by Hla Min

Updated : June 2025

Deans

• Rangoon University had Deans for the Faculties.
• U Ba Hli was the first native Dean of Engineering

U Ba Hli

• First native Dean to head the Faculty of Engineering of Rangoon University
• Transferred to the Faculty of Engineering, RU from GTI (Government Technical Institute) where he was Principal and Professor of Civil Engineering
• Credited for the “Twinning Program” between the Faculty of Engineering, RU and the prestigious universities in the USA
• Per request from U Aung Khin (retired Professor & Head of Mechanical Engineering), Dr. Freddie Ba Hli (EE) — the only son — wrote about his beloved father for the commemorative issue of “RIT Alumni International Newsletter” for SPZP-2000. It has been re-posted in the newsletter updates and in the RIT Alumni Facebook Pages. Sayagyi passed away in his house on U Wisara Road in Rangoon.

Interim Deans

• Dr. Htin Aung
• Dr. Maung Maung Kha
• Dr. Tha Hla
• U Po Tha

Dr. Htin Aung

• Principal, Rangoon College
• Rector, Rangoon University
• Vice Chancellor, Rangoon University
• Interim Dean, Faculty of Engineering
• Burmese Ambassador to Ceylon
• Folklorist / Historian

Dr. Maung Maung Kha

• Doctorate in Meteorological Physics from Imperial College, London University
• Professor & Head of Physics Department at Rangoon University
• Interim Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Rangoon University
• Longest tenured Rector
• Rector of Rangoon University
• Rector of RASU
• Rector of University of Distance Learning

• Plays the violin well
• Accompanied U Ba Kyi (Artist, translator/composer of songs”) singing “Hne Yauk Hte Nay Chin De” in Burmese and English
• Passed away in Yangon in 2005.
• Centennial celebrations for his birthday were held in 2015.

Early Rectors

• Dr. Htin Aung (RU)
• Dr. Hla Myint (RU)
• Dr. Tha Hla (RU)
• U Kar (RU)
• Dr. Maung Maung Kha (RU, RASU)
• U Yone Mo (RIT)
• Dr. Aung Gyi (RIT)
• U Khin Aung Kyi (RIT)
• U Maung Maung Than (RIT)

U Yone Mo

• Retired Chief Engineer, Burma Railways
• In 1961, the Faculty of Engineering, Rangoon University moved to Gyogone and had a new name Burma Institute of Technology (BIT).
• Appointed Dean of Engineering at the BIT Gyogone Campus
• Under the new Education System, BIT became an autonomous Institute with the name Rangoon Institute of Technology (RIT). He became the Rector.
• Proponent of taking power naps
• U Wynn Htain Oo (M72) remembers how his friends were having fun with the “Ye Punn ရေပန်း” (Water Foundation). Saya saw them, but did not scold them. He said with a smile, “Young men, you can go to the University Swimming Pool or to the Inya Kan ကန် (Lake)”.
• Established the weekly “Yoke Shin ရုပ်ရှင်” at the Assembly Hall.
• Dr. Aung Gyi (Professor of Civil Engineering) remembered seeing a letter from U Yone Mo (Rector) sent to U Yone Mo (Parent of a son who happened to visit his gambling friends at the hostel). Dr. Aung Gyi told the Admin to stow away the letter.
• Ko Zaw Min Nawaday knows Sayagyi & his spouse (Daw Elizabeth Yone Mo, High Ranking Nurse at RGH and a close friend of Daw Khin May Than) very well. Sayagyi and Dr. Aung Gyi were in May Myo during one summer. Sayagyi asked Dr. Aung Gyi and Ko Zaw Min to accompany him.
  They ate Khauk Swe. Sayagyi reminded them not to tell about his “Khauk Swe” appetite to Sayagadaw.

Dr. Aung Gyi

• Succeeded U Yone Mo as Rector
• Rector (1971 – 1977)
• See Posts
• Memories of Dr. Aung Gyi
• Speech at SPZP-2000
• Coconut Episode

U Khin Aung Kyi

• Stood 7th in Burma in the Matriculation of 1949
• He did his B S and M S at MIT
• Professor of Chemical Engineering at RIT
• Succeeded Dr. Aung Gyi as Rector
• Taught at Rengsit University in Bangkok, Thailand
• Provided interview for HMEE-2012 Project

U Maung Maung Than

• BS in Textile Engineering from Clemson University and MS from Lowell University
• Professor & Head of Textile Engineering Department, RIT
• Rector, YIT
• DG, DHE
• Chair, RIT Sports Council
• Hobbies : Chinlon, Music
• Helped establish Engineering at Defense Services Academy

Dr. Henry Cho Tun (Myint Tun) wrote:

I’m going to add a few things about Saya U Mg Mg Than. I’m very close to him and the family and the son is my student. We are all golfers and both of them are very good. Saya MM Than is as good as Saya Soe Paing and plays with clubs that are custom made for him. Hope the following would be useful additions. Thank you

• He did his B S at Clemson and M S at Lowell.
• He joined BIT in 1957 as lecturer -Head of Textile Engineering Department at BOC college
• 1964 was appointed Professor at RIT
• Served as Rector, 1990-1992
• Director General of The Department of Higher Education 1992-1994 and retired
• Served as Director of Studies at DSTA (Defense Services Technical Academy)

Posts

• Administrators
• Convocation
• From BIT to YTU
• Rangoon University
• Three Events in December 1920

by Myint Thin & Hla Min

Updated : June 2025

Dr. Tin Win, son of U Kwet Kaw and Daw Hla Yi, was a Maths Gold Medalist in 1958 I.Sc. Exams. He stood first in 1962 batch of B.Sc. Mech. Eng. graduates. After working at Mandalay Brewery and Distillery for a year, he joined RIT as an Assistant Lecturer in Mechanical Engineering Department in 1963. He left for Melbourne University, Australia, in 1966 and obtained the doctorate degree in 1971. In 1972, he was promoted to Lecturer and worked at RIT till 1977 when he left for USA.

After working six months at Gardner Denver in Dallas, Texas, he joined Brown & Root (Halliburton Company) in Houston and became Head of Mechanical and Piping Department in 1988. Since 1992, he has been working as a Project Manager, currently in Subsea Engineering Division of Brown & Root Energy Services Business Unit.

He married Lily (Khin Htar Yee, T72) in 1984, and both of them will be attending the RIT Reunion and Saya Pu Zaw Pwe.

Updates (by Hla Min)

• Saya is Past President of BASES
• Was interviewed by Mandalay Gazette
• Ran the Los Angeles Marathon to raise fund for SPZP-2007
• Core organizer for 2015 RIT Alumni Reunion in Los Angeles
• Ma Rosie, his sister, worked for RIT Chemistry department from 1965 to 1976
• Penny, another sister, is from the class of 70
• Lily was Founding member & Secretary of BEA (in Northern California) before she moved to Texas
• After retirement, he and Lily relocated to Los Angeles (Southern California).
• Lily’s sister is from the class of A73.

• Myint Thin (M71, GBNF) is a multiple RIT Luyechun. He rowed for RIT. He sponsored Sayagyi U Ba Than to SPZP-2007 in Singapore. He worked in Singapore and Malaysia.

by Hla Min

Updated : June 2025

Brief Bio

Professor Emeritus & Head of Civil Engineering at Rangoon Institute of Technology

Nativity

Born, brought up, and schooled in Taungdwingyi, Magwe Division, Myanmar, by my parents Saw Boon Koke (aka) U Win Myint and Daw Kyin Toke.

Family

Named as Maung Kyit Ing, the eldest son of six, three younger brothers (two Medical Doctors and one Head Master of State High School) and two younger sisters (one Medical Doctor and one Director of Education).

Married to Daw Khin Myint Myint.

Have two sons (Nicholas, a Medical Doctor and Daniel, a Computer Analyst) and one daughter (Penthea, a Medical Doctor), and three grand daughters.

Residence

Currently living with my spouse at 5947 Loma Avenue, Temple City, California 91780-1924, U.S.A.

Academic Career

• School Leaving Certificate from Taungdwingyi State High School and Matriculated, 1948
• University of Rangoon: Intermediate of Science, 1950
• B.O.C. College: 1st Year B.Sc. Engineering, 1951
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT): BS (Civil Engineering), 1955
• Cornell University: MS (Civil Engineering) with Major in Geodesy and Photogrammetry, 1956

Employment History

• Hycons Engineering Inc., Pasadena, California, 1957
• Faculty of Engineering, University of Rangoon, 1957-1961
• Colombo Plan Professor, University College, London, 1974-1975
• Rangoon Institute of Technology (RIT), once also known as Burma Institute of Technology (BIT), Department of Civil Engineering, 1961-1988

Accomplishments

• Professor & Head of Department of Civil Engineering, more than 31 years of service as educator and administrator at RIT, (1957-1988)
• Director of Regional Colleges Development Project (Burmese Counterpart to Foreign Experts) (1978-1982), helped establish 20 Regional Colleges all over Burma
• Chairman of Civil Engineering Construction Cooperative (CECC) (1976-1982), created job opportunity and On-the-Job-Training (OJT) for RIT and University Graduates, a Consultant Firm engaging the expertise of Faculty and Laboratory Staffs
• Consultant Member of the Myanmar National Calendar Advisory Committee (1972-1988), helped revise and update Traditional Calendar Computation and Compilation Methods
• Member of the Advisory Committee for Restoration of Bagan (1975-1988), helped strengthen Bagan Monuments (Stupas & Pagodas) and establish Photogrammetric Resources for rapid and precise mapping of Bagan Monuments.

Editor’s notes

• Saya taught “Surveying” in my 2nd B.E. course
• He is an expert in both Western & Eastern Astronomy, Western & Eastern Astrology.
• He served on the “Myanmar Calendar Advisory Board” for many years.
• He wrote an article, which complements/augments Kogyi Koung’s narrative of the “Kyaikhtiyo Project”.
• He also wrote about “Bagan restoration” and “Civil Engineering Department”.
• He retired from Caltrans when he was about 80 years young.
• He passed away in Southern California.

Memories

• Attended SPZP-2000 & gave speech

• Alumni mostly from SoCal meet annually for Lunch gathering with Saya. Dr. San Lin invited us to one gathering.

• Dr. Aung Soe led the practical for Saya’s course on Surveying.

by Min Wun

Updated : June 2025

U Min Wun
Professor Emeritus, Civil Engineering, RIT

When I read the article on “Kyaik Hti Yo Development Project” (KHYDP) by Dr. Koung Nyunt, Arch 67 – New Zealand, it brings me lots of fond memories and remind me of the “Good Old Days” of my tenure at the then R.I.T. It urges me to write this supplemental article.

There are many attractive sites in Myanmar for pilgrims, such as

• “Ah Laung Daw Katha Pha” to the west of Monywa,
• “Popa Taung Kalat” and “Mount Popa” north of Kyauk Pa Daung,
• “Pin Da Ya Hlaing Gu” near Nyaung Shwe in Shan State,
• “U Daung Taung” near Inlay Lake in Shan State,
• “Mrauk U” and “Wei Tha Li” in Rakkhine State,
• “Kyaik Hti Yo” in Mon State, … and so on, just to mention a few.

These pilgrimage sites are our “National Wilderness Heritages”. A Wilderness is a place where the imprint of humans is substantially unnoticed, and the changes will occur primarily through natural disturbance, and minimum human influence. This is not the case with Kyaik Hti Yo, and many of the above pilgrimage sites in Myanmar, where human encroachment and activity are becoming noticeable.

On your way up the Kyaik Hti Yo Trek, after the Nga Gar Lain climb, the first sight of the Gilded Stupa-Topped Boulder, resembling a Hermit’s Head, floating on top of a Stone Pillar, appears in vista vision. At that time, a thrilling feeling of achievement and excitement is beyond description and all the physical tiredness seems to have dissolved and melted away in the bodily blood stream. During the Pagoda Festival Season, this scenario was usually hidden from view by a long row of bamboo huts along the last ridge toward the Kyaik Hti Yo Pagoda Plateau. Many smaller boulders along the ridge were painted in white for advertising the vendors.

To the East of the Pagoda Plateau many bamboo huts align the smaller ridges with waterless bathrooms in the back and human wastes are dumped along the slopes, creating ugly and unsanitary sites for parasites, and causing unpleasant smell in the air. Water is a scarce property and it is a luxury to afford a shower.

With the blessing of the venerable “Me Byaw Sayadaw”, the Kyaik Hti Yo Pagoda Trustees (KHYPT), requested me to prepare a Project Report for the development of Kyaik Hti Yo and its Environment. The Project was sponsored by the KHYPT under the auspices of the Kyaik Hto Township Party and Council. The Project Development Team (PDT) was formed with the following volunteer Team Leaders: Dr. Koung Nyunt, ( Dept of Architecture, R.I.T.); Dr. San Lin and U Hla Thein (Electric Power Corporation, E.P.C.); Dr. Kyaw Latt, (National Housing Board, N.H.B.); U Tint Lwin (?), (Dept of Geology, R.A.S.U.); U Aye Win Kyaw, (Dept of Civil Engineering, R.I.T.).

And volunteer members from R.I.T., E.P.C., N.H.B., R.A.S.U., too numerous to mention and I do hope they will excuse me.

Preservation of Wilderness : Dr. Koung Nyunt and his team had prepared many good recommendations to preserve Kyaik Hti Yo and its environment by maintaining the natural landscapes and scenic beauty, and to preserve it as a Wilderness Area. (See Slide #16 of Kyaik Htiyo Album, KHA. Dr. Kyaw Latt is the Second from the Left, looking away from camera.)

Zoning : The team lead by Dr Kyaw Latt had prepared useful Zoning Maps, with guidelines for enforcement, to demarcate Kyaik Hti Yo Plateau for Resting Huts, Food Stalls, Souvenir Boutiques, Photographers, etc.

Hydro-power : The Hydropower Team lead by Dr. San Lin & U Hla Thein made a feasibility study for Micro-hydro Power Project, for lighting, for pumping water to the Pagoda Plateau level for water supply and sanitation purposes. U Hla Thein will design the turbine and manufacture it locally. (See Slide #29 of KHA.)

Geological Survey : U Tint Lwin and his team made a general geological survey of Hyaik Hti Yo Pagoda Site. A detailed study of the Stone Pillar and the Hermit-Head Boulder was conducted. Disposed “Food Offerings” were found at the foot of the Stone Pillar and many “rodent holes” were also observed. These holes became small piping tunnels for runoff water to drain deeper and quicker into the ground, causing erosion and exposing the base of the Stone Pillar. This process was gradually endangering the stability of the Stone Pillar, which is “supposed” to support the 160-ton Hermit-Head Boulder on top of it. A concrete slab was poured around the base of the Stone Pillar and discarding of “Food Offerings” at the base was at once prohibited. Several hairline cracks were observed at the top of the Stone Pillar and “Water Offerings” to the Stupa on top of the Boulder was prohibited temporarily until the hair line cracks were sealed with apoxy resin. (See Slide # 25 of KHA.)

Civil Engineering : U Aye Win Kyaw and his surveying team were very ingenious to determine the volume of the Hermit-Head Boulder and its weight, which was calculated to be approximately 160 tons. The center of gravity of the Boulder was determined to be 6 to 9 inches away from the vertical axis of the “Contact Point” with the Stone Pillar, giving an impression of being on the verge of falling off. The Boulder seems to be afloat and can be rocked back and forth about a shifting “Contact Point” on top of the Stone Pillar. A rope can be pulled through this “Contact Point”, without getting crushed, by rocking the Boulder gently. And it seems to defy the Law of Gravity, thus making it both a terrestrial and a celestial “Wonder”. (See Slides #13, #22, and #24 of KHA.)

Many field trips were organized by each team to do site investigations both during Kyaik Hti Yo Festival Season (beginning at the end of the Buddhist Lent and ending on the Lunar New Year Day) and off the Festival Season. According to an age-old saying, the author should become rich because he had made more than “Three Trips to Kyaik Hti Yo Pagoda”, at least nine trips. The age-old saying is, perhaps, true, because many of the PDT members and volunteers are now abroad living comfortably or enjoying a retirement life.

A feasibility report was submitted to the Kyaik Hti Yo Pagoda Trustees in 1982. Since then I have not been to Kyaik Hti Yo Pagoda Festival. I have learned that there are many improvements to make Kyaik Hti Yo a Tourist Attraction. We should, however, keep in our mind that the “Wilderness” of Kyaik Hti Yo should be protected and valued for its unique ecological, historical, religious, scientific and experiential resources.

Note :

Saya Dr. Koung Nyunt (A67) and Sayagyi U Min Wun are GBNF.

by Hla Min

Updated : June 2025

Terms

• Metallurgy
• Metallurgical Engineering
• Material Science

U Thit (GBNF)

• Was studying Mechanical Engineering when he was offered to study MET at Lehigh University in the US.
• Completed BS & joined Faculty as Assistant Lecturer
• Received MS from Melbourne University
• Became Lecturer & Head of Metallurgy Department
• Taught “Materials and Processes” in our 2nd BE class. He would throw chalk at the noisy student(s).
• Moved to Australia.
• Sent condolences via the RIT Alumni Newsletter when Saya Allen Htay (C58) passed away. He was a bit senior to Saya Allen during their high school in Yegyaw.
• Wrote a brief history of the Metallurgy Department for HMEE project. He suggested other Met sayas to cover more (after he left RIT).
• Attended selected Reunion and PZPs in Yangon.

Dr. Saw Pru (GBNF)

• He succeeded U Thit as Head of Department
• Ko Thein Ngwe (ChE76) posted an article about “လူဝင်စား” It mentioned that Saya chose to be reborn as a son of his nephew Ko Khin Aung Shwe.

U Than Tin

• He studied in US.
• Acting Head of Department
• After teaching for several years, he moved to US.
• I spoke with him briefly before SPZP-2000.
• Dr. Tin Win said that U Than Tin moved from East Coast to Los Angeles

Dr. Khin Maung Win (GBNF)

• B.Sc. from Mandalay University
• Worked at Mandalay U and later at UBARI in Rangoon.
• Went on a government scholarship to USA to get his MS and PhD in Metallurgy.
• Joined RIT Met
• Later became DG of Technological Agricultural and Vocational Education.

U Aung Hla Tun (GBNF)

• Retired as Associate Professor
• Published two books
• Won National Literary Award for his first book.
• Chief Editor of RIT Annual Magazine
• He & his team published the History of Myanmar Engineering Education book in 2012. U Ohn Khine (M70) and I compiled the CD supplement for the book.
• Saya led HMEE-2012 & HMEE-2018 projects.

Some Senior Sayas

• U Pe Win : Professor and Rector
• U Tin Maung Nyunt (Met70) : Retired as Professor. Note that U Tin Maung Nyunt (M60) taught Agricultural Engineering.
• Daw Victoria Simon (Met70) : Retired as Professor. Her father was Workshop Superintendent.
• U Win Kyaw (Met71) : Rowing; Moved to Ministry of Mines in 1982

• U Thein Aung (Met72) : Mr. RIT in 1968; SPZP-2000 (co-emcee, Associate Editor), Lawrence Livermore Lab

• U Nyunt Htay (Met73) : High school Luyechun, Poet, Chief Editor of Mudita Myanmar)

Miscellaneous

• U Win Kyaw, U Thein Aung & U Nyunt Htay had a micro-reunion at 2015 RIT Alumni Reunion in Los Angeles and at the iNapa Winery Lunch & Dinner hosted by Gordon Kaung (M83) and Lillian Kaung (EC83).
• U Nyunt Htay hosted a Dinner for U Win Kyaw, U Ye Myint and me during my visit to Yangon (from Nov 2019 to Jan 2020). He also gave me the Kabyar book (by five RIT sayas / alumni) and the Mudita Sar Saung (which featured the kabyars of him and Saya U Moe Aung).

Younger sayas and sayamas include Dr. Naing Naing Aung (Met91, who organized seminars).

by Hla Min

Updated : June 2025

Brief Bio

• Matriculated in 1952
• Graduated with Civil Engineering in 1958
• Joined Faculty as Assistant Lecturer
• Received Masters from Harvard University
• Promoted to Lecturer
• Later, moved to USA
• See Posts about Saya

Family

• Married Daw Mu Mu Kin in 1971.
• They have a son, a daughter and four grandsons.
• Son Myo Lynn Htay (Electrical Engineer) has two sons : Alyn and Daniel
• Daughter Thuzar Kin Htay has two sons : Reed and Miles

SF Bay Area RIT Alumni

Contributions

• Leader, SF Bay Area RIT Alumni Group

• Founding member & President, RIT Alumni International

• Organizer, SPZP-2000
• His article, “Brother, can you afford US$500?” helped with Fund Raising of SPZP-2000 with five Golden Sponsors — Steeve Kay (Thaung Sein, EC70, GBNF), Benny Tan (Yu Beng, M70), David Ko (Tin Myint, M67, GBNF), Ivan Lee (Khin Maung Oo, M69), Maung Maung Than (M79) — and many donors.

Gatherings

Donation to YTU library

• In memory of Saya Allen, Daw Mu Mu Kin donated books and book shelves to YTU Library.
• Maurice Chee (M75) coordinated the shipment of Saya’s books.

Financial Aid for eligible YTU students

• In memory of Saya Allen, Daw Mu Mu Kin provided Financial Aid for eligible YTU students.
• NorCal RITAA and ARITA coordinated with the selection of students.

Posts

• C58
• Dana
• RIT Alumni International
• SPZP-2000

by Soe Paing

Updated : June 2025

by Saya U Soe Paing (EE)

Thank you [HM and KMZ] for all the updates. I enjoy reading them and can feel the excitement and enthusiasm of the participants and the organizers. I wish I could be there for the REUNION and visit my old haunts in the Bay Area.

The least I can do is to contribute something about the Sayas who will be attending the SPZP-2000 Reunion. I would like to say something about Saya U Ba Toke and my friend Sayas Allen Htay and Ko Tin Maung Nyunt.

Saya U Ba Toke

I am very happy to hear that Saya U Ba Toke will be making the trip to the Bay Area. Saya U Ba Toke was our Math Saya in I.Sc.(A) at Yankin College in 1956 and I.Sc.(B) at Main University in 1957. He was a lecturer and Sayagyi U Kar who also taught us in 1957 was the Professor. He was a very good lecturer. I still cannot believe how he can write pages of notes on the
blackboard in a very nice handwriting. I think he became Professor of Mathematics in 1958 when U Kar retired. I remember that in 1958 we had to request him for recommendations to apply for places in universities in the States. He gave me a great recommendation for which I am still very grateful. I met him again when he joined RIT as the Professor of Mathematics before I moved to UCC. The last time I saw him was some months back at the funeral of the father-in-law of Dr. Khin Maung Win (Met) and the father of Khin Than Nwe (T62).

Allen Htay

Allen Htay was a brand new Saya when we joined the Engineering College in Leik Khone in 1958. I remember him teaching Engineering Drawing to the Chemical & Textile first year students like Khin Than Nwe (T62) and my high school friend Richard Than Se (ChE62). I met him again in August 1963 when we took the same ship SS Warickshire from Liverpool on the way back home.

Ko Tin Maung Nyunt

Ko Tin Maung Nyunt, Ko Ko Lay (UCC, GBNF), and Ko Than Pe (Chartered Accountant, ADB) were also on the ship. We spent about two months on the ship with about 4 weeks in Colombo. We played ping pong [table tennis] and swam in the pool during the day. We played Bridge [card game] every night after dinner with Ko Tin Maung Nyunt and Ko Ko Lay as partners and myself partnering either Allen Htay or Ko Than Pe. We went on land at Port Said (at the start of the Suez Canal), Port Sudan and Aden in the Red Sea, and Colombo, Kandy and Nuwara Elyia in Sri Lanka. All of us became very good friends.

On arrival home in 1963 Allen Htay rejoined RIT in Gyogone. I was then assigned to the RIT Electrical Engineering Department in January 1964. We were together again when Ko Tin Maung Nyunt joined the Agricultural Engineering Department some months later. Ko Tin Maung Nyunt was one of our regulars on the Saya Football Team. We remained good friends as all of us stayed in the RIT estate. Ko Tin Maung Nyunt then left for the US via Thailand. I joined the UCC in 1971. Allen Htay then left for the US. The last time all of us got together was in 1988 in the Bay Area.

I am also glad to hear that my old colleagues from the EE Dept Ko Sann Tint (another Saya Football Team regular) and Ko Sein Maung will be attending the reunion. Please pass on my best regards to my Sayas, colleagues, friends, students and all participants.

Congratulations to you, the organizers and to a successful REUNION.

Editor’s Notes

U Soe Paing was my mentor at RIT and UCC.

During my visits to Yangon, I paid respect to U Ba Toke. Sayagyi is a Phwa Bet of Rangoon University and the First RU Students’ Strike in December, 1920.

Saya Allen Htay (GBNF), Saya U Tin Maung Nyunt, U Ko Ko Aye (GBNF), Ko Thein Naing (Patrick) and I used to meet once a month.

Posts

• RIT Sayas
• SPZP-2000

by Hla Min

Updated : June 2025

Introduction

• My saya at RIT. He taught Mechanical Drawing and Strength of Materials.
• Gave me rides to RIT in his white Zephyr. Several thought I was his nephew.
• My cousin. His father is my mom’s elder brother. His mother is my dad’s elder sister.
• Had many photo albums. He would show them to me and former students.
• Several years ago, he has a Stroke. His family members hired nurses & assistants to speed up his recuperation.
• His son, daughter-in-law and grandchildren provided him with tender, loving care.
• His physical and mental health declined in his 90s.
• He passed away peacefully after his 94th birthday.

Brief Bio

• Born on October 2, 1930.
• He is the second among nine siblings.
• Siblings : U Tin U, U Ba Than (GBNF), Dr. Daw Win Hlaing (Ruby), Daw Myint Thwe (GBNF), Dr. Myo Tint (GBNF), U Tin Htoon, U Myo Min, U Thaung Lwin, Daw Cho Cho Hlaing

• Spouse : Daw Mya Mya
• Son : U Ye Than (Winner Inn)
• DIL : Daw Lwin Mar Oo
• Grandchildren : Aung Myo Myint & Ei Khine

• Matriculated from St. John’s Dio in 1947. Won Collegiate Scholarship.
• In 1949, received Gold Medal for Highest Marks in I.Sc (Combined).
• Bachelor in Mechanical Engineering from Imperial College, London University
• Joined Faculty of Engineering as Assistant Lecturer
• Colombo Plan Scholar to study Masters in Mechanical Engineering at Imperial College
• Promoted to Lecturer
• Retired as Professor
• Early supporter of HMEE (History of Myanmar Engineering Education). Hosted inaugural meeting. Donated photos.
• Invited former colleagues & students to his Birthday Soon Kyway
• Donated almost all of the Garawa money to selected charities.
• Passed away shortly after his 94th birthday.

Garawa

Paid respect to Saya U Ba Toke

By 69ers

U Aung Min (M69) & team would organize 69ers to pay respect to Saya around his Birthday.

Earlier events were at Winner Inn.

The photo below was taken at Saya’s new house.

By M75

Maurice Chee, U Win Khaing (GBNF) and several M75 had a reunion. They then visited Winner Inn to pay respect to Saya.

78th Birthday in 2008

He distributed his Memoirs.

82nd Birthday in 2012

90th Birthday in 2020

He received a Photo Album from his younger brother U Tin Htoon (A60).

Double Dana

He donated the Garawa money that he had received from the SPZPs to charities

• Jivitadana
• Little Sisters for the Poor
• Mary Chapman’s school for Deaf & Dumb
• …

Paying respect to Saya U Ba Toke