HlaMin

Category: RIT Saya

  • Tin Maung Nyunt တင်မောင်ညွန့်

    Tin Maung Nyunt တင်မောင်ညွန့်

    by Hla Min

    Updated : September 2026

    Highlights

    U Tin Maung Nyunt 1
    • Born in Mogok
    • Attended I.Sc at Mandalay University
    • Graduated with Mechanical Engineering in 1960
    • Worked for Joint Venture Corporation (JVC) formed by relatives
    • Found an advertisement in a newspaper to apply for a Government Scholarship.
    • Selected to study Agricultural Engineering in USA
    • Received Masters from Virginia Tech
    • Came back to Burma on an Ocean Liner with Saya Allen Htay (GBNF), Saya U Soe Paing, Saya U Ko Ko Lay (GBNF) & U Than Pe. They became close friends on the two-month long journey.

    M/Agri Saya at RIT

    • Upon his return, he was assigned to Agricultural Institute in Yezin. Before reporting for duty, he visited RIT.
    • Sayagyi U Ba Than asked if he would like to join Agri Sub-Department of Mechanical Engineering. Sayagyi said that some students were not at ease following lectures given by visiting Soviet lecturers via interpreters.
    • President, RIT Thaing
    • Played Defender on RIT Saya Soccer team

    Life after RIT

    • Worked in Thailand & USA

    USA

    • Attended RIT Alumni Gatherings
    • Donated $500 for the Training Component of YTU Library Modernization project.
    U Tin Maung Nyunt’s Donation
    • He is a day older than Saya Allen. Their birthdays are December 30 & 31.
    • Monthly Breakfast Gathering with Saya Allen, U Ko Ko Aye, Ko Thein Naing (Patrick) and me. Saya Allen & U Ko Ko Aye are now GBNF.
    U Tin Maung Nyunt & Saya Allen
    • Saya U Soe Paing visited him in Milpitas, California. We had a lunch gathering at a restaurant.
    U Tin Maung Nyunt 2
    • He enjoyed Hiking & Tennis, but had to suspend due to Jara and Byadi
    • Volunteer for establishing Taungpulu Kaba Aye Monastery in Northern California.

    Update

    • He had operations (one quite early and another a few years back).
    • He listens to selected Dhamma talks.
  • U Soe Khaw

    U Soe Khaw

    by Hla Min

    Updated : September 2025

    Brief Bio

    U Soe Khaw (Left)

    Part-time Lecturer, Mining Engineering

    Education

    • B.S., Mining Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, California, U.S.A. 1950
    • Honors: Tau Beta Pi engineering honor society.
    • M.S., Mining Engineering, Missouri School of Mines, University of Missouri, Rolla, Missouri 1952.

    Experience

    • 1953 – 1964 Service with the Ministry of Mines, Govt of Burma. Entry as Asst. Inspector of Mines, then promoted to Inspector, Chief Inspector, Director of Mines, and Deputy Dir. General PMDC
    • 1954 – 1955 As Visiting Lecturer taught Mining Courses at the BOC Engineering College, Rangoon University
    • 1971 – 1984 Service with United Nations ESCAP in Bangkok as Economic Affairs Officer (P-4) and rising to Chief of Mineral Resources Section (p-5).

    Notes

    • In 1954, BOC Engineering College campus was located south of the Rangoon University estate between Prome Hall and the Teachers Training College on Prome Road. It consisted of modest single storied buildings. In addition to degree courses in Civil, Electrical and Mechanical engineering, Mining courses were offered for the first time during that year.
    • At Dean Sayagyi Tan Ba Hli’s request, Ministry of Mines assigned U Soe Khaw as part time Lecturer to teach Mining Engineering courses.
    • U Soon Sein was later transferred from the Mines Department to the University and taught Mining courses full time.
    • U Soe Khaw retired from UN and moved to USA.
    • He volunteered for selected monasteries.
    • He attended SPZP-2000.
    • U Soe Khaw and U Soon Sein are now GBNF.

    Memories

    Memorial Service for Saya’s Spouse

    • Soon Kyway at Tathagata Meditation Center (TMC)
    • Attended by Dhamma friends
    Dhamma friends

  • Names — Tin Htut တင်ထွဋ်

    Names — Tin Htut တင်ထွဋ်

    by Hla Min

    Updated : September 2026

    U Tin Htut

    U Tin Htut
    • Matriculated from SPHS in 1953.
    • Won Senior Novices at the RUBC Regatta in 1953.
    • Coxed the Old Paulian crew which won Senior Novices at the RUBC Regatta in 1954. The crew members : U Tun Shein (Willie Saing, Stroke), M Hla Min (Moosaji, No. 3), Dr. Than Nyunt (George, No. 2) and Sao Hso Holm (Sawbwa Lay, Box).
      He and three crew members later became RUBC Gold.
    • Served as Captain of RUBC.
      Due to heavy involvement in RUBC, he decided to take a sabbatical.
    RUBC Captain

    Engineering

    • Attended 1st Year Engineering at BOC College in 1955.
    • Graduated B.Sc (Mechanical Engineering), University of Rangoon in March 1960.
    • Joined the Faculty of Engineering, University of Rangoon (Leik-Khone) as Assistant Lecturer in Mechanical Engineering in May 1960.
    • Attended Technische Hochschule Darmstadt, W. Germany in 1961/62 as a state scholar.
    • Worked as a Manager in Rangoon Textile Mills Co. Ltd. from 1962 – 65.
    • Rejoined the Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, RIT in September 1965.
    • Studied Engineering Production at the University of Birmingham, UK in 1968/69.
    • On return to RIT, lectured Industrial Management to 5th and Final Year students.

    USA

    • Immigrated to the USA in May 1978.
    • Worked in the Aircraft Division, Northrop Corporation, Hawthorne, CA in August 1978.
    • With Leave of Absence from Northrop, worked as UNIDO Project Management Adviser in Khartoum, Sudan in 1981/82.
    • Retired early from Northrop in September 1992.

    Family

    Wife: Irene

    Children: Saynne Tin Htut and Aung Aye Htut.

    Grand children : Three

    Parents

    His parents were entrepreneurs in the Textile industry (e.g. Khit Ah Kyaik ခေတ်အကြိုက် Nylon), production & distribution of movies (e.g. Ah Myotha Yoke Shin, အမျိုူသားရုပ်ရှင် Carlton Cinema)

    Rowing

    Served as Captain of RUBC as a student, and later as a Saya Administrator.

    Organizer of RUBC Jubilee and Anniversary regattas.

    BASES

    Despite having a bypass heart surgery, he was actively involved in BASES, which he co-founded with U Tin Htway (M59) and U Tun Tin (David, GBNF).

    SPZP

    Member of the Steering Committee for SPZP-2000.

    SPZP-2000

    Ccontributed not only to the Saya Pu Zaw Pwe fund, but also to the special fund for inviting Sayagyi U Ba Toke from Myanmar.

    Alumni Reunion

    Financial Controller for the 2015 RIT Alumni Reunion in Los Angeles

    Maurice Chee

    Ma Irene was Maurice’s teacher in Methodist English High School. Saya was Maurice’s lecturer in the 5th B.E. “Industrial Management” course. All the skills learnt were used effectively by Maurice, Financial Controller for the “Reunion & Saya Pu Zaw Pwe” and aPublisher of the “RIT Alumni Newsletter” Special Issue.

    Donations

    Donation
    Donation

    Saya’s donations include

    • K10 Lakhs to Swel Daw Yeik Foundation
    • K100 Lakhs to YTU Library Project
    • All Mechanical Gathering
    • RUBC Gathering

    Tin Htut (M69)

    • Sea farer

    Tin Htut (Harry, M69)

    • Heartian
    • Author — Mon Yu
    Harry Tin Htut
  • Metallurgy Education in Myanmar

    Metallurgy Education in Myanmar

    By U Thit
    (Melbourne, Australia)

    Updated : September 2026

    U Thit

    The Metallurgy Department was established in 1954 with the assistance of contract staff from India. Mr. H.S. Shastri was the first head of department and Mr. A.C. Agrawal was an assistant lecturer.

    I was awarded a government scholarship to study Metallurgy at Lehigh University in 1954, when I was a second year student of Civil Engineering in Rangoon. (Incidentally, it was at Lehigh that I first met Sayas U Aung Khin and U Pu.), I returned home in 1957 after completing my bachelor’s degree and joined the department as assistant lecturer. Saya U Saw Pru joined the department as an assistant lecturer in 1958.

    I was awarded a Colombo Plan Fellowship in 1959 for further studies at the University or Queensland, Australia, and came back in 1961 after finishing my master’s degree. I was promoted to lectureship in 1962,

    Saya U Than Tin joined the department in 1960 and left for U.S. after a few years. There were visiting lecturers from U.S.S.R., namely, Mr. Charlichev from 1961 to 1963 and Mr. Chalpanov from 1963 to 1965.

    Sayas U Aung Hla Tun, U Pe Win and Dr. Khin Maung Win joined the department in 1965, 1966 and 1967 respectively. There were also part-time teaching staff from time to time from UBARI, such as U Khin Maung and U Nyunt.

    I left the department in 1968 to go to Australia.

    The continuing history of the Metallurgy Department after 1968 can best be written by Saya U Aung Hla Tun,

    Notes (by Hla Min)

    • Saya taught “Materials and Processes” in our 2nd BE class in 1964. He attended some SPZPs & Metallury gatherings in Myanmar. He moved to Melbourne, Australia.
    • Saya’s successors include Dr. Saw Pru (GBNF), U Than Tin & Saya Dr. Khin Maung Win (GBNF).
    Pon Tu of Dr. Khin Maung Win

    Updates (by Hla Min)

    • Saya U Aung Hla Tun (GBNF) was the lead author for HMEE projects.
    U Aung Hla Tun
    • Sayas U Win Kyaw (Met71, RUBC), U Thein Aung (Met72, Mr. RIT68) & U Nyunt Htay (Met73, Poet/Editor) had a micro-reunion in 2015 Alumni Reunion in Los Angeles and at the iNapa Winery in Northern California.
    iNapa Winery
    • Metallurgy is taught as “Materials Science” in the US.

    Posts

    • Education Systems
    • Gatherings
    • HMEE
    • Metallurgical Engineering
    • RIT Sayas
  • October — 2017

    October — 2017

    by Hla Min

    Update : September 2026

    69ers

    The Class of 69 (mostly M69) paid respect to Sayagyi U Ba Than on October 1, 2017. U Aung Min organized the visit.

    Sayagyi’s birthday is October 2.

    U Ba Than

    The group attended the birthday celebration ceremony and received blessing from sayargyi. The group handed over garawa birthday gifts that they had collected before and on the monthly breakfast gathering held earlier that day.

    Sayagyi U Ba Than

    Sayagyi usually performs dana with the Garawa money he received for his birthday and for attending the SPZPs and mini-SPZPs.

    Sayagyi has supported various charitable associations for the needy, the sick, the blind, the deaf and dumb, old people and “Nar Ye” . They include

    • Little Sisters for the Poor
    • U Hla Tun Foundation
    • Jivitadana ဇီဝိတဒါန
    • Hnin Si Gone Bo Bwa Yeik Tha နှင်းဆီကုန်းဘိုးဘွားရိပ်သာ
    • Mary Chapman
    • Kyaw Thu Nar Ye (နာရေး အဖွဲ့)
    • Medical Clinics

    On his Birthday every year, Sayagyi offers “soon kwyay” ဆွမ်းကျွေး at Yaw Sayadaw’s monastery.

    The Soon kwyay held on October 2, 2017 was attended by sayas, alumni, relatives and friends.

    Updates

    • During the pandemic, physical gatherings were put on hold. Celebrations were done virtually, e.g via Zoom
    • U Tin Htoon compiled a Photo Album for Sayagyi’s 90th birthday in 2020.
    U Ba Than
    • Sayagyi passed away peacefully after his 94th birthday.

    Posts

    • B (Names)
    • Dana
    • Engineering Library
    • Garawa
    • HMEE
    • Mechanical Engineering
  • RIT — Sayas

    RIT — Sayas

    by Hla Min

    Updated : September 2026

    Singapore (SPZP-2007)

    SPZP-2007

    Attendees include

    • U Maung Maung Win (M61, Australia)
    • Dr. Tin Win (M62, USA)
    • U Aung Myint (M69, Singapore)
    • U Tin Htut (M60, USA)

    Sayas in 2009

    69ers celebrated 40th Anniversary of graduation with Reunion and Acariya Pu Zaw Pwe.

    The sayas include

    2009
    • U Thein Lwin (E, GBNF)
    • Dr. Win Thein (M)
    • U Tun Shwe (M)
    • U Thit (Met, GBNF)
    • U Myo Myint Sein (A)
    • U Khin Aung Kyi (Ch, GBNF)
    • Dr. Ba Lwin (E)
    • Dr. Ba Myint (E)
    • U Myo Kyi (E)
    • Dr. Pe Win (Met)
    • U Han Tun (M, GBNF)
    • Daw Tin Tin Myint (Ch)
    • U S. Kyaw Aye (M, GBNF)
    • U Khine Oo (E)
    • U C. Maung (C)
    • U Sein Maung (E)
    • U Aung Hla Tun (Met, GBNF)
    • U Tin Shwe (E, GBNF)
    • Dr. Thaung Myint (Math)
    • U Soe Paing (E)
    • U Moe Aung (E)
    • U S. Arya (M, GBNF)
    • Dr. Kyaw Win (Pet)
    • U Soe Lwin (M, GBNF)
    • U Tin Maung (C)
    • U Win (M)
    • U Phone Myint (M)
    • U Ngwe Tun (C, GBNF)

    New Jersey (2018)

    Ivan Lee (M69) & team hosted the RIT-UCC Gathering in New Jersey in 2018.

    The sayas include

    2018
    • U Aung Myint (M)
    • U Htun Aung Kyaw (Ch)
    • U Soe Paing (E)
    • Dr. Aung Gyi (C, Rector)
    • Dr. San Hla Aung (C)
    • Dr. Tin Win (M)
    • Dr. Ohn Myint (C)

    U Ba Toke (GBNF)

    Saya is a Phwa Bet Taw of Rangoon University & the First RU Students’ Strike in December 1920.

    Memories

    • On behalf of the Combined 1st BE Intake of 64 and 65, U Khin Maung Myint (ChE71) offered Garawa money to Sayagyi.
    U Ba Toke 1
    • Pansy Thin provided transportation for Saya U Ba Than, Saya U Tin Htut and me
    U Ba Toke 2
    • Birthday celebration with Six (of Eight) Children. Sayagadaw, son & daughter are GBNF.
    U Ba Toke 3

    Allen Htay (C58, GBNF)

    Saya served as President of the RIT Alumni International, which hosted SPZP-2000.

    1966 Thingyan

    Saya Allen

    Memories

    Saya Allen 2
    Saya Allen 3
    Saya Allen 4
    Saya Allen 5

    U Tin Shwe (EP66, GBNF)

    • Taught at RIT and Assumption University
    • After retirement, Saya became a monk.
    • Swel Daw Yeik Foundation provided some financial assistance during his hospitalization.
    • Saya U Moe Aung (Tekkatho Moe War) wrote “To the Shwe Duo” in memory of Saya U Tin Shwe and Saya U Hla Shwe (T69).
    U Tin Shwe 1
    U Tin Shwe 2
    U Tin Shwe 3

    U Tin Lin (ChE72)

    • Taught at RIT and at a Polytechnic in Singapore.
    • Organizer, SPZPs in Singapore
    • Annotated Pon Tu’s of Sayas (by Bagyee Myat Myo Myint & archived by Saya U Kyaw Sein)
    • Donated K2 Lakhs to the YTU Library Modernization Project.
    U Tin Lin 1
    U Tin Lin 2

    U Tin Htut (M60)

    • Captain & Gold of RUBC
    • Founder & Past President of BASES
    • Financial Controller, 2015 RIT Alumni Reunion in Los Angeles
    • Donated K100 Lakhs for the YTU Library Modernization Project
    • Donated K10 Lakhs to Swel Daw Yeik Foundation
    • Donated to the All-Mechanical Gathering

    Memories

    U Tin Htut 1
    U Tin Htut 2
    U Tin Htut 3
    U Tin Htut 4
    U Tin Htut 5

    U Thet Lwin

    • Taught Burmese at the Institute of Economics
    • Registrar of RIT
    • Retired as Director of DHE
    • Pen name : “Tekkatho Maung Ngwe Hlinne”.
    • Composed “Mya Kyun Nyo Nyo Kun Yeik Kho”

    Memories

    U Thet Lwin 1
    U Thet Lwin 2
    U Thet Lwin 3

    Dr. San Hla Aung (C58)

    • Taught at RIT and the University of New Orleans.
    • Seen with former students : Saya U Nyi Hla Nge (C69) and U Saw Lin (C71, GBNF).
    Dr. San Hla Aung

    S Kyaw Aye (M63, GBNF)

    Elder brother of my classmate Abdul Raof (EP69).

    S Kyaw Aye

    U Thein Lwin (EE, GBNF)

    • President, RIT Badminton
    • Taught at RIT EE and Singapore Polytechnic

    Memories

    • With oldies in Singapore
    U Thein Lwin 1
    U Thein Lwin 2

    U Soe Paing (EE)

    • Taught at RIT EE and UCC
    • Co-founder, UCC
    • Retiree, UN

    Memories

    U Soe Paing 1
    U Soe Paing 2
    U Soe Paing 3

    U Shwe Hlaing (Maths)

    • Taught Engineering Maths & Computer Programmer
    • Helped UCC Project
    U Shwe Hlaing

    U Ngwe Tun (C, GBNF)

    • Taught at RIT Civil
    • Owned bookshop
    U Ngwe Tun

    U Myat Htoo (C68)

    • Taught at RIT Civil
    • Retired from CalTrans
    • Founding member, RIT Alumni International
    • Co-emcee, SPZP-2000
    • Founding member & BOD Chair, NorCal RITAA

    Memories

    U Myat Htoo 1
    U Myat Htoo 2
    U Myat Htoo 3
    U Myat Htoo 4
    U Myat Htoo 5

    U Moe Aung (EE)

    • See posts : Tekkatho Moe War, EE Sayas, Swel Daw Yeik Magazine, Swel Daw Yeik Sar Saung, Kabyars, Translation

    Memories

    U Moe Aung 1
    U Moe Aung 2
    U Moe Aung 3
    U Moe Aung 4
    U Moe Aung 5

    U Lin (M66)

    • Rowing
    • Buddhist Association
    • SPZP

    Memories

    U Lin 1
    U Lin 2
    U Lin 3

    U Kyaw Myint (M/Auto64)

    • UN projects in Beijing
    • Moved to California
    • Patron, TDS
    U Kyaw Myint

    U Ba Than (M)

    • Several posts : Mech Sayas, HMEE, Dana

    Memories

    U Ba Than 1
    U Ba Than 2
    U Ba Than 3

    U Ba Myint (EE)

    • Retired as Pro-Rector
    • Taught at RIT EE
    U Ba Myint

    U Aung Khin (M)

    • First native Mech Prof
    • Moved to Canada
    • Wrote articles for RIT Alumni Newsletter, SPZPs & HMEE

    Memories

    U Aung Khin 1
    U Aung Khin 2
    U Aung Khin 4

    Dr. Tin Win (M62)

    • See posts : Class of 62, BASES, Mech Engg, 2015 RIT Alumni Reunion in Los Angeles

    Memories

    Dr. Tin Win 1
    Dr. Tin Win 2

    U Tun Shwe (M60)

    • Patron, RIT Alumni Association
    • Patron, SDYF
    • Provided Certificates & IDs from RU
    • Sagar Waing (Video to celebrate 60th Anniversary of RIT)
    U Tun Shwe 1
    U Tun Shwe

    Updates

    • Jara, Byadi and Marana have effected Sayas and Sayamas
    • U Ba Than hosted the first HMEE meeting. He donated photos to HMEE and MES. He invited former colleagues and students to his Birthday Soon Kyway. He passed away after his 94th birthday.
    • Need help to organize my website.

    Posts

    • Brief Bios
    • Engineering Departments
    • From BIT to YTU
    • HMEE
    • SPZP
  • My Mentor

    My Mentor

    by Hla Min

    Updated : September 2026

    U Soe Paing
    U Soe Paing & Daw Saw Yu Tint
    U Soe Paing, U & Mrs. Hla Min

    Name: U Soe Paing

    Qualification: BS (Stanford), MS (Stanford), MSc. Computer Science (Southampton)

    Department: Electrical Communications
    Position: Assistant Lecturer, (Jan 1964 to March 1971)
    Reason for Leaving: Joined Universities’ Computer Center in April 1971.

    Engineering Alumni: Attended First Year Faculty of Engineering, Rangoon University from June to December, 1958.
    Reason for Leaving: Awarded State Scholarship to study in USA.

    Occupation: Data Processing Adviser (Retired)

    Organization: United Nations

    Updates

    • Saya was my mentor at RIT and UCC.
    • He offered me and Saya U Aung Zaw (UCC, GBNF) to be his co-authors. We wrote programming texts, manuals and guides.
    • Saya was a prime mover to get the “RIT Alumni International Newsletters” and http://www-ex-rit.org started.
    • Saya would mention that I am a “Shay Hmi; Nauk Hmi. ရှေ့မှီ၊ နောက်မှီ”
    • Sayagadaw added: “Bay Hmi ဘေးမှီ as well’.
    • Saya wrote articles for the RIT Newsletter and selected journals & magazines. They can be accessed via SCRIB-D
    • He also gave an interview for MASTAA
    SP 2
    SP 3
    SP 4
    SP 5
    SP 6
    SP 7
    SP 8
    SP 9
    SP 10
    SP 11
  • Tekkatho တက္ကသိုလ်

    Tekkatho တက္ကသိုလ်

    by Hla Min

    Updated : September 2026

    Matriculation

    • Less than 10% passed the Matric exam in the early days.
    • A few (e.g U Ba Khin who stood First in Burma) chose to work instead of attending RU.
    • It was an honor to prefix one’s name with Tekkatho တက္ကသိုလ် or University.
    • Khin Nyo wrote: Absolutely right. I think in 1957 only 2% Passed and the total is 20000.
      Even dancer AmarSein was conferred with the title Thekkatho Amar Sein by the Rector Dr Tha Hla.

    Tekaktho Moe War (U Moe Aung)

    U Moe Aung

    Student Days

    • Matriculated from St. John’s Dio.
    • EC, RU Kalaung Ah Thin
    RU Association
    • Editor, RUESU Annual Magazine for 1960 – 61
    RUESU Magazine

    RIT Days

    • Electrical Engineering Saya at RIT
    EE Sayas
    U Moe Aung & U Sein Maung
    • Chief Editor, RIT Annual Magazine
    • Editor, Hlyat Sit Sar Saung
    • Co-leader, Swel Daw Yeik Troupe (Ah Nyeint, Htee Yein, Ta Bin Daing Ah Ka) at RU Golden Jubilee in 1970

    Singapore Days

    • Worked in Singapore
    • Chair, SPZP-2002 & SPZP-2010 (in Singapore)
    • Editor / Publisher, Swel Daw Yeik Sar Saung for SPZP-2002, SPZP-2007 & SPZP-2010
    • Organizer, Alumni Activities (e.g Thingyan)

    Post Retirement

    • Moved back to Myanmar
    • Taught refresher courses (e.g. Electrical Saftey) at Electrical Inspectorate
    • Kept mind alert by writing poems & articles in weekly publications
    • Patron, SDYF; Composed & performed SDY Song
    • Entertainment for SPZP-2012 & SPZP-2016

    Publications

    • Distinguished Writer, Poet, Editor & Publisher
    • Editor, RUESU Annual Magazine
    • Chief Editor, RIT Annual Magazine for more than a decade
    • Chief Editor, Hlyat Sit Sar Saung
    • Chief Editor, Swel Daw Yeik Sar Saung for SPZP-2002, SPZP-2007 & SPZP-2010 in Singapore
    • Chief Editor, Swel Daw Yeik Magazine for Shwe YaDu in 2014 & SPZP-2016 in Yangon
    • Kabyars — solo; with RIT poets; with former EC members of RU Kalaung Ah Thinn
    Book 1
    Book 2
    Book 3
    Book 4
    • Books — Collection of articles; Collection of poem
  • Aging

    Aging

    by Hla Min

    Updated : September 2026

    Senior

    I felt uncomfortable to be addressed as “Ah Ba”, “Pho Pho” and to be offered assistance (e.g. wheelchair).

    I now feel OK to use wheelchair at air ports and to have people assist me when I climb up & down hill slopes. I had a couple of bike rides on dirt roads.

    I enjoy senior discounts for trains, buses & restaurants.

    I hope that my mental faculties will remain sharp and strong.

    Jara (old age) caught even the sport stars like Sayagyi U Ba Toke.

    Sayagyi U Ba Toke

    Phwa Bet Taw

    Saya is a Phwa Bet Taw of Rangoon University and the first Rangoon University Students’ Strike in December 1920.

    SPZP-2000

    SPZP-2000

    In 2000, Theingi (Saya’s youngest daughter) conveyed us Saya’s wishes to attend SPZP-2000. U Maung Maung Than (M79, Texas) had donated a round trip ticket. Several sayas & alumni donated expenses. Details can be found in “Count down to the Reunion” articles.

    Birthdays

    Saya 2

    He celebrates his birthdays with his children, grandchildren & great-grandchildren.

    Saya‘s birthday

    Longevity

    Saya gave a speech in SPZP-2007 about “Longevity”. He visited a house in USSR where the 80+ year old host explained about the noise up stairs. “Don’t worry. It’s my 100+ year old uncle quarelling with his fourth wife. They will make amends.”

    Garawa

    During my visits to Yangon, I paid respect to Saya.

    U Ohn Khine (M70) gave me a ride in 2012. Saya gave us autographed book. We enjoyed Sayagyi’s accounts. He was a football star, a leader of the Burma Olympic Delegation, and an excellent teacher. Up to his early 80s, he could walk to the Shwe Dagon pagoda with his friends. In his 90s, Sayagyi lost some mobility, eye sight and hearing, but he was determined to attend SPZPs.

    Book

    In 2016, Saya’s son U Ye Myint and daughter Daw Thynn Thynn (Pansy) made arrangements to give us rides to and back from Saya’s house.

    U Ba Toke

    In 2018, I called Ma Theingi and asked about Sayagyi. She mentioned that Sayagyi is healthy but because he had lost most teeth, she has to listen carefully to grasp his message.

    Saya passed away on December 2, 2020. It was the day after RI U Centennial. It was a few days short of his Centennial Birthday on December 26.

    U Ba Toke 2
    U Ba Toke 3
    U Ba Toke 5

  • Gathering — NorCal RITAA Dinner

    by Hla Min

    Updated : September 2026

    • Northern California RIT Alumni Association was formed to carry on some activities of RIT Alumni International with the help of younger alumni.
    • Past Presidents include Saya U Maung Maung / George (ChE66), Gordon Kaung (M83) and U Aung Myint Oo (EC84). Current President is U Tin Maung Win (C86).
    • The first Chair of BOD was Stan Liou (M67). Saya U Myat Htoo (C68, GBNF) served as Chair for several terms.

    David Ko (U Tin Myint, M67, GBNF)

    David Ko
    • Entrepreneur
    • Golden Sponsor for SPZP-2000.
    • Donated $3000 to SPZP-2012.
    • Supported Norcal RITAA. Sponsored a table at the Annual Dinner to invite selected sayas (e.g U Myo Myint Sein & Dr. Tin Win) & alumni (e.g U Thura Thant Zin) from Southern California
    • After his demise, his spouse Mavis Ko continued supporting the Alumni Association
    NorCal RITAA Dinner

    Saya U Myo Myint Sein (A58)

    Saya Myo
    • First batch of Architecture graduates
    • Masters from Michigan University
    • Professor at RIT
    • Published books on Architecture
    • President of RU ConBro association. He and his brothers attended De La Salle Schools.
    • Played Soccer

    Saya Dr. Tin Win (M62)

    Dr. Tin Win
    • Matriculated from St. John’s Dio.
    • Won a Gold Medal in 1958 for Joint Highest Score in Maths in I.Sc (both years)
    • Youngest in the Class of M62
    • Doctorate from Melbourne University
    • Past President of BASES
    • Core Organizer for 2015 RIT Alumni Reunion in Los Angeles

    Daw Khin Htar Yee (Lily, T72)

    Lily (Rightmost)
    • Founding member & Secretary of BEA
    • Spouse and supporter of Saya Dr. Tin Win & his projects; Financial support for eligible students; Fundraiser for SPZP-2007 by running the LA Marathon
    • Organizer, 2015 RIT Alumni Reunion in Los Angeles

    U Thura Thant Zin (M76)

    Thura (Seated Right)
    • Goalkeeper for All Universities & Institutes’ Hockey Team
    • RUBC Gold with Dat Pon Sann Aung (GBNF), Win Khaing (GBNF) & Phyo
    • Past President of BASES
    • Organizer, SPZP-2000
    • Organizer, 2015 RIT Alumni Reunion in Los Angeles

    Saya U Maung Maung (George, ChE66)

    Saya George
    • Founding member of RIT Alumni International
    • Organizer, SPZP-2000
    • Founding member & First President of Norcal RITAA
    • Fundraiser for the Training Component of YTU Library Modernization project

    Daw Khin Khin Kyu (Ann, A67)

    Ann (2nd from Right)
    • Supporter of RIT Alumni international & Norcal RITAA
    • Classmates include Saya Dr. Koung Nyunt (GBNF) and U Tun Thein.
    • Brother : Saya U Thein Han (Maths, Burma selected in Basketball)

    Notes

    • BASES invited alumuni from Norcal to attend Annual Dinner. One was hosted by U Tin Htway (M59, co-founder).
      Most others were held at selected hotels and restaurants.