I had the opportunity to serve as Master of Ceremonies at two last journeys.

Last Journey for Htay Lwin Nyo

• Dr. Htay Lwin Nyo (EP 74) attended RIT and UCC.
• His last job was Part time Professor of Electrical Engineering at San Jose State University.

Demise

• Passed away alone at his home.
• When he did not show up for the classes, his students requested SJSU authorities to investigate.
• The Dean of the SJSU EE Department told his students to contact Htay Lwin Nyo’s relatives via the Burmese in the San Francisco Bay Area.
• Ko Khin Maung Zaw (EC76) set up the commemorative web pages on the first ex-RIT web site. He also contacted Ko Kyaw Zwar Than (Jaws, then in Canada).

Cremation, Ash Scattering, Soon Kwyay

• The Burmese Community helped with the Last Journey.
• Pushed the trigger to start the incinerator.
• Accompanied Dr. Lyn Swe Aye and Dr. Khin Nyo Thet to scatter his ashes in Santa Cruz.
• Offered Soon Kwyay at Tathagatha Meditaion Center (TMC), San Jose.
  
• The sad saga is described in
  https://hlamin.com/2020/03/05/dr-htay-lwin-nyo/

Last Journey for Sayadaw U Silananda

Trailblazer

• Sayadaw was a Trail Blazer for the Burmese monks doing Dhamma Duta missions in the USA and beyond.
• Sayadaw was also requested to serve as the first Rector of the International Theravada Buddhist University (IMBTU).
• At the request of the devotees of Mahasi Sayadaw, he and U Kelasa were left behind in the USA.
  U Kelasa moved to the East Coast.
• Theravada Buddhist Society of America (TBSA) was established in the San Francisco Bay Area to support Sayadaw U Silananda and the resident monks of Dhammanda Vihara (first located in Daly City and later moved to Half Moon Bay).

Memorial Service

• Sayadaw passed away on August 13, 2005.
• He was 78 years old.
• Served as Master of Ceremonies at the Memorial Service.
• 50+ Theravada monks from Burma, USA, and UK attended.
• Two Pro-Rectors — Sayadaw U Nanadamalabhivamsa and Dr. Myint Kyi — represented IMBTU.
• “The sun that rose in the East has set in the West” proclaimed Sitagu Sayadaw.

Scattering the Ashes

• Carried the box containing Sayadaw’s ashes.
• Saya U Myat Htoo (C68, President of TBSA) led the procession.
• Ashes were scattered near Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco from a yacht.
• Sayadaw’s last journey was recorded by official photographers and videographers.

Paying Homage

• Served as Book Committee member and Contributing Editor for “Paying Homage to Saya U Silanananda.
• The 2-set DVD of Saydaw’s last journey was provided as a supplement for the Commemorative book.

10th Anniversary

• The 10th Anniversary of Sayadaw’s demise was celebrated in August 2015 at Dhammananda Vihara.

Eulogy

I had the honor to say kind words about the fallen alumni

• Darren Lee (M62, GBNF)
• Henry Chee (U Myint Lwin, C63, GBNF)
• John T Lee (U Tin Myint, M69, GBNF)

No Last Journey for us

• There will be no last journey for us.
• We have registered as organ donors.

Appreciation

• We cherish the appreciation of the sponsors, donors, volunteers, and well-wishers for the soon kyway on August 20, 2016 at Half Moon Bay monastery.
• Received an appreciation award from RIT Alumni world wide.
• Thanks to sayas and alumni near and far who took special time to express their appreciation to the messenger / amateur historian.

• Simply following the practice of our philanthropic ancestors, who donated cash and kind for hospitals, clinics, schools, pagodas and tazaungs.
  
• Ko Thaung Sein (Steeve Kay, EC70, Multiple Golden Sponsor) said, “Do not retire. Re-tire.”
  He mentioned that if we can serve the sayas and alums for two decades, we should be satisfied since RIT is a dying breed.