Saya U Tin Win (EC71) shared a photo from 2014 taken with his EP/EC classmates.
Saya U Tin Win wrote :
Ko Than Hlaing , Ko Than Hlaing, Ko Kyaw Win and our special friend Nyi Nyi Soe ( Sandayar ) from Myeik.
Editor’s Note :
U Tin Win worked at UCC before moving to FRI.
Civil
U Saw Lin (C71, GBNF)
He served as Secretary of the RIT Civil Engineering Association.
He was in charge of Technical Publications at MES (Myanmar Engineering Society). He mailed me a few MES publications.
During my visits to Yangon in 2012, he hosted a dinner gathering and presented me a Xeroxed copy of “RIT Cartoons”.
He also gave me a ride to the SPZP-2012 Preparatory Meetings.
I learned that he had medical problems, but he would give his best to make SPZP-2012 memorable. He wore several hats. He headed the committees for Logistics, Security and the Publication of the commemorative issue of Swel Daw Yeik Magazine and the re-printing of 23 Vintage RIT Annual Magazines.
He founded and moderated the Facebook pages for RIT Alumni.
Mabel (wife), U Saw Linn, Prof. A. Vathsala, Win Naing (Kidney Donor, brother), and Dr. Khaing Thanda Lin (daughter) on June 8, 2004
U Aye Win Kyaw (GBNF) Passed away in Pyin Oo Lwin Taught at RIT and BARB
U Aung Taught at RIT Worked in Singapore Author Wrote about U Wara (U Win Paing), U Aung Myint (Ko Kyant)
Mechanical
U Ohn Khine Admin, Google Group for Intake of 64 and 65 Volunteer for SPZP, SDYF, HMEE … Compiled CD Supplement for HMEE Book Translated Section 1 & Summarized Section 2 of HMEE Book
Benny Tan Chair, Working Committee, SPZP-2000 Multiple Golden Sponsor for SPZP Founding member of RIT Alumni International Past President, BAPS
Electrical
Steeve Kay (U Thaung Sein) Donated $200,000+ for RIT-related activities Multiple Golden Sponsor for SPZP Steeve and Helen Kay Health Care Fund for RIT Sayas and Sayamas
U Zaw Min Nawaday Luyechun for Inlay Camp in the Summer of 1965 Wrote Memoirs : RIT (1964 – 1970) with U Ohn Khine
Sad to learn from Yangon Dr. U Win Thein Medical group’s message that Saya passed away in Minhantha clinic today.
Funeral service will be tomorrow at 9 am Yangon time and our time tonight at 9:30 pm EST.
Ohn Myint
Saya’s Farewell Message (via Than Than Soe)
From Sayagyi Dr. Aung Gyi
Ohn Myint,
My wife and I are very sad to know that Dr Win Thein had passed away. He was one of the nicest persons that I have known in my life. He was a very good, decent person with goodwill to all and with malice towards none. I have never seen him getting angry with anyone. He was always helpful to me and my wife. I will miss him a lot, particularly as I made him a promise to look him up as soon as I arrive Yangon in my next visit to Myanmar. My wife and I pray that he will have a better next life. Please send our condolences to his family.
With warm regards Aung Gyi
From Saya Dr. San Hla Aung
Dear Ko Hla Min,
I am so deeply saddened to learn of one of my dearest friends Dr Win Thein’s passing away. He was also one of the finest persons I have ever known and I will always have very fond memories of him. I pray and believe that he will reach a higher level of abode in his next existence.
With metta, San Hla Aung
From Saya U Tin Htut
We are sorry to hear that Dr Win Thein passed away. I know him as a senior student at Faculty of Engineering on Prome Road and as a senior colleague at RIT. I saw him during my last visit to Yangon 3 years ago. Please convey my condolences to his family in Yangon.
Son of Saya U Kar (former Minister in the Ain Sount Ah So Yah).
Doctorate in Mathematics from Queen Mary College.
Succeeded Saya Dr. Chit Swe as Director of UCC.
During his tenure, the Department of Computer Science (DCS) and the Institute of Computer Science and Technology (ICST) were established.
Served as the first Rector of ICST.
U Ko Ko Lay
U Ko Ko Lay
Saya Dr. Chit Swe founded UCC with the help of Saya U Soe Paing, Saya U Myo Min and Saya U Ko Ko Lay.
BSCE and MSCE from Stanford University
Joined PWD
Transferred to UCC as Operations Manager
Served as Scientific Applications Manager, Professor of Computer Science at DCS, and Professor of Information Technology at ICST.
CO U Hla Min
He is my namesake. Those outside UCC were not aware that he was one year junior to me at St. Paul’s High School and RIT.
Graduated from RIT with Electrical Power in 1970.
Joined UCC as Chief Operator (CO).
Attended a post-graduate course in UK Met his beloved one doing Advanced Nurse Training
I became a “Tone Kyaw” when he passed away at the tender age of 30+. Two government training centers (where I had given guest lectures) planned to send “Lwan Thu Pann Chway” to me. My classmate U Moe Hein (Ajala) took leave to attend my funeral at the Kyandaw Cemetery.
U Mya Thein
Joined the Department of Commerce, Institute of Economics.
Transferred to UCC as Business Applications Programmer along with U Thein Oo.
Succeeded me as Business Applications Manager.
Taught at UCC, DCS and ICST
Also taught at the International Theravada Buddhist Missionary University (ITBMU).
U Kyaw Nyein
Joined UCC as Scientific Applications Manager.
Taught Numerical Methods and Numerical Analysis.
Played soccer and volleyball at UCC.
Served as a UNV in the Middle East . During an assignment, he and his team had to be relocated due to war/conflict in the area.
U Maung Maung Gyi
Joined UCC as Operator and served as Shift Leader.
Succeeded CO U Hla Min as Chief Operator.
U Soe Myint
Graduated from RIT with Mechanical Engineering in 1972. His M72 friends called him “Phone Gyi” since there were four Soe Myint in their class.
Joined UCC as Operator.
Since there was a M.Sc. (CS) student with the same name, he is called as “Sunlun Soe Myint” and “Soe Myint Gyi”.
Attended DAC.
Had training in US (on graphics)
Taught Mechanical Drawing and AutoCAD to ICST students.
Retired as Pro-Rector of ICST.
U Myint Aung
Office Superintendent in the Admin Division of UCC.
Volunteered to drive the E-2000 ferry.
Close friend of Ko Khin Maung Zaw’s father.
Daw Khin Lay Myint
Joined UCC as Secretary.
Became a Branch Clerk.
Daw Nge Ma Than
Younger daughter of U Aung Than (brother of Bogyoke Aung San).
Prisoner of Conscience
During the Adhamma era, she was detained along with her husband U Myint Swe (UCC) and her brother.
U Win Naing
Science Scholar.
Attended the 1st batch of M.Sc. (CS) with the Systems Option.
Shein Soe Myint
U Shein Soe Myint
EC83 batch.
Served in various capacities at UCC (Engineering, Teaching)
Passed away in Singapore while doing his Ph.D.
U Aung Aung Thein
Colleague of U Kyaw Zwar Soe.
Served in various capacities at UCC (Engineering, Teaching)
Younger brother U Kyaw Kyaw Thein is also ex-UCC.
U Thein Tan
Close friend of U Zaw Tun
Daw Hla Hla Win
Worked for Operations Division.
Spouse : U Than Tun
Attended DAC
Daw Khin San Hlaing
Also known as Cynthia
Joined UCC as Librarian
Attended M.Sc. (CS)
Was at Asian Institute of Technology (AIT)
Migrated to Australia
Daw Kyu Kyu Lwin
Served as “ad hoc” Tutor for Mathematics Department
Worked for the Operations Division
Attended DAC
Transferred to Social Security Board (SSB) Computer Section
Daw Win May Thaung
Cousin of Ronnie Hla Maung (my middle school class mate).
Saya Allen was leader of the San Francisco Bay Area Alumni Group, which established “RIT Alumni International” and hosted the First RIT Grand Reunion and Saya Pu Zaw Pwe in October 2000. His article “Brother, can you afford $500?” motivated Golden Sponsors for SPZP-2000. Saya was President of the RIT Photography Association.
U Win Thein
U Win Thein served as Vice President and/or Secretary of RIT Mechanical Engineering Association. He co-founded Set Hmu Thadin Zin & helped publish the Mech Engg Magazine. He organized extra curricular activities for the students.
U Saw Lin
U Saw Lin served as Secretary of the RIT Civil Engineering Association. He managed the Tech Publications of MES. He wore multiple hats for SPZP-2012 : Chief Editor of the commemorative Swel Daw Yeik Magazine, Reprint limited copies of 23 old RIT Annual Magazines, Managed Logistics & Security, … Despite his medical problems, he gave his best to ensure the success of the first True Home Coming.
U Aung Moung
U Aung Moung was a core Volunteer for SPZPs, Swel Daw Yeik Foundation, History of Myanmar Engineering Education project … He was a Right Hand Man for Sayagyi U Ba Than (e.g to connect with former colleagues and students). Several monks offered (with their own arrangement) to attend U Aung Moung’s last journey.
U Than Sin Myint
“Bo Than” and team provided shade to the attendees of SPZP-2016. U Wynn Htain Oo has posted photos and memories of SPZP-2016 in general and U Than Sin Myint in particular
Miscellaneous
There are probably more unsung heroes. It is difficult if not impossible to cover alumni spanning six decades or more.
Article by Saya Allen HtaySaya’s Allen’s books are now in YTU Library
Joined Faculty of Engineering in 1958 as Assistant Lecturer
MS from Harvard University
Retired as Lecturer
Founder and President of RIT Alumni International
Core organizer, SPZP-2000
In Saya’s memory, Daw Mu Mu Kin sponsored YTU Scholarships and donated Saya’s books.
Several posts about Saya
U Win Maung
Active as a “Lan Zin Lu Nge” Organizer
U Myint Soe
Matriculated from SPHS in 1962
Saya in 1968
U Aye Win Kyaw
U Aye Win Kyaw
Saya in 1970
Founding member and EC, BARB
Taught Astronomy at BARB and MARB.
Passed away in Pyin Oo Lwin. His family suffered a double tragedy. Saya’s son, who was visiting Saya at the clinic, passed away — with injuries caused by electrocution while taking a shower.
Dr. Chit Swe (Computer Pioneer for Burma) Message from Saya’s familyAZ’s post
Computer Pioneer for Burma
Sayagyi Dr. Chit Swe founded UCC with the help of Saya U Soe Paing, Saya U Myo Min and Saya U Ko Ko Lay in the early 1970s. Saya served as the Founder / Director of UCC. Saya retired as Rector of RASU.
Saya continued Teaching and Research in Thailand and Australia.
Saya passed away at the tender age of 89 in Sydney, Australia.
Last Journey for Sayagyi Dr. Chit Swe
Source : Ko Htay Aung (Victor)
Castlebrook Memorial Park Crematorium
Date : 28 November 2019
Time : 12 – 2 PM (Australia AEDT)
Location : 712 – 746 Windsor Road Rouse Hill NSW 2155 (Opposite Rouse Hill Shopping Center)
Hundreds (and may be Thousands) have expressed their sadness for the loss of Sayagyi in the newspapers and in the Facebook pages.
The following is a sample.
U Ba Than (M.A., Retired Director General, Thuwanna), Saya Chit’s classmate in 1947 at the first I.Sc.(A) class offered at Mandalay University and was a fellow teacher, is saddened by the loss of “Ko Chit Swe”.
Thin Char Mi Thar Su of the University of Yangon is indebted to Sayagyi Dr. Chit Swe for his dedication to the dissemination of Mathematics.
Myanmar Naing Gan Thin Char Ah Thinn offers condolences to the family members of Sayagyi Dr. Chit Swe (Retired Rector) and Sayagyi U Aung Sein (Retired Associate Professor).
ex-UCC Mi Tha Su (UCC Alumni) expresses their sorrow to the Founder of Computers and Computer Education in Burma. Members from Myanmar and beyond (Singapore, USA, Australia, …) can never forget Sayagyi and his passion for transforming his students from good to better and great professionals, educators, researchers, and socially responsible citizens of the world.
U Win Thein (Padamyar Winhtein) has updated Wikipedia to include Saya’s pioneering work.
Saya U Aung Zaw (AZ) spent five decades or so under the tutelage of Saya Chit. He organized mini-PZPs for Saya Chit. I attended one gathering in 2006.
UCSY Facebook page remembers Sayagyi as the pioneer Saya for Computer Education in Burma / Myanmar.
Saya Dr. Khin Maung Win wrote about Sayagyi in moemaka
Sayama Daw Si Si also wrote about Sayagyi
Dr. Swe Latt is named after his parents Dr. Chit Swe and Daw Khin Khin Latt. He had posted/ re-posted news and stories about Saya Chit.
UCC Alumni in Myanmar, USA, Singapore and Australia offered Garawa money for Sayagyi’s last journey.
Saya’s Seminar in 2013
Dear All, Kindly invite to participate the Seminar on “We must Build A Learning Organization” by Dr. Chit Swe, as per following schedule: Date: 21 October 2013 (Monday) Time: 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm Venue: Conference Hall , MICT Park , Yangon.
Born of parents U San Shwe and Daw Than Tin in 1933
Attended the East Rangoon Methodist School in Rangoon
Matriculated in 1949 from East Rangoon Methodist Stood Seventh in the First Division Received the Collegiate Scholarship awarded by the Government.
Attended I.Sc (A) and I.Sc (B) in (1949 and 1950).
Continued to study in BOC College of Engineering Took Mechanical Engineering.
Upon completion of Second year Mechanical Engineering, he was selected as a Government sponsored Scholar in the Spring of 1954 at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), USA.
Completed the Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemical Engineering in 1956.
Received his Masters of Science Degree also in Chemical Engineering in 1957. In his Masters course he was enrolled in the coveted Chemical Engineering Practice School.
Went back to Burma in 1957
Appointed Lecturer and Head of Department in Chemical Engineering.
In 1959 he married Daw Mya Mya Than, daughter of U Sein Nyo and Daw Than Yin.
Appointed full Professorship in 1966
Promoted to Rectorship in 1977.
Very active as a consultant from the academia in the design and construction of the two fertilizer plants (Sale and Kyun Chaung); the Sittang Paper Mill and other various state owned chemical plants.
Retired from the Rector’s position in 1988.
Because of his passion for teaching he could not stay retired for long and continued working in Thailand at the Rangsit University as a Professor. He is the only foreigner accepted in the Thai Institute of Chemical Engineering.
Passed away in 2020
Editor’s Notes
For SPZP-2012, Saya U Khin Aung Kyi gave an interview.
Chemical Engineering courses were initially offered with contract sayas from India.
When the then newly minted Saya taught, there was “testing of nerves” by some students.
After Saya mentioned that an Indian saya would be brought in if the noisy atmosphere persists. That solved the problem.
Sayama Julie Han was among the pioneer female engineering students in Burma/Myanmar.
Her contemporaries include Sayama Daw Tin Tin Ohn (Amy Thwin, T61, GBNF), Daw Yin Yin Kyi (T61), Ms. Pauline Reynolds (ChE61), and Daw Khin Than Nwe (Magaret Than Maung, T62).
She served as the Vice President of Theravada Buddhist Association of America (TBSA) and headed the fund raising for the Dhammananda Vihara (then based in Daly City, Northern California).
She passed away several years ago. Saya U Htin Paw (EE 58, Past President of TBSA, GBNF) donated to the new Dhammananda Vihara in Half Moon Bay in her memory.
She attended SPZP-2000. At that time, she stayed with her sister Daw Polly Han.
She wrote the following for SPZP-2000.
Sayama Julie Han
Here is a brief description of my years after leaving RIT.
I spent 6 years at Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina, getting a M.S. degree in Textile Chemistry and Ph. D. in Materials Science.
The companies that I worked for in chronological order are: Burlington Industries, CIBA-GEIGY, Sears Roebuck, Levi-Strauss, Raychem Corp, Tacan Corp, Johnson Matthey Inc, Xytronyx Corporation.
At present I am working as a sales manager for an optoelectronic company IPITEK, which is a division of Tacan Corp.
Since 1980 I left the field of textile engineering and have been working in opto-electronic field.
U Khin Maung Zaw (KMZ, EC76, Webmaster) set up three GBNF pages on the web site : (a) GBNF for Sayas and Sayamas (b) GBNF for Alumni (c) GBNF for Spouses
Several classes maintain their GBNF list.
U Aung Min (M69) and team maintain the GBNF list for the Class of 69. As of this time of writing, there are 115 members in the GBNF. Some may remember that U Aung Min’s Roll No in the last ever I.Sc.(A) class at Leik Khone in 1963 was B115, where B stands for the Science Option. In a sense, U Aung Min is a Tone Kyaw.
U Ohn Khine (M70) and team maintain the GBNF list for the Class of 70.
GBNFfrom Private Primary Boundary Road School (PPBRS)
Among my Primary School classmates, Myo Set (son of actor Tha Gaung Gyi) was the first to pass away. He perished in a car accident.
Myat Hla Sein (Former Head of Yoke Shin, RC2, son of Director U Chin Sein) was the last to pass away. He also perished in a car accident.
Most of the sayas and sayamas from our PPBRS days are GBNF
Further Reading : Memories of PPBRS
GBNF from St. Paul’s High School (SPHS)
Among my High School classmates, Min Thaw (Gilbert, SPHS63) is among the early ones to pass away.
Dr. Myo San (Freddie Ba San, SPHS63, Third in Burma) might be the most recent to pass away.
Further Reading : Memories of SPHS
GBNF from Rangoon Institute of Technology (RIT)
Among my RIT classmates, 115 (about a third of the class) are GBNF. U Aung Myint (Pet69, Saya, “Kyant Ba Hone” Creator)
It is sad and alarming to note that about 20 passed way in 2021 (many due to COVID-19)
Among the EC69ers, 3 (out of 11) are GBNF. They are U Kyaw Soe, U Aung Thu Yein (Brownie Way) and U Chit Tin.
Further Reading : RIT, GBNF Saya, GBNF Alum
GBNF from UCC, DCS and ICST
Saya Chit (Dr. Chit Swe, Founder Director of Universities Computer Center) passed away in Sydney, Australia in November 2019
Saya Lay (U Ko Ko Lay, co-founder of UCC, Professor at the Department of Computer Science and the Institute of Technology) had the longest tenure at UCC, DCS and ICST. He was the earliest among the UCC Founders to pass away.
Saya Dr. Tin Maung succeeded as Director of UCC and retired as Rector of ICST.
Saya Dr. Kyaw Thein succeed as Rector of ICST. He succumbed to Covid-19.
Further Reading : Memories of UCC
GBNF from Rangoon University Boat Club (RUBC)
Several Past Captains and Old Members are GBNF.
U Maung Maung Than Tun, Oldest among the surviving Past Captains, is the latest GBNF.
Further Reading : Memories of RUBC
Tone Kyaw
One should have Samvegha (sense of urgency) after hearing the sad news.
When my name sake Hla Min (Pauk Si, SPHS64, EP70, UCC) passed away in his mid-thirties, we were shocked since he seemed strong and did not wear jackets (mandated for UCC employees entering the Computer Room). He would often be seen in sport shirts. He passed away with a few months of being diagnosed with liver problem. He was not a drinker, but other causes inflicted his liver.
I became a Tone Kyaw when two government departments where I had given Guest Lectures on Computers and Applications tried to send me “Lwan Thu Pan Khwe”.
At the Kyan Daw Cemetery, my classmate Moe Hein (Ajala, ChE69, RIT Swimming and Water Polo) looked at me as if I was a ghost. He had come to bid me Good Bye.
HlaMin 