Aging & declining health had a toll on him and his spouse
Had diabetes for a long time without control / treatment.
His kidney began to fail around October 2010. Doctors recommended preparation for dialysis, which is minor operation on his vein / arteries on his hand, but he wanted to try alternative medicine.
UCC alumni set up a health care fund to help him, but he was either “Arr Nar De အားနာတယ်” or frail to do dialysis.
He lost memory and could not recognize his former colleagues.
His wife had limited mobility on her left hand. People in Yangon wanted her to go for therapy but it was not easy for them to visit therapists on their own.
U Kyaw Nyein (AFPFL)
U Kyaw Nyein
Minister, Home Affairs
Leader of Swe-Nyein Faction
Stable AFPFL (တည်မြဲ ဖဆပလ)
U Kyaw Nyein (BSPP)
Minister, Education
U Kyaw Nyein (USIS)
Invited us to use the USIS library
Third son of Myoma Sayagyi U Ba Lwin
U Kyaw Nyein (Franklin)
Younger brother of U Wah Kyu (Maurice’s father) & Saya U Win Kyaing
Offered me rides during my visits to Yangon especially to attend meetings for SPZP-2012, SPZP-2016, HMEE-2012, and to selected 69er Breakfast Gatherings.
Spouse is Sayama Daw Khin Swe Aye (Winnie, ChE70)
Younger sister is Sayama Dr. Khin Swe Myint (Physics).
Other Names : Ohn Gaing & Gaing Gyi
Matriculated in 1964 from St. Peter’s High School, Mandalay.
Admitted to 1st BE in November 1964.
Graduated with Mechanical Engineering in 1970.
Founder & moderator of the Google Group “Combined 1st BE Intake of 64 and 65”.
Maintains the GBNF list for the Class of 70.
Joined HIC (Heavy Industries Corporation).
Volunteer for SPZP-2012, SPZP-2016, SDYF, Shwe YaDu & HMEE, Reunion &Acariya Pu Zaw Pwe for the Combined 1st BE Intake of 64 and 65
Publication
U Ohn Khine and I compiled the CD Supplement for HMEE-2012.
Translated Section One of HMEE-2012 into English.
Summarized Section Two of HMEE-2012.
Co-authored “RIT Days” article with U Zaw Min Nawaday (EP70).
I edited their joint long article and published in “RIT Alumni International Newsletter”.
It was also reprinted in the Golden Jubilee magazine by the Combined 1st BE Intake of 64 and 65.
Wrote about the SPZP-2000 experience in the Post Reunion series.
U Myat Htoo (Right)NorCal RITAA
Founding member of NorCal RITAA.
Chair of BOD (Board of Directors).
One of the hosts for NorCal RITAA meetings. He would invite the attendees to take a boat ride on the nearby man-made lake. Would also arrange a karaoke session.
Past President of Burmese American Democratic Alliance (BADA)
President of Theravada Buddhist Society of America (TBSA) for a decade. Led the procession for the scattering of ashes of Sayadaw U Silananda into the San Francisco Bay near the Golden Gate Bridge.
Lost Neikan RIT
Wrote a parody on “Pyauk Sone Nay Thaw Neikban Bon” (the song by Sai Kham Leik and Sai Htee Saing).
LA Reunion
Played the Ukelele and sang the song described above at the 2015 Alumni Reunion in Los Angeles.
Ukelele
Donation
Donated Life Vests to 20 teachers in the town of Paletwa in Chin Special Division, Myanmar.
The teachers risked their lives daily crossing Kaladan river to teach children on the other side of the town.
One teacher was killed in a boat mishap in surging waters during heavy rains. A life jacket would have saved her life.
Golden Jubilee
On May 20, 2018, the BOD (Board of Directors) and EC (Executive Committee) members of NorCal RITAA threw a surprise party to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of U Myat Htoo (C68, Chair of BOD) and Daw Hnin Maung Maung (Ma Ku, “Nyima Lay”).
According to Saya, he was the youngest in his family and wanted a younger sibling (preferably a sister).
He found an innocent 9 year old neighbor (and family friend).
Matriculated from St. Albert’s High School, Maymyo in 1964.
Had a very high ILA (Intelligence Level Aggregate)
Admitted to the first ever 1st BE as Roll Number One.
Selected RIT Luyechun for the 1965 Summer Camp at Inlay.
His outspoken remarks about the Camp drew the ire of higher authorities.
Graduated with Electrical Power in 1970.
After working in the industry, he moved to the USA.
Studied Electronics in the USA
Added “Nawaday” to his name.
Shared his memories of RIT to the Google group of “the Combined Intake of 1st BE for 1964 and 1965”.
Ko Ohn Khine (M70)
Ohn Khine
Matriculated from St. Peter’s High School, Mandalay in 1964.
Took a combination of Science and Arts subjects
Had good ILA score to be admitted to RIT.
Graduated with Mechanical Engineering in 1970
Worked for Heavy Industries Corporation
Created and maintained the the Google group of “the Combined Intake of 1st BE for 1964 and 1965”.
Volunteer for SPZP-2012, SPZP-2016, HMEE-2012, HMEE-2018, Swel Daw Yeik Foundation and several RIT-related activities.
Gave me rides during my visits to Yangon.
Co-author
Filled the “missing pieces” in Ko Zaw Min’s accounts.
Ko Hla Min (EC69)
Hla Min
Matriculated from St. Paul’s High School in 1963.
Stood 7th in the whole of Burma
Received Collegiate Scholarship
Top in the Science Option of I.Sc.(A) examination
Admitted to the first ever 2nd BE in November 1964 as Roll Number One.
Selected Luyechun for the Inlay Khaung Daing Camp in the Summer of 1965
Graduated with Electrical Communications in 1969.
Started the “RIT Alumni International Newsletter” in 1989 and have maintained it for 26 years.
Administrator or Moderator of selected Facebook pages.
Own web site hlamin.com
Had the honor to edit the draft version of “Memories by Ko Zaw Min Nawaday & Ko Ohn Khine” which was first posted as Google Docs for the Combined 1st BE Intake of 64 and 65.
Published the edited document as a series of articles in “RIT Alumni International Newsletter and Updates”.
Introduction
Intakes in 1964
There were three intakes at the Rangoon Institute of Technology (RIT) when the new education system started in 1964. Eligible students were admitted to the 1st BE, 2nd BE and 3rd BE classes. They are also known as
Class of ’70 (1st BE Intake in 1964) Matriculates were admitted using the ILA
Class of ’69 (2nd BE Intake in 1964) Those who had passed I.Sc.(A) with Science Option were admitted in order of merit
Class of ’68 (3rd BE Intake in 1964) Those who had passed I.Sc.(B) with Science Option were admitted in order of merit
The RIT Rector was U Yone Mo and the Registrar was U Soe Thein.
The Class of ’70
It comprised of the first year intake students in 1964. There were 494 registered students, of which 67 were female. Most graduated in 1970. Some took sabbatical for a year or two. A few left RIT before graduation. The GBNF (Gone But Not Forgotten) reached 138 at the end of May 2025.
Matriculates entered the first ever 1st BE classes. ILA (Intelligence Level Aggregate) was used for the vetting of applicants. In the system, a score of 1 to 20 was assigned to map the marks for each subject. The ILA score (rather than the raw marks) was used to determine the eligibility of the students admitted to an institute.
Under the old education system, matriculates had to attend I.Sc. (A) classes. There were restrictions on the subjects taken at Inter classes to be eligible for Faculty of Engineering, Faculty of Medicine, etc. For example, one must pass the I.Sc. with at least 50 marks in Maths, Physics and Chemistry to attend the 1st Year Engineering Classes (3rd BE in the new system).
Under the new education system, there were no restrictions on the subjects taken in Matric exam. As such, many students who passed Matric with combined Science and Arts subjects and even those with pure Arts subjects were able to attend RIT. For example, Ko Ohn Khine passed the Matric exam with an odd combination of Maths, Chemistry and Geography.
Ivan Lee (M69) invited us — U Aung Myint (Saya, M69), U Sein Tin (Omega, M69) and I — to get together at his house in New Jersey preferably in May-June of 2015.
U Aung Myint & U Sein Tin had visited him on previous occasions. They could not make it to the 2015 mini-reunion.
Fred
Frederick Thetgyi (M69) joined the 2015 mini-reunion.
He drove most of the 1800+ mile trip. Ivan provided his Mercedes & gas.
Except for the rare occasion where his batteries went out (and had to be replaced), Fred took pictures at the mini-reunion and the trip.
He would appear only in a fraction of the photos, when someone else (Ivan, a waiter, or a stranger) offered to take the photo.
Memories
The photos can be grouped by location
New Jersey
NJ
Host: Ivan
Other hosts : Saya U Soe Paing & Daw Saw Yu Tint
Niagara Falls
Niagara
On the way to Canada
Taken on both the US side and the Canada side
Windsor, Canada
WindsorWindsor 2
Host : Sayagyi U Aung Khin
Toronto, Canada
Brief sight seeing
Ottawa, Canada
DAG
Host : Sayagyi Dr. Aung Gyi & Daw Emma
Quick trip to Thousand Islands
Massachusetts
TAG
Host : Dr. Tun Aung Gyaw (EC 69) & Daw Khin Maw Maw
Visit MIT & Harvard University
Connecticut
Conn 1Conn 3
Host : U Toung (EC69) and Daw Khin Myint
Visit Yale University
Ate at Pizza place frequented by the young Bill Clinton
Chose his name to be Aung San to rhyme with that of his elder brother Aung Than.
Aung San
Non-de-plume during the “Thirty Comrades” days was Bo Teza.
Editor of Oway Magazine published by RUSU
Aung San 2
Translated “Invictus”.
Translation
Was assassinated on July 19, 1947
Spouse : Daw Khin Kyi
Children : Aung San Oo, Aung San Lin (GBNF), Aung San Suu Kyi
Centennial in 2015
I wrote the following in 2015 for the Centennial Celebration ရာပြည့် of his birthday.
AUNG SAN (Feb 12, 1915 – July 19, 1947)
AUNG
A — Architect of Burma’s Independence; Signed the Aung San – Atlee Agreement. It led to the Nu — Atlee Agreement that gave Independence.
U — University Student Leader; Served as Chief Editor of the OwayMagazine. Refused to name the author of “Hell Hound Turned Loose”. Was expelled, resulting in the 1938 Universities Student Strike. Translated “Invictus”.
N — National Unity & Solidarity Proponent; Organized the Panlong Agreement / Pinlon Sar Choke Agreement was signed on February 12, 1947. February 12 is celebrated as Pyi Daung Su Nay / Union Day
G — Gone but not forgotten; General, who promised to step down after Independence. Gunned down at the tender age of 32.
SAN
S — Showed leadership & personal sacrifice; Wore torn uniforms. Ate Pebyoke ပဲပြုတ် and Nanbya နံပြား
A — Anti Fascist People’s Freedom League (AFPFL); ဖဆပလ Co-founder
N — National Planning Advocate; Displayed Nationalism and Patriotism by deeds and not words.
Aung Lwin : Academy award winner, Director, Script writer and Actor
Aung Lwin (C70) : Secretary of RIT Rowing Association
Aye Lwin
Aye Lwin (M69, GBNF) : Secretary of the RIT Mechanical Engineering Association; Secretary of RIT Annual Magazine; Attended 2015 Alumni Reunion in Los Angeles
Ba Lwin (Myoma) : Headmaster; Chief Boy Scout of Burma; Ambassador to Ceylon
Dr. Ba Lwin
Ba Lwin, Dr. (EE59) : He and U Myo Kyi (EE59) are the senior sayas (by seniority) at the EE Department
Lwin Aung, Dr. (A59) : Former Professor & Head of Architecture Department; Retired as Pro-Rector of YTU; Monk for several years
Dr. Lwin Aung
Lwin Mar Oo : Winner Inn, W Bistro
Lwin Swe, Bo (EE61) : Great Grandfather
Bo Lwin Swe
Lwin Oo : Dhamma friend
Maung Lwin : Former MI Chief and Ambassador to Germany.
Maung Lwin : Minister; Father of Toe Lwin & Soe Lwin
Maung Lwin : Minister; Founding member of NLD; Father of Su Su Lwin
Maung Lwin (Dawei) : Owned a schooner. Hla Moe (Han Shein), his second son, perished when the schooner sank.
“Maung Mae Thit Lwin Kyo So Pwe” : Welcome party for freshers
Mya Lwin
Myat Lwin
Min Lwin, Dr. (SPHS60) : Orthopedic Surgeon
Min Lwin (2nd from Right)
Min Lwin (Maurice Hla Kyi, SPHS64) : Fifth in Burma in Matric. Admitted as Roll No. (2) to IM(2)
U Myint Lwin (Standing)
Myint Lwin (Charlie, UCC) : Burma Judo Champion; German Diploma from IFL
Myint Lwin Thein, Dr. : His department offered DAG (Diploma in Applied Geology) courses.
Myo Lwin : RUBC
Myo Lwin : RIT, GTI Saya
Myo Lwin : Dhamma friend & organizer
Myo Lwin : Entrepreneur
Pyin Oo Lwin : Maymyo
San Lwin, Dr. (Ronald Lwin, GBNF) : RUBC Gold; Cardiologist
Saw Lwin : Director General at the Department of Higher Education
Saw Lwin : He and Su Su have three daughters: Hazel, Olive and May
Sein Lwin (GBNF) : Professor of Zoology
Sein Lwin (Raymond Ba Phyu, GBNF) : Vocalist. Perished in an air plane crash
Soe Lwin, Dr. : Dhamma teacher
Soe Lwin (EC66) : Railways
Soe Lwin : Physics, Luyechun
U Soe Myint Lwin
Soe Myint Lwin (EC68, GBNF) : Burma Selected in Soccer
Than Lwin (Eric Lwin, GBNF) : Economics Lecturer; Librarian at the Faculty of Social Science
Thaung Lwin (EC66) : RUBC Past Captain & Gold
Thein Lwin (EE, GBNF) : Saya at RIT & Singapore Poly; President of RIT Badminton Association
Thein Lwin (M71) : Phyu
Thet Lwin, Dr. : Statistics Saya
Thet Lwin : Registrar, RIT; Director, DHE
Thet Lwin (Henry, EC72)
Thet Lwin (EE, UCC)
Tin Maung Lwin (RUBC) : Brother of U Tin Maung Latt
Tin Maung Lwin (Kenneth Lwin, RUBC)
Tin Maung Lwin (TBSA)
Tin May Lwin (UCC, DCS, ICST)
Tint Lwin (Daniel, M69) : Retired as Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering from NTU; Attended SPZPs and took part in the Entertainment Program as a vocalist. Plays guitar with Albert Kyaw Min & Robert Win Boh at the 69er gatherings.
Wai Lwin (RIT)
Wai Wai Lwin (Emma Lwin, TBSA)
Win Lwin (M69) : Secretary of the RIT Hiking & Mountaineering Association. Climbed Mount Victoria with students from other Universities & Institutes.
HlaMin 