sein Myint.

Monthly Breakfast Gathering at Taw Win Hnin Si

• Before the pandemic, 69ers had monthly breakfast gathering at Taw Win Hnin Si (Royal Rose Restaurant).

Annual Dinner at M3

• For several years, the Annual Dinner and Entertainment was held at M3.
• Albert and Danny are two regular performers (guitar and vocal).

Danny’s visit to San Francisco

• Ko Tin Myint (John Lee) showed Danny around the SF Bay Area.
• Saya Allen Htay and Daw Mu Mu Kin hosted a dinner for Danny at a restaurant in Castro.

Speaking at John Lee’s Memorial Service

• Ko Tin Myint (John Lee) passed away.
• His daughter (a medical doctor) requested me to share my memories.

Maung Maung Kaung (Yi Pinn) in Dawei

• Yi Pinn is busy with his projects in Dawei.
• Some time back, his spouse passed away in Yangon.
  He rushed to Yangon, but had to self-Q.
  He could not be present at his spouse’s last journey.

Donation by Daw Myint Myint

• Daw Myint Myint is a major donor to the 69er HCF.
• She also hosted or sponsored lunch and dinner gatherings.
  e.g. Welcome Daw Nyunt Nyunt Wai (Millie) at Westin Park Hotel
• She donated twice for YTU Library Modernization Project.
  e.g. K100 Lakhs once