Studied Chemistry at Rangoon University and Imperial College, University of London
Retired as Rector of Yangon University Foreign Languages (YUFL)
Earlier served as Principal of Pyay College (now Pyay University) and Administrator of Institute of Computer Science and Technology (ICST)
Spouse : Daw May Saw Lwin (Retired Professor of Chemistry) Married in 1970 around the RU Golden Jubilee They will celebrate their Golden Jubilee in 2020 around the RU Centennial
Father : Saya U Sein (SPHS)
Sons : U Aung Mon and Dr. Nyi Thet Lwin
Related Posts : Old Paulians Top Matriculates (1951 – 1965) Chemistry
Daw May Saw Lwin
Attended Methodist English High School (MEHS)
Matriculated in 1957
Studied Chemistry at Rangoon University
Retired as Professor of Chemistry
Parents : U Saw Lwin and Daw Su
Siblings : Dr. Hazel Saw Lwin and Olive Saw Lwin
Spouse : Dr. Soe Win (Retired Rector of YUFL) Married in 1970 around the RU Golden Jubilee They will celebrate their Golden Jubilee in 2020 around the RU Centennial
Sons : U Aung Mon and Dr. Nyi Thet Lwin
Related Posts A Triumphant Return Top Matriculates (1951 – 1965)
UAung Mon
Founding member and Moderator of the Yar Pyay Group
Fondly known as “Aung“
Elder son of Dr. Soe Win and Daw May Saw Lwin
Studied EcE (Electronics Engineering) at YTU and IT in Singapore
Works in Singapore.
Was an organizer for EcE (Electronics Engineering) Reunion and SPZP
Spouse : Dr. Lay May Yin
Related posts Dana for Saya Dr. San Tint
Dr. Nyi Thet Lwin
Founding member and Admin of the Yar Pyay Group
Fondly known as “Nyi Nyi“
He was brought up on the RU Main Campus.
He wanted to learn first hand accounts about the University of Rangoon and its descendants.
Works as a Surgeon in UK
Parents : Saya Dr. Soe Win and Sayama Daw May Saw Lwin
Spouse : Dr. Swe Khin Tun
Daughter : Ei Lwin achieved grade 9 in all of the nine subjects that she sat in the 2019 GCSE exams in the UK. Following grandpa’s footsteps almost sixty years later!
Related posts RU Diamond Jubilee
SayaU Sein
Son : Dr. Soe Win
Taught Burmese at SPHS
He was our Burmese teacher in High School
Healso taught Burmese to Saya U Thet Lwin (Ngwe Hlinne, Composer of “Mya Kyun Nyo Nyo Kun Yeik Kho”).
Related posts SPHS Sayas
SayaU Kyaw Sein
Nephew : Dr. Soe Win
Taught several subjects (including Mathematics) in Middle School at SPHS
He was Class Teacher for a different section in Std. VII
He also taught us as a Relieving Teacher.
Win Myint (Myeik) mentioned that Saya is his father-in-law.
Related Posts SPHS Sayas
Daw Su
First resident of Inya Hall
Performed several roles in the Fund raising Concert for Tekkatho Dhammyone
Honoree of the Thet Kyee Pu Zaw Pwes of Inya Hall and Tekkatho Dhammayone
Spouse : U Saw Lwin
Daughters : Dr. Hazel Saw Lwin, Olive Saw Lwin, and May Saw Lwin
Wanted her daughters to stay at Inya Hall. Olive Saw Lwin and May Saw Lwin spent a year at Inya Hall. Hazel Saw Lwin (medical student) had to stay at the specified hostel.
Tipitaka comprises of Vinaya / Monastic rules of conduct Sutta / Discourses Abhidhamma / Ultimate reality
Buddhist Councils
According to the Theravada tradition, there are six Buddhist Councils.
The First, Second and Third Councils were held in India.
The Fourth Council (which recorded the teachings on palm leaves) was held in Ceylon.
The Fifth Council was held in Mandalay, Burma. U Khanti inscribed the Tipitaka on marble slabs. It was featured as the World’s Largest Book in Ripley’s “Believe it or not”.
The Sixth Council was held in Rangoon, Burma. Tipitaka was reconfirmed and published as printed texts. Selected Pali texts were also translated into Burmese.
First Buddhist Council
Source : U Silananda
Date : 3 months and 5 days (Sasana Era)
Place : Rajagaha (India)
King : Ajasattha
Leader : Mahakassapa Thera
Number of Monks : 500
Duration : 7 months
Accomplishment : Collected, examined, classified, and recorded orally the Buddha’s Teachings
Professor of Geography and Geology at Rangoon University (1923 – 26)
Professor, Geography Economics, London School of Economics
Chairman, Social Geography, LSE
Land Use Survey (of Britain with student volunteers)
Authored several books and research papers
One book was a prescribed text in Burma in the early days.
Lectured to the first year students at LSE (London School of Economics) instead of delegating to his assistants. His rationale : “A major subject can be taught by any qualified teacher, but a minor subject should be introduced by a motivated, senior teacher. The class could be the sole exposure in their academic career; so it is important to give the students an excellent overview of the subject.”
Geography learned at school
Took World Geography and Burmese Geography in Middle School and a year in High School.
Studied Contouring and Climatic Interpretation.
Padetha U Htay Myint taught us Geography and History.
Geography Department
Dr. Daw Thin Kyi is the first native Professor of Geography. She is also one of the early female Professors at Rangoon University. Expert in Land Use
Dr. Tin Htoo Senior Lecturer Retired as Professor
U Kyaw transferred as Principal of Worker’s College.
RU Geography
I worked as a volunteer assistant for Saya U Hla Tun Aung, who was in charge of the “Zay Nay Yar Cha Htar Yee Committee” for the Rangoon University Golden Jubilee Celebrations in 1970. Among those who applied for permits include U Maung Maung Tar (Academy winning actor, trying to sell his line of make up) and the Playboys (Than Naing, Thein Tan). Saya proposed new course requiring statistical analysis.
Saya Dr. U Win attended UCC courses before going for his graduate studies in the US. Collaboration with sayas from the Institute of Economics. Doctorate in Water Resource Management He later specialized in Geographical Information Systems (GIS). He was the last speaker for the conferences held by Burma Research Society (BRS). The higher authorities entered the room and announced that “BRS would be dismantled the following day”.
Founding member of RIT Alumni International and first President
Wrote a classic article for SPZP-2000 to raise awareness of the First RIT Grand Reunion and Saya Pu Zaw Pwe
Saya passed away several years back
In Saya’s memory, Daw Mu Mu Khin donated Saya’s books to YTU Library provided financial support for eligible YTU students
Donation of Saya Allen’s Books
Brother, can you afford US $500?
by Allen Htay
And many weekends spent away from your family as well? If you can then you probably are a member of the RIT Grand Reunion and Saya Pu Zaw Pwe organizing committee.
It all began one day several months ago when we met over lunch at Benny Tan’s home in Hillsborough. Ko Hla Min and Ko Khin Maung Zaw among the lunch party had started the RIT Alumni website and were receiving enthusiastic responses. Hearing that the duo were carrying on the project all by themselves we decided to throw in our moral and financial support to assure its survival, realizing that it was providing a needed service for the RIT alumni to locate and communicate with each other. Every one present, ten of us at that time, took out our checkbooks and wrote out one hundred dollars each, with promises of more as needed. We informally called ourselves the RIT Alumni Bay Area Group. I was asked to be the group leader.
After that fateful event we continue to have regular meetings, hosted in turn at the homes of some among group members: Ko Hla Min, Maurice Chee, Ko Myat Htoo, Ko Thein Aung, and most recently Dr Nyo Win. Did I leave out any one? Ah yes! Ko Myint Swe and San San Swe. All the while the membership continues to grow and our objective keeps on changing from support of the website to some vague dream of a future RIT alumni organization on a global scale and finally settled on a plan for RIT Alumni Grand Reunion at the beginning of the 21st Century. Ko Hla Min broached the idea to include Saya Pu Zaw Pwe as part of the Grand Reunion in keeping with the Myanmar custom of honoring one’s teachers. As our plan jelled we got carried away by our own excitement and started talking about holding the reunion before the end of the Year 2000. After all, ending one millennium successfully augers well for success in the next millennium.
Before we fully realized what we were up to we have found an ideal site, the Embassy Suites Hotel conference hall near the San Francisco International Airport, and found ourselves making a commitment for a definite date, 28 October 2000 and a attendance fee of fifty dollars, a modest amount to encourage maximum number of Alumni to participate. The minimum capacity of the conference hall is 200 seats and we were required to make down payment and sign a rental and service agreement based on 200 seatings. Our most optimistic estimate at the time was 100 attendees. If the attendance is low that means the Bay Area Group, as the Organizing Committee was not in force at the time, will have to make up the short fall. Which could amount to as much as five thousand dollars, or five hundred dollar from each group member. We hesitated a moment to reflect on what that means to us individually in terms of diminished spending power. But, in the end our attachment to RIT and the engineering profession, our sincere desire to meet the Sayas and class mates from whom we were separated for long over came us. We will accept the risks.
Thus was born the preparations in full swing for the Grand RIT Reunion and Saya Pu Zaw Pwe. Others must tell the rest of the story – of struggles, compromises, and elations along the way and from participants themselves what it means to be present at the defining moment in the history of RIT Alumni.
Allen Htay, RIT Alumni International – Bay Area Group RIT Grand Reunion and Saya Pu Zaw Pwe Organizing Committee
Saya Allen, Dr, San Lin and Hla MinClass of C58SF Bay Area RIT Alumni Group
Attended GTI for a while before joining the first ever 1st BE class in 1964.
MS from Stanford University
MBA from Pepperdine University
First career : Electronics Designer
Second career : Co-founder and CEO, QTC Management His sister (a medical doctor who had patents for processing “disability” claims) requested him to co-found QTC.
After private investors showed interest in his company, he “retired
Continued to lead a multiple-purpose career: (a) visiting the places of the world’s leading religions (b) incubating the projects of young professionals (c) supporting education (e.g. as trustee of University of California at Irvine) via Kay Family Foundation (d) maintaining [diverse] business portfolio (e) helping those in need (via Charitable Alliance of Burmese Americans) (f) continue paying back the metta and cetana of his mentors — as Golden Sponsor of RIT Grand Reunion and Saya Pu Zaw Pwes, Helen and Steeve Kay Health Care Fund for the RIT Sayas and Sayamas.
From the SPZP-2000 Archives
RIT Poet Laureate Ko Hla Min:
I must admit that I was suffering from a Monday morning “hangover”, having been intoxicated with emotional overdose over the reunion weekend [in October 2000].
Judging from the post-reunion emails I read, I am not alone. What a reunion!
By all measures, it was a success and did satisfy the alumni’s tremendous pent-up desire to reconnect with each other after many decades of separation. The dedication of the members of the organizing committee is second to none.
With the assistance of his lovely wife, Benny Tan devoted practically full-time to this project for several months. I had a first-hand experience to see how meticulous he was when he was designing the RIT T-shirt. It came out a winner!
I do appreciate the sensitivity the organizing committee displayed in making this event non-religious and non-political. Otherwise, it would have been very difficult for me to attend. The only regret is that I failed to locate the whereabouts of my buddy Ko Aung Min of Taunggyi (ME 70). I heard he went to Singapore, but so far my search has ended in “no find”.
Now that the grand reunion is over, everybody is slowly recovering from the “hangover”. The big question is who would go to Singapore in 2002, and how do we go about doing it?
Daw Khin Khin Aye taught us Chemistry in I.Sc (A) class at Leik Khone in 1963.
Rangoon Institute of Technology
We joined 2nd BE at RIT in November 1964. We had to take nine subjects including Chemistry.
RIT Chemistry
U Kyaw Tun was an early saya who taught Chemistry (e.g Paper Chemistry) at the Chemical Engineering Department. When RIT Chemistry was opened, Saya helped manage it.
Daw Thaung Khin taught us in 2nd BE. She left for Canada on a scholarship to pursue Doctorate.
Some Sayas and Sayamas
Daw Than Than (Spouse of U Kyaw Tun, GBNF)
Daw Win Win (later Professor at Magwe)
Daw May Chit
Daw Amar Sein
…
U Maurice Kyaw Zaw
U Pike Htwe
U Khin Maung Nyo (later Ph. D & author)
…
SPHS
Saya Cecil D’Cruz (GBNF) taught us Chemistry at St. Paul’s High School.
Brother Joseph (later Father Joseph, GBNF) showed some Chemistry experiments in the school laboratory.
Miscellaneous
Early native Professors at RU
U Po Tha (Uncle of Mech Professor U Aung Khin)
U Aung Khin (Passed away in Malaysia)
Dr. Ko Ko Gyi
Senior Sayas & Sayamas
U Khin Maung Myint & Daw Than Than (Passed away in US)
Donation of Saya Allen’s BooksSPZP-2000 Organizers
And many weekends spent away from your family as well? If you can then you probably are a member of the RIT Grand Reunion and Saya Pu Zaw Pwe organizing committee.
It all began one day several months ago when we met over lunch at Benny Tan’s home in Hillsborough. Ko Hla Min and Ko Khin Maung Zaw among the lunch party had started the RIT Alumni website and were receiving enthusiastic responses. Hearing that the duo were carrying on the project all by themselves we decided to throw in our moral and financial support to assure its survival, realizing that it was providing a needed service for the RIT alumni to locate and communicate with each other. Every one present, ten of us at that time, took out our checkbooks and wrote out one hundred dollars each, with promises of more as needed. We informally called ourselves the RIT Alumni Bay Area Group. I was asked to be the group leader.
After that fateful event we continue to have regular meetings, hosted in turn at the homes of some among group members: Ko Hla Min, Maurice Chee, Ko Myat Htoo, Ko Thein Aung, and most recently Dr Nyo Win. Did I leave out any one? Ah yes! Ko Myint Swe and San San Swe. All the while the membership continues to grow and our objective keeps on changing from support of the website to some vague dream of a future RIT alumni organization on a global scale and finally settled on a plan for RIT Alumni Grand Reunion at the beginning of the 21st Century. Ko Hla Min broached the idea to include Saya Pu Zaw Pwe as part of the Grand Reunion in keeping with the Myanmar custom of honoring one’s teachers. As our plan jelled we got carried away by our own excitement and started talking about holding the reunion before the end of the Year 2000. After all, ending one millennium successfully augers well for success in the next millennium.
Before we fully realized what we were up to we have found an ideal site, the Embassy Suites Hotel conference hall near the San Francisco International Airport, and found ourselves making a commitment for a definite date, 28 October 2000 and a attendance fee of fifty dollars, a modest amount to encourage maximum number of Alumni to participate. The minimum capacity of the conference hall is 200 seats and we were required to make down payment and sign a rental and service agreement based on 200 seatings. Our most optimistic estimate at the time was 100 attendees. If the attendance is low that means the Bay Area Group, as the Organizing Committee was not in force at the time, will have to make up the short fall. Which could amount to as much as five thousand dollars, or five hundred dollar from each group member. We hesitated a moment to reflect on what that means to us individually in terms of diminished spending power. But, in the end our attachment to RIT and the engineering profession, our sincere desire to meet the Sayas and class mates from whom we were separated for long over came us. We will accept the risks.
Thus was born the preparations in full swing for the Grand RIT Reunion and Saya Pu Zaw Pwe. Others must tell the rest of the story – of struggles, compromises, and elations along the way and from participants themselves what it means to be present at the defining moment in the history of RIT Alumni.
Allen Htay, RIT Alumni International – Bay Area Group RIT Grand Reunion and Saya Pu Zaw Pwe Organizing Committee
Editor’s Note :
Saya Allen is a founding member of RIT Alumni International and served as its President. In Memory of Saya Allen, Daw Mu Mu Khin has donated Saya’s books to the YTU Library and has sponsored scholarships to eligible YTU students.
On behalf of TBSA, please allow me to offer our condolences to you and your family on the passing of our inspirational woman, founder of Aye-Thet Scholarship Program, Dr. Khin Nyo Thet.
I was privileged to meet her occasionally and had a great time socializing with her. She was an amazing woman. Not only she was admired by me but many other people. Every time I met her, she offered me positive energy with encouraging words, her willpower with positive energy was way above many of us. Most importantly, she was a wonderful mom who can see the benefit of youth learning Theravada Buddhism is vital to our USA-born kids.
Thank you! Ma Ma Nyo. Thank you!
Many words I can add about her endlessly. I will miss her dearly.Please allow us to send you all our condolences, along with the best memories and sharing of our good deeds to her. May she rest in a better stage of being…
May she be on the path of Nirvana… We share all our merit dedicated to her. Sadhu…Sadhu…Sadhu….
With best regards, Daniel Bomya (U Thein Swe, President of TBSA)
Sad News
Dr. Khin Nyo Thet passed away peacefully, at her home in the San Francisco Bay Area, surrounded by her husband, Dr. Lyn Swe Aye, and her children, Mimi Thabyay Aye and Thor Wynn Aye, on May 3rd, 2021.
Born in Rangoon, Burma on Sept. 17, 1946 to Dr. Kyaw Thet and Daw Khin Khin Gyi, she is survived by her brother, Dr. Lyn Aung Thet – (Dr Khin Mae Hla) and predeceased by her elder brother, Lyn Maung Thet, and younger sister, Khin Aye Thet.
She grew up and was educated in Rangoon, with an interlude in the USA while her parents completed their postgraduate studies at Yale.She graduated from the Institute of Medicine II, Rangoon, and immigrated to the USA, where she specialized in Pediatrics.
She established a private medical practice in San Jose, California where over several decades, she enjoyed nurturing relationships with generations of patients. Fearless, honest, warm and generous, as a teenager she sang in a girl group on the radio, and she loved to light up the dance floor. She took up competitive tennis, and later pickle ball, leading her teams on to victory. She also loved hosting bridge and mahjong groups.
She helped many people, both professionally and privately. With her husband, she founded the Aye-Thet Scholarship Fund which sponsors an annual summer camp for children, focusing on Buddhism and Meditation at the Dhammananda Theravada Monastery in Half Moon Bay, California.
Given current size limitations on gatherings, a family-only service will be held at Skylawn Cemetery in San Mateo. A memorial service may be held at a future date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the
Theravada Buddhist Society of America (Aye-Thet Scholarship Fund), 17450 S. Cabrillo Hwy. Half Moon Bay, CA 94019
Tribute by Thor Wynn Aye
**Khin Nyo Thet passed away peacefully, surrounded by her husband, Lyn Swe Aye and her children Mimi Thabyay Aye and Thor Wynn Aye on May 3rd, 2021 in Foster City, California.**
We’re coming to the end now. We’ve said our I love you’s and have started saying our goodbyes, or if you like, our farewells and until-next-times.
But while I have you, let me say thank you for all your love, attention, lessons learned and patience along the way. Thank you for fighting all these long years to stay alive.
Cancer three times in one life? It just doesn’t seem fair. And well it’s not.
You’re a good person who has spent her life in the service of others. A caretaker and healer of our youth, as a pediatrician. A dedicated, dutiful daughter who sacrificed to care for her mother, no matter the cost. A leader and the center of our Burmese community, helping recent immigrants find work, help, housing and most importantly a connection to their community. You were the mom on the block that gave all my friends hugs, kisses, meals, rides and love. Everybody loved you. And how could they not? We were so lucky to have you.
You’re the most important person in my life. I cannot imagine a world, my world without you.
But in the same breath, I see how much pain and suffering you’ve already endured. I can see your energy draining and see that the things that once brought you happiness, are now belabored and joyless.
I’ll miss your brutally honest feedback, your big warm hugs, your delicious cooking but more than anything, I’ll miss your Unconditional love. No matter what I did, where we were or how long we’d been apart, I knew you’d be thinking about me and missing me too. You’d always support and love me, with no strings attached. I’ve been so blessed to have you in my life.
But Mom, if you’re ready to go. I’m ready to let you.
I’ll miss you every day for the rest of my life. Go in peace and with our love and blessings.
You’ll always be in my heart. I love you.
Birthday Celebration for Dr. Lyn Aung Thet
March 16, 2021
By Dr. Khin Mae Hla
Ma Ma Shirley and Ko Robert brought home cooked gourmet dinner to Ko Swe Aye and Ma Nyo’s house for Lyn Aung’s birthday celebration: yummy whole duck roast, French onion soup, ravioli pasta, steamed crab, shrimp scampi, and chocolate cake from the famous Ettores bakery.
After this most scrumptious lunch we all went to Bayshore park for a stroll and did some bird watching along the shore of the bay. The tide was up so not as many shorebirds were seen like on the previous evening we went by ourselves when there were so many feeding in the flats at low tide.
My favorite love duet was sung by Ko Swe Aye and Ma Nyo.
From Dr. Lyn Swe Aye
Thank you to all our friends for your unfailing support through the hard times, your kind words and condolences. Friday, when we laid our beloved Nyo to rest, was a sunny day. We had a quiet ceremony. In her life, she found joy and gave joy. Now, peace.
Messages
Desiree Tin :
Lynston, You are such a wonderful husband and so Nyo Nyo found joy and give joy. I’m sure she is resting in peace at a higher abode now. Sharing the merits of the good deeds on her behalf.
Bo Zaw Win :
Thadu Thadu Thadu
Yasmin Vanya :
My thoughts and prayers with you all during this sad time. Her kindness, generosity and beautiful smile will never be forgotten! Please take care Ko Swe Aye.
Peggy Nut :
Thank you to you, Mi Mi and Thor for the tireless care, love, etc you all provided through hard times. It was a joy to see Ma Ma Nyo smiling on the family trips. She is an exceptional human being for all that she did in her life. Everyone will remember MMN and miss her. We are glad that Mi Mi and Thor are living in same State to comfort you. Plus all your wonderful friends are in California are reachable.
Thethar M Thwe :
My warm thoughts are with you Uncle Swe Aye, MiMi and Thor, as you are passing through this difficult time. Please let me know if there is anything I can do.
Yin Mar :
Please take good care of yourself Uncle Aye. It has been a tough week for you. Auntie is an exceptional person and she will be missed by many. May her spirit rest in peace and may she be somewhere in this universe or at a “Kaung Ya Bone Yauk Ba Ze”. My thoughts and good wishes to you and your family.
Alison Hong Freeman :
Nyo was a special woman! We loved spending time with her. Sending our love to you, Mimi and Thor.
Mra Tun :
May she Rest In Peace.
Richard Myint :
Our thoughts and prayers have been with you and your family for the past week or so. Life will go on. Stay strong!
Winsome Tun :
She gave so much love and joy to family and friends close to her and she deserve peace in a higher abode. Thiri and I donated to the nunnery as well as to 25 old folks living on my Mingaladon estate, rice, oil, milk packets, cookies for Ma Ma yesterday. We already miss her dearly. I would like you, Thapyae and Thor to know that You can count on us whenever you need anything. Please treat us as part of your family.
Ye Hla :
Just as family and friends joyfully welcome home, loved one returns afar, their own good deeds welcome those that have performed them as they go from this life to the next! Dhammapada 220
She used to follow my post on Dhamma Birth and rebirth endless rounds, seeking in vain I hastened on find who framed this edifice Birth incessantly! What a misery အနေဂဇာတင်ဂါထာ
Than Than Hman :
My heartfelt condolences to Ko Swe Aye, Thor n Thabyay. May God bless you all with peace and comfort.
Marshall Moran :
Lyn, so sorry for your loss.
Sherlie Bwa :
Please take good care of yourself, Ko Swe Aye. We will get-together. We all love you.
Lay Khine :
No words can describe how sorry I am for your loss. Pleas Accept my Deepest Sympathy.
Alvin Oak Soe Kha :
Ma Ma Nyo will be very sadly missed. May Ma Nyo Rest in Peace. Full respect from me, Ko Swe Aye for being a dutiful, loving and supportive husband to Ma Nyo throughout the years.
Cynthia Tin :
Ma Nyo had meaningful life. Have no words how much I’m sad. Also no words to say how much I thank both of you.
Merrylin Zaw-Mon :
You are so right. She was a very special person that emanated joy and shared it with everyone. That’s why she was loved by many and will be forever missed. I am so grateful I got to spend precious time with you and her. It was a precious gift she left me with. Thinking of you and hope to see you in the near future.
Ye Gaung :
Our deepest condolences and thoughts are with you all for your loss! She was our big sister to our family and will be in our memory forever. May she R.I.P.!
Yi Yi Myint Rossiter :
Rest in Peace my dear Ma Nyo. I will miss you forever.
Connie Wu :
My condolences to you and your family, she was a warrior and will be missed!!
Aung-Win Chiong :
Dear KSA, Mimi and Thor, we’re thinking and praying for you all. Ma Nyo was a positive, wonderful and lovely person. Nice to see that you all are so close and caring towards one another. We shall always remember the great times we had at your home, singing, dancing filled with laughter and great foods. Love Winnie and Lam Peng
* Received a set from U Maung Maung Gyi (saya of my father). The wooden pieces had lead inside.
* Standard set with Plastic pieces
* Portable Chess set from my brother U Sein Htoon upon his return from 1960 ARAE Regatta in Colombo
* Virtual sets in Computer Programs
Chess Enthusiasts
* Saya Dawson (Burma Chess Champion) taught Mathematics at SPHS before opening his Private Tuition School. He taught Chess to his students and aspiring players. He is an organizer of Chess tournaments (e.g at YMCA).
His daughter Mary was among the top female players.
* Several doctors : Dr. Tin U (Children’s hospital), Dr. Tin U (TB hospital), Dr. Aung Nyein (Radiologist), Dr. Lyn Aung Thet (Joint 1st in Burma in 1964) …
* RIT Chess Club was founded by U Aung Than (EE69er), U Maung Maung (M72), U Thet Lwin (EE72) and several more alumni with some Soviet Lecturers.
U Tin Swan was Burma Chess Champion. U Maung Maung (Sin Gyi, Table Tennis Champion, C67) was also an excellent Chess player.
Computer Chess
* Professor Don Michie (Machine Intelligence pioneer) and David Levy (Programmer & Chess Master) had a friendly bet (of a year’s wages of David) if a computer program can beat David within 10 years. David won.
* Monty Newborn was an organizer of Computer Chess tournaments. Notable Champions include Belle (by Ken Thompson, co-inventor of Unix) and Deep Thought (by five Ph.D students from Carnegie Mellon University (CMU)).
* IBM hired three members of Deep Thought team and several Computer Experts to develop Deep Blue to challenge Gary Kasparov (World Chess Champion). Deep Blue was unsuccessful in the first attempt, but beat Gary Kasparov in the second attempt. IBM retired Deep Blue.
* Computer History Museum (CHM) at Shoreline, Mountain View, California had an exhibition on the History of Computer Chess.
CHM had a panel. I had autographs of the Panelists & Moderator.
Professor John McCarthy (LISP inventor, Time Sharing System)
Professor Edward Feigenbaum (Computer Expert Systems)
Murray Campbell (Member of CMU Deep Thought & IBM Deep Blue Teams)
David Levy (Programmer & Chess Master whose wager with Professor Don Michie led to the rise of Computer Chess)
Monty Newborn (Organizer of Computer Chess Tournaments)
HlaMin 