by Hla Min

Updated : June 2025

New & Old

June 2025

Former Gatherings

• 9 Sponsors — Record
• Photographer — Tin Aung Win (Oscar)

Some are no longer with us.

• A Pho Gyi — Han Sein
• Chit Pe
• Thein Maung

Garawa to U Ba Than

Graduation

Old Photos

• Chit Pe, Kyaw Nyunt, Aung Gyi Shwe … are GBNF (Gone But Not Forgotten)

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

Graduation Golden Jubilee

Dec 2022

August 2023

September 2023 အလှူရှင်

• ဦးငွေထွန်း၊
• ဦးတင်ရှိန်၊
• ဦးသန်းဝင်း၊
• ဦးချမ်းငြိမ်း၊
• ဒေါ်ခင်သန်းမြင့်တင်၊
• ဦးစောမြင့်နိုင်၊
• ဦးဖေဟန်ထွန်း
• U Zaw Win (Thailand)
• Albert Kyaw Min

Dear RIT 69++friends

ဖိတ်ကြားအပ်ပါတယ်

September breakfast gathering သို့ မပျက်မကွက် ကြွရောက်ကြပါခင်ဗျား။

တော်ဝင်နှင်းဆီ / ၂၄/၉/၂၀၂၃ (တနင်္ဂနွေ) ၊ ၇:၀၀ မှ ၈:၃၀ နာရီ မှာဆုံကြမယ်။

ကိုငွေထွန်း၊ကိုသန်းဝင်း၊ကိုတင်ရှိန်၊ကိုစောမြင့်နိုင်၊ကိုဖေဟန်ထွန်း၊ကိုချမ်းငြိမ်း၊မာဂရက်၊Albertနှင့် ကိုဇော်ဝင်း(ထိုင်း) ပေါင်း ၉ ဦးတို့က အာဟာရ ဒါန ပြုကြပါမယ်။နီး/ဝေး/ပြည်ပ သူငယ်ချင်းများရဲ့ စေတနာပါ။ကြွလာချီးမြှင့်ဖို့ ထပ်မံတိုက်တွန်းပါရစေ။

စားပြီးရင် ၉၃ နှစ်ပြည့် ဆရာ ဦးဘသန်းအား သွားရောက် ဂါရဝ ပြုပါမယ်။ဆရာနေကောင်းပါတယ် အပြော နဲ့ သတိ အားနည်းလာပြီ။အလှူငွေများကို နောက်ဆုံးအချိန်ထိ လက်ခံပေးသွားပါ့မယ်။လိုက်ပါလိုသူ အကန့်အသတ်မရှိပါ။

Updates

• Need help to organize the website
• Need names of occasional attendees (from overseas & out-of-town)
• Need photos of some GBNF
• Need updated Contact List

by Hla Min

Updated : June 2025

Gathering in November, 2015

Host : U Tint Lwin (Daniel, M69)

• Albert Kyaw Min wrote :
  The Oldies of RIT 64′ (Second BE) intake, 69’++ Luncheon Gathering at Feel Restaurant sponsored by Danny who arrived yesterday (November 28, 2015) from Singapore.
  Over 50 classmates gathered .
• Emma (Tin Tin Myint) wrote :
  Good Friends, Good Food, Good Times
• Albert, Danny & Robert are the Guitarists. Have not heard from Robert.

U Win Kyi (GBNF)

• U Aung Min wrote : Funeral service of Ko Win Kyi (GBNF 87) from The Mirror 30/11/18
• U Kyaw Oo wrote : U Win Kyi was my roommate in Delft, the Netherlands.

Updates

• As of June 2025, 138 RIT69ers are GBNF.
• More than 40%

by Hla Min

Updated : June 2025

Monthly BFG

• Before the pandemic, 69ers had Monthly Breakfast Gatherings usually at Taw Win Hnin Si (Royal Rose).
• Some celebrate Birthdays & Wedding Anniversaries at the gathering.
• Han Sein, Uzin Bobby and several 69ers took photos and shared them on FB.
• 20 classmates left us in 2021. Some in the group photo — Toby, Thein Swe, Aye Lwin, Han Sein, Aung Gyi Shwe — are GBNF.

• Aung Min & team organized a monthly meeting .
• Win Boh (Robert, Australia) was a special guest at the meeting. Surinder Singh (Australia) had a schedule conflict.
• Kyaw Nyunt brought back presents given by Fred Thetgyi (Philadephia) to the meeting, and organized a “Lucky Draw”.
• Han Sein was happy testing special effects (e.g. to create “twins”) with his phone camera.
• Tin Aung Win offered me car rides : to the meeting and back. On the way back, we chatted with Aye Lwin and Kyaw Zin on the car.
• Aye Lwin was Secretary of RIT Mechanical Association and RIT Ah Nu Pyinnya Ah Thin. He was a member of the committee for printing and publishing Set Hmu Magazine (by Mechanical Engineering Association) and RIT Annual Magazine. He attended the 2015 Alumni Reunion in Los Angeles with his daughter and son.
• Harry Tin Htut, Oscar, Aung Min, Uzin Bobby and Tin Maung Aye posted photos in “RIT69ers” and “RIT Updates” Facebook pages.

Posts

• 69er
• Gatherings
• GBNF
• Memories

by Hla Min

Updated : June 2025

Greetings

Dear Sayas and Colleagues,

Wishing all of you a Happy and Prosperous New Year.

Thanks

Thanks to all the readers — mostly silent but occasionally appreciative.

RIT Sayas

Since I was a Saya, but not at RIT, I was not as busy as my classmates who were RIT sayas attending SPZPs once or twice a day.

Guest

Some alums (e.g. class of 70 and 71, Mech 72, Civil 75) invited me as guest to their class reunions and/or SPZPs. Thanks.

69ers

My classmates (from the class of 69++) had a grand reunion lunch, where Ko Aung Min made a roll call of the GBNF before being entertained to food, drinks, welcome addresses, songs and dances. Thanks. Please read Ko Aung Min’s e-mail.

With metta,

Hla Min

From U Aung Min (M69)

Dear All 69++er Classmates,

• Today, (31 December, 2012) we RIT 1969++ classmates held a grand re-union lunch successfully.
• About 90 classmates including about 8 ladies join the re-union, from abroad and in land.
• Although we sold the lunch tickets @ 10000 Kyats per head, KO TIN WIN (Mining) took the opportunity of hosting the re-reunion and providing Whiskey.
• So, almost all the cash, sold amount, will be transferred to the 69er Health Care Fund
• Ko Kyaw Zin also brought one liter of Chivas

• Danny, Albert, and Saw Law La Htwe — good vocalists — entertained at the ceremony.

With Metta,
Aung Min

by Hla Min

Updated : June 2025

Sad News

Dear friends,

Ko Chit Htun (Mining) passed away at the age of 68 on 19 December 2011 (Monday). His funeral will be on 23rd December, 2011 at Yae Wai at 2 pm. He was a lecturer at YIT.

We are going to meet his family this evening.

With Metta,
Aung Min ( M69 )

Comments

U Tint Lwin (Daniel, M 69) wrote :

So sad to hear that Ko Chit Htun has passed away. Please send my deepest condolences to his family.

U Aung Myint (M 69) wrote :

Hi Danny,
I met Ko Aung Min online yesterday just after he had sent out sad news to us. When I asked Ko Aung Min to send our condolences to Ko Chit Htun’s bereaved family, he mentioned to me that he’d donate Ks 100,000 from 69ers fund. Besides, Ko AM said he would go there in a few minutes when we were online.
By the way, Ko Chit Htun, Mehm Aye Chan (Ohn Mg), Kyaw Tint, Ko Taing Ok and I were together at ThaMine College hostels looking after RIT 1st yr students. I still remember him as a very jovial person. I believe Ko Chit Htun will now rest in peace.

69ers GBNF (2011)

• Aung Naing (Bahadhur, Min)
• Chit Htun (Min)
• Yin Kyu (M)

Posts

• 69ers
• Gone But Not Forgotten
• Mining Engineering

by Hla Min

Updated : June 2025

DVD

• Received the official DVD of the 40th Anniversary gathering & mini-SPZP of the class of ’69. It took about two hours to view the DVD.
• Myint Thein (Maung Kabar, GBNF) — a core organizer who offered the use of his office for the preparation meetings — looked as young as ever.
• It is difficult to recognize some faces and remember their real and nick names. Except for thin, grey or dyed hair, a few have changed much over the years.
• Ko Aung Min, Master of Ceremonies, appeared to have gained some weight.
• Ko Thein Swe (GBNF) described the event in his e-mail.

Sayas who attended the event

• U Ba Than (M)
• U Khin Aung Kyi (ChE, former Rector)
• U Thit (Met, Melbourne, Australia)
• U Myo Myint Sein (Arch, California, US),
• U Thein Lwin (EE, Singapore)
• U Soe Paing (my mentor at RIT & UCC)
• U Moe Aung (EE, Tekkatho Moe War, Chief Editor of “Swe Daw Yeik Sar Saung”, “Hylat Sit Sar Saung)
• U Ba Myint (EE, former Pro-Rector)
• U Khine Oo (EE)
• U S. Kyaw Aye (M, elder brother of Abdul Rauf)
• U Han Tun (M, GBNF)
• Dr. Thaung Myint (Maths)
• Dr. Kyaw Win (Pet)
• Daw Tin Myint (ChE)

Some sayas (e.g. Saya U Shwe Hlaing) could not make it to the event.

Saya U Khin Aung Kyi, Saya U Thein Lwin and Saya U Moe Aung gave short speeches on behalf of the sayas and sayamas.

In the DVD, the commentator mentioned the name and department of the saya/sayama.

We wish he had thrown in more names of the attendees [not just the presenters & the performers] so that we can match the names and faces of our long lost classmates.

Some words by 69ers

• Ko Khin Maung Tin (M69)
• Ko Nyi Hla Nge (C69)
• Ko Myint Thein (Maung Kabar, M69, GBNF)
• Ko Daniel Tint Lwin (M69)
• Ko Robert Win Boh (EC69)
• Ko Aung Kyaw Pe (EP69)
• Ko Aung Myint (Pathein, M69)
• Ma Khin Than Myint Tin (Magaret Aung Tin, M 69)

Entertainment

• Saya U Khin Aung Kyi
• Saya U Moe Aung
• Albert Kyaw Min (several Burmese & English songs)
• Ko Khin Maung Nyunt
• Ko Hla Shwe
• Maung Kabar Myint Thein
• Daniel Tint Lwin
• Robert Win Boh
• Naw Mu Mu Aye & company
• Myo Nyunt
• David Myint Thein
• Aung Min
• Sargalay Khin Maung Win
• Aye Lwin
• and several organizers took part in the musical/dance entertainment.

General

• The commentator noted that unlike other batches who studied 4 years or 6 years, most intake of 2nd BE in ’64 spent 5 wonderful years at RIT.
• Uzin Myo Tun (Bobby) was in good company with Saw Tobius Kittum Ku (Toby) and Ko Khin Maung Hla.
• Optimists say they will take part in the Golden Jubilee in 2019.
• Conservatives suggest meeting several times before then.
• Realists note that the GBNF list has 39 [at that time constituting 11% of the class.]
• Kudos to the organizers, sponsors, and well-wishers for keeping the RIT spirit alive and well.

Editor’s Notes in 2021

• Posted Group photos (with captions) taken in 2009.
  Thanks to the organizers who provided the photos.
• Several sayas are now GBNF.
• Several 69ers are now GBNF.
  The GBNF list is 113 .
• There was a pseudo Golden Jubilee in 2014 to celebrate the Golden Anniversary of the Admission to RIT in November 1964.
• The true Golden Jubilee for Graduation was celebrated in 2019.

Updates

• Several — Harry Tin Htut, Albert Kyaw Min, Uzin Bobby, Uzin Aung Chaw, Tun Tun, Oscar, Kyaw Zin, Robert — have become Octogenarians. Tin Maung is the oldest.
• Several sayas and alumni are now GBNF.
• Saya U Ba Than passed away after his 94th birthday.
• 69er GBNF list has 128 members. Over 40% classmates have passed away. 18 succumbed to Covid.

Posts

• 69er Activities
• 69er GBNF
• 69er Health Care Fund
• Memories of a 69er

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”.