Category: GBNF

• Saya Allen Htay (C58)
• U Win Thein (M67)
• U Saw Lin (C71)
• U Aung Moung (M73)
• …
• U Than Sin Myint (Met)

Saya Allen Htay

Saya Allen was leader of the San Francisco Bay Area Alumni Group, which established “RIT Alumni International” and hosted the First RIT Grand Reunion and Saya Pu Zaw Pwe in October 2000. His article “Brother, can you afford $500?” motivated Golden Sponsors for SPZP-2000. Saya was President of the RIT Photography Association.

U Win Thein

U Win Thein served as Vice President and/or Secretary of RIT Mechanical Engineering Association. He co-founded Set Hmu Thadin Zin & helped publish the Mech Engg Magazine. He organized extra curricular activities for the students.

U Saw Lin

U Saw Lin served as Secretary of the RIT Civil Engineering Association. He managed the Tech Publications of MES. He wore multiple hats for SPZP-2012 : Chief Editor of the commemorative Swel Daw Yeik Magazine, Reprint limited copies of 23 old RIT Annual Magazines, Managed Logistics & Security, … Despite his medical problems, he gave his best to ensure the success of the first True Home Coming.

U Aung Moung

U Aung Moung was a core Volunteer for SPZPs, Swel Daw Yeik Foundation, History of Myanmar Engineering Education project … He was a Right Hand Man for Sayagyi U Ba Than (e.g to connect with former colleagues and students). Several monks offered (with their own arrangement) to attend U Aung Moung’s last journey.

U Than Sin Myint

“Bo Than” and team provided shade to the attendees of SPZP-2016. U Wynn Htain Oo has posted photos and memories of SPZP-2016 in general and U Than Sin Myint in particular

Miscellaneous

There are probably more unsung heroes. It is difficult if not impossible to cover alumni spanning six decades or more.

Allen Htay

• Joined Faculty of Engineering in 1958 as Assistant Lecturer
• MS from Harvard University
• Retired as Lecturer
• Founder and President of RIT Alumni International
• Core organizer, SPZP-2000
• In Saya’s memory, Daw Mu Mu Kin sponsored YTU Scholarships and donated Saya’s books.
• Several posts about Saya

U Win Maung

• Active as a “Lan Zin Lu Nge” Organizer

U Myint Soe

• Matriculated from SPHS in 1962
• Saya in 1968

U Aye Win Kyaw

• Saya in 1970
• Founding member and EC, BARB
• Taught Astronomy at BARB and MARB.
• Passed away in Pyin Oo Lwin.
  His family suffered a double tragedy.
  Saya’s son, who was visiting Saya at the clinic, passed away — with injuries caused by electrocution while taking a shower.

U Ngwe Tun

• Owned a book shop in down town Rangoon
• Succumbed to COVID-19

Miscellaneous

• Dr. Win Thein
• U Khin Maung Maung

Computer Pioneer for Burma

Sayagyi Dr. Chit Swe founded UCC with the help of Saya U Soe Paing, Saya U Myo Min and Saya U Ko Ko Lay in the early 1970s. Saya served as the Founder / Director of UCC. Saya retired as Rector of RASU.

Saya continued Teaching and Research in Thailand and Australia.

Saya passed away at the tender age of 89 in Sydney, Australia.

Last Journey for Sayagyi Dr. Chit Swe

Source : Ko Htay Aung (Victor)

Castlebrook Memorial Park Crematorium

Date : 28 November 2019

Time : 12 – 2 PM (Australia AEDT)

Location : 712 – 746 Windsor Road
Rouse Hill NSW 2155
(Opposite Rouse Hill Shopping Center)

Web site: https://www. castlebrook.com.au

Condolences

Hundreds (and may be Thousands) have expressed their sadness for the loss of Sayagyi in the newspapers and in the Facebook pages.

The following is a sample.

• U Ba Than (M.A., Retired Director General, Thuwanna), Saya Chit’s classmate in 1947 at the first I.Sc.(A) class offered at Mandalay University and was a fellow teacher, is saddened by the loss of “Ko Chit Swe”.
• Thin Char Mi Thar Su of the University of Yangon is indebted to Sayagyi Dr. Chit Swe for his dedication to the dissemination of Mathematics.
• Myanmar Naing Gan Thin Char Ah Thinn offers condolences to the family members of Sayagyi Dr. Chit Swe (Retired Rector) and Sayagyi U Aung Sein (Retired Associate Professor).
• ex-UCC Mi Tha Su (UCC Alumni) expresses their sorrow to the Founder of Computers and Computer Education in Burma. Members from Myanmar and beyond (Singapore, USA, Australia, …) can never forget Sayagyi and his passion for transforming his students from good to better and great professionals, educators, researchers, and socially responsible citizens of the world.
• U Win Thein (Padamyar Winhtein) has updated Wikipedia to include Saya’s pioneering work.
• Saya U Aung Zaw (AZ) spent five decades or so under the tutelage of Saya Chit. He organized mini-PZPs for Saya Chit. I attended one gathering in 2006.
• UCSY Facebook page remembers Sayagyi as the pioneer Saya for Computer Education in Burma / Myanmar.
• I have honored my mentor Saya Chit in my newsletter, Facebook pages and my websites hlamin.com and lifelonglearning140.wordpress.com
• Saya Dr. Khin Maung Win wrote about Sayagyi in moemaka
• Sayama Daw Si Si also wrote about Sayagyi
• Dr. Swe Latt is named after his parents Dr. Chit Swe and Daw Khin Khin Latt. He had posted/ re-posted news and stories about Saya Chit.
• UCC Alumni in Myanmar, USA, Singapore and Australia offered Garawa money for Sayagyi’s last journey.

Saya’s Seminar in 2013

Dear All, Kindly invite to participate the Seminar on “We must Build A Learning Organization” by Dr. Chit Swe, as per following schedule: Date: 21 October 2013 (Monday) Time: 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm Venue: Conference Hall , MICT Park , Yangon.

• Sayama Julie Han was among the pioneer female engineering students in Burma/Myanmar.
• Her contemporaries include Sayama Daw Tin Tin Ohn (Amy Thwin, T61, GBNF), Daw Yin Yin Kyi (T61), Ms. Pauline Reynolds (ChE61), and Daw Khin Than Nwe (Magaret Than Maung, T62).
• She served as the Vice President of Theravada Buddhist Association of America (TBSA) and headed the fund raising for the Dhammananda Vihara (then based in Daly City, Northern California).
• She passed away several years ago.
  Saya U Htin Paw (EE 58, Past President of TBSA, GBNF) donated to the new Dhammananda Vihara in Half Moon Bay in her memory.
• She attended SPZP-2000.
  At that time, she stayed with her sister Daw Polly Han.

She wrote the following for SPZP-2000.

Sayama Julie Han

• Here is a brief description of my years after leaving RIT.
• I spent 6 years at Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina, getting a M.S. degree in Textile Chemistry and Ph. D. in Materials Science.
• The companies that I worked for in chronological order are:
  Burlington Industries, CIBA-GEIGY, Sears Roebuck, Levi-Strauss, Raychem Corp, Tacan Corp, Johnson Matthey Inc, Xytronyx Corporation.
• At present I am working as a sales manager for an optoelectronic company IPITEK, which is a division of Tacan Corp.
• Since 1980 I left the field of textile engineering and have been working in opto-electronic field.

Look forward to seeing you at the Reunion.

Best regards.
Julie

• Conventional wisdom says, “Pyauk thor thu shar hlyin tway. Thay thor thu kyar hlin may.”

• GBNF stands for “Gone But Nor Forgotten”
• The following presents GBNF from various circles.

Conventional and Unconventional Wisdom

• GBNF stands for Gone But Not Forgotten
  It is Unconventional Wisdom.
• We used it in the “RIT Alumni International Newsletter” and the now dormant ex-rit.org web site.
• I used it in the last stanza of my poem “SAYA PU ZAW PWE” for SPZP-2000.
• Conventional Wisdom says,
  “Pyauk thor thu shar hlyin tway. Thay thor thu kyar hlin may.”

GBNF Lists

• U Khin Maung Zaw (KMZ, EC76, Webmaster) set up three GBNF pages on the web site :
  (a) GBNF for Sayas and Sayamas
  (b) GBNF for Alumni
  (c) GBNF for Spouses
• Several classes maintain their GBNF list.
• U Aung Min (M69) and team maintain the GBNF list for the Class of 69.
  As of this time of writing, there are 115 members in the GBNF.
  Some may remember that U Aung Min’s Roll No in the last ever I.Sc.(A) class at Leik Khone in 1963 was B115, where B stands for the Science Option.
  In a sense, U Aung Min is a Tone Kyaw.
• U Ohn Khine (M70) and team maintain the GBNF list for the Class of 70.

GBNF from Private Primary Boundary Road School (PPBRS)

• Among my Primary School classmates, Myo Set (son of actor Tha Gaung Gyi) was the first to pass away. He perished in a car accident.
• Myat Hla Sein (Former Head of Yoke Shin, RC2, son of Director U Chin Sein) was the last to pass away.
  He also perished in a car accident.
• Most of the sayas and sayamas from our PPBRS days are GBNF
• Further Reading : Memories of PPBRS
  

GBNF from St. Paul’s High School (SPHS)

• Among my High School classmates, Min Thaw (Gilbert, SPHS63) is among the early ones to pass away.
• Dr. Myo San (Freddie Ba San, SPHS63, Third in Burma) might be the most recent to pass away.
• Further Reading : Memories of SPHS

GBNF from Rangoon Institute of Technology (RIT)

• Among my RIT classmates, 115 (about a third of the class) are GBNF.
  U Aung Myint (Pet69, Saya, “Kyant Ba Hone” Creator)
• It is sad and alarming to note that about 20 passed way in 2021 (many due to COVID-19)
• Among the EC69ers, 3 (out of 11) are GBNF.
  They are U Kyaw Soe, U Aung Thu Yein (Brownie Way) and U Chit Tin.
• Further Reading : RIT, GBNF Saya, GBNF Alum
  

GBNF from UCC, DCS and ICST

• Saya Chit (Dr. Chit Swe, Founder Director of Universities Computer Center) passed away in Sydney, Australia in November 2019
• Saya Lay (U Ko Ko Lay, co-founder of UCC, Professor at the Department of Computer Science and the Institute of Technology) had the longest tenure at UCC, DCS and ICST.
  He was the earliest among the UCC Founders to pass away.
• Saya Dr. Tin Maung succeeded as Director of UCC and retired as Rector of ICST.
• Saya Dr. Kyaw Thein succeed as Rector of ICST.
  He succumbed to Covid-19.
• Further Reading : Memories of UCC

GBNF from Rangoon University Boat Club (RUBC)

• Several Past Captains and Old Members are GBNF.
• U Maung Maung Than Tun, Oldest among the surviving Past Captains, is the latest GBNF.
• Further Reading : Memories of RUBC

Tone Kyaw

• One should have Samvegha (sense of urgency) after hearing the sad news.
• When my name sake Hla Min (Pauk Si, SPHS64, EP70, UCC) passed away in his mid-thirties, we were shocked since he seemed strong and did not wear jackets (mandated for UCC employees entering the Computer Room).
  He would often be seen in sport shirts.
  He passed away with a few months of being diagnosed with liver problem.
  He was not a drinker, but other causes inflicted his liver.
• I became a Tone Kyaw when two government departments where I had given Guest Lectures on Computers and Applications tried to send me “Lwan Thu Pan Khwe”.
• At the Kyan Daw Cemetery, my classmate Moe Hein (Ajala, ChE69, RIT Swimming and Water Polo) looked at me as if I was a ghost.
  He had come to bid me Good Bye.

The family of Saya U Aung Zaw (Sydney, Australia) — Daw Kyawt, San Tint Tint Zaw, Ant Bwe Zaw, Nyan Htet Zaw, Three Grandchildren — thanks all those around the world who sent messages and donations during the recent bereavement.

In Saya Zaw’s memory, the family donated AUD5000 to the Metta Foundation (which provides health care to the elderly and the needy).

The family also offered requisites to the Sangha in Sydney. The dhamma friends at the Yennora Monastery helped with the Soon Kwyay.

U Myint Lwin (Charles) coordinated the three Ah Hlu in Thanatpin, Myanmar :

Two nights offering Lights

Two days offering drinking water

Soon Kyway

Daw Pyone Yee (Saya Zaw’s older sister in Myanmar) and family performed dana for Saya Zaw.

U Zaw Tun (UCC), family and friends in Singapore hosted Soon Kyway for Saya Zaw.

U Ngwe Soe (UCC, Singapore) earlier donated Saya Zaw’s books to a library (in a monastery) for public access.

Due to relaxation of Covid-19 restrictions, Saya Zaw’s last journey was allowed 45 minutes (instead of 15 minutes) and 60 attendees.*

U Soe Myint Lwin (EP68)

• Burma, RU & RIT
• Burma Women’s Soccer Federation
• Passed away in 2017

U Khin Maung Myint (John Tint, M72)

• Burma, RU & RIT
• Passed away in 2020

U Thein Lwin (M72)

• Captain, RIT Soccer
• Passed away in 2022

Saya Allen Htay (C58)

• Leader, SF Bay Area Group
• President, RIT Alumni International
• Organizer, SPZP-2000
• Wrote “Brother, can you spare $500?”
• Hosted Welcome Dinner for U Tint Lwin (Daniel, M69, Singapore)
  at a restaurant in Castro Street, Mountain View

Dr. Myo San (Freddie Ba San, SPHS63)

• 3rd in Burma in Matriculation of 1963
• Graduated from IM(1) in 1970
• Surgeon
• Photo with two younger sisters Elsie and Ivy

Saya U Tin Maung Oo (M67)

• Joined RIT Mechanical Engineering Department
• Served as Assistant Superintendent, RIT Workshop
• Photo with spouse (Daw Thida Swe) and U San Lin (Maung Lu Pay, M87)

U Tun Aung (Jeffery, EC68)

• Suggested BASES as the name for the Association co-founded by Saya U Tin Htut (M60)
• Helped Saya U Chin Way (EE, GBNF)
  The interviewers ended the interview when they learned that
  their Boss (U Tun Aung) was a former student of Saya
• Brought pens for SPZP-2000
• Photo with spouse (Daw Thuza, Movie Star, younger sister of Academy May Yu)

Tobias Kittim Ku (A69)

• He succumbed to Covid.
• GBNF list for 69ers has 119 members.
  20+ passed away (most of them unexpectedly) in the past two years.

• Photo with fellow Architects
  Ashin Pannagavesaka (Bobby Myo Tun, A69)
  U Khin Maung Maung (A70, Organizer of Architect Gatherings)
  Daw Phyu Phyu Latt (A70, Co-owner of company in Sydney, Australia
  with U Aye Win Hlaing / Abel / La La)

U Bo Gyi (A59)

• Designed Mausoleum for Daw Khin Kyi
  He was shunned by higher authorities
• Became a monk after retirement from PWD
• He was an excellent pianist and Modeling expert
• Photo taken at Thet Kyee Pu Zaw Pwe hosted
  by MES (for senior Engineers and Architects)

U Kin Maung Yin(A60)

• Movie Director
• The first movie “Hna Ma Let Shawt Nay Le Daw” was unorthodox.
  Grapevine says some foreigners tried to buy the movie.
• The second movie produced by Daw Khin Mar Lar (Collegian Nay Win’s spouse)
  was not so controversial
• Exponent of Modern Art

U Win Thein (M67)

• Set Hmu Thadin Zin
• Mechanical Engineering Magazine
• Ah Nu Pyinnya Ah Thinn
• Sittaung Paper Mill
• PPIC
• Ya Tha Cho

U Ohn Hlaing (Elmo, EC65)

• Rowing
• PTC

U Kyaw Lwin (George, EC65)

• Rowing
• RIT Electrical Engineering Department

U Khin Kyaw Nyein (Min69)

• Volleyball

U Kyaw Tint (Min69)

• RIT Mining Engineering Department
• Prisoner of Conscience

U Saw Linn (C71)

• Secretary, RIT Civil Engineering Association
• Organizer, SPZP-2012
  Wore different hats : Security, Logistics, Publication
• Editor / Publisher, MES Tech

by Hla Min

Updated : May 2925

January 2019

Dr. Chan Nyein (M67)

Passed away on 23rd Jan 2019

July 2019

• Yan Pyae (Kenneth Than Khin, M72)
• Shwe Tha (Ronnie Tha Htoon, EC82-83)

August 2019

• Myint Htwe (Bo Hmu, Intake of 64/65)

Sayagyi Dr. Chit Swe

• Pioneer of Computer Systems, Application and Education in Burma
• Retired Rector of RASU
• I have written several articles about my mentor.
• Passed away in Sydney Australia in 2019 at the age of 88.