Ivan Lee (M69)

by Hla Min

Updated : June 2025

Family

• Youngest among Siblings
• Father passed away when he was young
• Mother raised the family. She lived to 102 years. Stayed active by playing Mah Jong daily.
• Spouse Ivy (GBNF) : In her memory, Ivan built a school in Kyaukme
• Two daughters
• Six grandchildren

RIT

• Attended I.Sc(A) classes at Pathein.
• Admitted to 2nd BE in Nov 1964
• Graduated with Mechanical Engineering in 1969
• While attending RIT, he had a private business selling Kyauk Me Laphet Chauk
• Earned more than enough to pay for hostel fees and car expenses
• Moved to USA

USA

• Studied Masters in New York
• PE (Professional Engineer) for New York and New Jersey
• Entrepreneur
• Golden Sponsor for SPZP-2000
• Sponsored Naw Mu Mu Aye to attend SPZP-2007
• Major donor for the 69er Health Care Fund
• Donated PCs to YTU (via U Nyi Hla Nge)
• Life time Platinum for Bridge
  Competitive Card Game
• Play Accordion and Harmonica

Host

• For several years, he hosted the annual RIT-UCC Gathering
  The timing was chosen to coincide with visits by Saya Dr. Aung Gyi and Saya U Soe Paing

Trip to Canada

• Invited us in 2015. Organized a whirlwind trip to Canada to pay homage to Saya U Aung Khin in Windsor and Saya Dr. Aung Gyi in Napean, Ottawa.
  Provided car and gas. Drove part of the trip. The major portion of the trip was handled by Fred Thetgyi (M69). Visited Massachusetts (Host : Dr. Tun Aung Gyaw, EC69) and Connecticut (Host : U Toung / Tom, EC69) on the way back.

• In June 2018, he organized another trip to Canada for selected sayas (e.g. Dr. Tin Win, U Aung Myint) and alumni.
• Founded MASTAA and served as CEO

Golden Sponsor

On the morning of October 5, 2000, Ivan called me and asked how he can support the “RIT Alumni International” Activities. He earlier donated $360 to cover the hard costs of running the http:/www.ex-rit.org web site for a year.

He had written a check of $1200. He would donate $1000 to the SPZP and $200 to the Alumni General Fund. When I thanked him, he said,

“I’m not donating to your pocket. I’m donating for a good cause. The time you’ve put in definitely much more than $1200. I want you guys to set up a formal organization and a permanent fund”.

He became a Golden Sponsor for SPZP-2000. There were five Golden Sponsors:

• David Ko (U Tin Myint, M67, GBNF)
• Ivan Lee (U Khin Maung Oo, M69)
• Steeve Kay (U Thaung Sein, EC70, GBNF)
• Benny Tan (Tan Yu Beng, M70)
• U Maung Maung Than (M79)

Study & Work

Ivan wrote to Daniel Tint Lwin (M69), Saya U Aung Myint (M69) and KMZ (EC76, Web master).

I have been staying at East Brunswick, New Jersey, USA for a long time. EB is a small nice town between New York City (40 miles south) and Philadelphia (60 miles).

I got my MIME in 1976 from Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn, New York City. I hold both New York State and New Jersey State Professional Engineering (PE) licenses.

Back in 1974, I worked as a nuclear engineer in a Nuclear Power Plant. By 1982, I was working as a senior mechanical engineer at the major chemical/petrochemical plants. I performed planning, scheduling, design, specification, procurement, construction management, client interfacing, trouble shooting, etc. —

In 1988. I purchased the engineering and construction firm where I was chief engineer and operation manager.

In 1992 I purchased a garden apartment with 46 units and established a realty company.

In 1996 I purchased a co-generation power plant which produces power and steam/hot water to the hospitals, but this one was not doing great, so I gave up within two years.

I slowed down my engineering and construction business in 1998. The only business I am working part time is the real estate business. I own two office buildings and two single family houses. I have a beach house at the NJ shore and spend most summer there.

I have two adult daughters. The elder one graduated from Cornell University with Mechanical Engineering Degree and is working as a financial institution at Wall Street in NYC. The younger one graduated from an artist college and is doing photo for Amazon website advertisement in New York City. My wife is from Burma as well. We never returned there, since we immigrated.

I spend my time purchasing/selling stocks daily, managing the real estate business and playing Bridge [a card game]. That is my hobby. I am a Bronze Life Master in ACBL (American Contract Bridge League).

That is my life. I would like to add one more thing. When my wife and I came to USA, all we had was $60 plus $1200 air tickets loan from Pan Am.

Most of our classmates and friends are smart, intelligent, and willing to work. But a few have business mind to motivate or establish their wealth. I will talk with you more if you are interested.

Talking about donation : last year, I proposed to the Myanmar Ambassador in Washington, DC, to donate my engineering documents, books, technical catalogs, etc to Myanmar. The offer was not accepted.

Does RIT have email address? I’d like to email to the staff of RIT. I like to say “Hello” to Naw Mu Mu Aye (T69). I heard she is the Head of Textile Department at RIT.

His Philosophy

In another e-mail, Ivan wrote :

I have helped at least 75 relatives people immigrate to USA. I have sponsored at least 200 relatives, classmate, friends to USA without spending a penny to the lawyer. I had provided air tickets fees, lodging facilities, food, and transportation. I also helped most of them look for suitable jobs for most of them. I also arranged their children to go to school. This is not an easy assignment, need a huge heart to do that. My wife is of tremendous help in doing these projects. It took us more than 10 years on a consistent basis to do the projects.

I donated about $1,000,000 to my childhood school via Ko Aung Myint back in 1991/92. The school has 1000 students. They have named their assembly hall after me.

The message I’d like to offer is “When you are available, you should be able to contribute your assets (including knowledge, money, personal involvement) back to the society”.