Mechanical Engineering from Rangoon University in 1960
Worked for JVC run by relatives. Read news about State Scholarship
Masters in Agricultural Engineering from Virginia Tech in the USA
Paid respect to Saya U Ba Than. Saya asked if he would like to join Agri Dept. (sub-dept of Mechanical).
Later moved to Thailand & USA
Books
Saya and I used to exchange books (dhamma and general).
He told me to keep the ones that I want.
He bought books. He got books when his dhamma friend Saya U Soe Kaw (Mining) passed away. He got books when a monastery undergoing renovation gave away the old stuff.
Saya’s books include Ludu Dawlove Ah Mar, Theikpan Maung Wa, Tha Ka Doe, and Kyemon U Thaung.
Ludu Daw Ah Mar
She took part in the 1936 RU Student Strike.
Spouse : Ludu U Hla (Writer & Journalist)
Many journalists & writers worked at Ludu Newspaper founded by U Hla & Daw Ah Mar.
Saya gave me the book written by Ludu Daw Ah Mar about notable people from Mandalay.
Daw Oo Zun (founder of the first Lu Oh Yone လူအိုရုံ) and Kyar Ba Nyein (Boxing & Checkers) are some of the Mandalay Thu မန္တလေးသူ and Mandalay Thar မန္တလေးသား featured in the book.
Book by Ludu Daw Ah Mar
Theikpan Maung Wa
U Sein Tin was an early student who took Burmese Honors.
Became ICS.
Co-founded “Khit San Sar Pay” with U Thein Han (Zawgyi) & U Wun (Minthuwun).
Wrote a journal during his study at Oxford University and published a book.
Wrote semi-autobiographical accounts featuring Maung Lu Aye မောင်လူအေး and Maung Lu Hmwe မောင်လူမွှေး
His collection of “Wut Htu Saung Par ဝတ္ထုဆောင်းပါးာwas prescribed as a Burmese text for high school.
Saya gave me the book written a book by Theikpan Maung Wa about pets.
Theikpan Maung Wa succumbed as a victim of a robbery (gone wrong).
Memories
Health & Fitness
President of RIT Thaing
Member of RIT Saya Soccer Team
Hiking & some Mountaineering (before having medical problems)
Had operation
Social & Religious Activities
Volunteer for constructing the pagoda & monastery at Taung Pulu Kaba Aye (first in the SF Bay Area & later at Boulder Creek)
Member, Kappiya Karaka ကပ္ပိယကာရက
Supporter, Team that compiled & converted Mogok Sayadaw’s tapes into CD
Donated $500 to YTU Library Modernization project
Donation
Used to have monthly လဖက်ရည် နဲ့ စကားဝိုင်း with Saya Allen Htay (GBNF), U Ko Ko Aye (GBNF), Ko Thein Naing (Patrick) and me.
Visit by Saya U Soe Paing (EE, UCC). They spent over a month on an Ocean Liner to return home after studying in the USA.
Visit by U Soe Paing
Saya and U Sein Tun were roommates at Mandalay University in 1955. They met again at a Fundraiser in Newark Pavilion on June 22, 2025.
Luyechun (လူရည်ချွန်) for 9th & 10th standards. Present at the first Luyechun Camp was Thinchar Chun (သင်္ချာချွန်) Kyaw Myint (later T72 grad, MARB President)
Metallurgical Engineering
Nyunt Htay 2
Graduated from RIT in 1973 with Metallurgical Engineering
Taught Metallurgical Engineering
Retired as Associate Professor
Wrote articles about the Department, Sayas & Students
Passion
Poetry, writing & editing
Pen name : Maung Nyunt Htay (Ah Htet Min Hla) မောင်ညွန့်ဌေး (အထက်မင်းလှ)
Nyunt Htay 3
Editor, RIT Annual Magazine
Chief Editor, Myanmar Mudita Sar Saung
Myanmar Mudita
Contributor, Poetic Art Series
Co-author, Collection of Swel Daw Yeik Poems
Book of Poems
Family members
Two daughters
Several “Myee” cats.
Health
Had a brush with Covid-19 and received support from the alumni and/or SDYF.
Recovered fully
Some sayas, sayamas and 9 Metallurgy alumni (including Maung Tun, 69er) succumbed to Covid.
Memories
Book Presents
Gave me the Myanmar Mudita Sar Saung
Gave me an autographed copy of “Swel Daw Kabyar Collection” by him and four RIT Poets : Saya U Moe Aung, Saya U Aung Myaing, U Win Myint (M72) and U Toee Maung.
2015 RIT Alumni in Los Angeles
Attended the gathering with Metallurgy Saya U Win Kyaw (Met71),
Other Metallurgy attendees include Saya U Thein Aung (Met72), Sayama Dr. Naing Naing Aung (Met91) & Ko Thiri Nyunt (musician).
Gathering at iNapa Winery
At iNapa Winery
Metallurgy sayas and Ko Thiri Nyunt attended the Lunch, Dinner & Entertainment at iNapa winery hosted by Gordon Kaung (M83) and Lillian (EC83).
The attendees paid respect to Sayagyi Dr. Aung Gyi. On behalf of Bagyee Myat Myo Myint, U Nyunt Htay presented a Pon Tu to Sayagyi.
Micro-gathering in 2019
During my visit to Yangon in late 2019, U Nyunt Htay hosted a micro gathering at Shwe Bae.
U Win Kyaw picked me and Saya U Ye Myint (ChE70) to attend the gathering.
He had an Exhibition at SPZP-2016 and donated to SDYF and YTU Library Project.
DonationGalleryWith U Myint Pe
Cartoons
He drew Cartoons.
Cartoon 1Cartoon 2
Design
He designed Covers for RIT Annual Magazines and Swel Daw Yeik Magazines.
Pon Tu’s
He drew Pon Tu’s of many sayas and sayamas.
He could not find photos of some sayas.
He had to stop when his painting materials ran out.
Pon Tu 1Pon Tu
Most Pon Tus were handed over at RIT gatherings (e.g SPZPs).
On behalf of Bagyee Myat Myo Myint, Saya U Nyunt Htay (Met73) handed over the Pon Tu of Saya Dr. Khin Maung Win (Met) to Daw Khin Than Nwe (T62, Saya’s spouse).
Pon Tu of Dr. Khin Maung Win (Met)
He also handed over the Pon Tu of Saya Dr. Aung Gyi to Saya at iNapa Winery gathering in 2015.
Saya U Kyaw Sein (M65, GBNF) archived Pon Tu’s. Saya U Tin Lin (ChE72) annotated the Pon Tu’s. He also grouped photos and posted them.
U Kyaw SeinU Tin Lin
Saya U Aung Myaing (ChE72) and team created a Musical Video using the Pon Tu’s and photos to pay homage to the Sayas.
Saya U Aung Myaing (ChE72) and Daw Gyn Yu (ChE72) provided some materials needed for the paintings. They also helped U Myo Myint during his medical check up in Bangkok.
Bangkok
He drew Pon Tu of his spouse as a Birthday present. He also drew Pon Tu of his three Myees.
Happy CoupleBirthday Present for SpouseMyee 1Myee 2
He drew Pon Tu of some alumni (U Wynn Htain Oo, Daw Lei Lei Myaing and me).
Pon Tu of U Hla Min
He was a Volunteer for Mg Mar Ga’s “Eradication of Starvation” project (before the Calamities).
Per Daw Lei Lei Myaing’s request, he donated to specified pagodas and monasteries.
Brother Anthony (Class teacher) : taught Mathematics
Saya U Sein (Burmese teacher, GBNF) : Father of Saya Dr. Soe Win (retired Rector of YUFL); Also taught Burmese in Matric.
Brother Felix (Brother Director, GBNF) : After nationalization, moved to Germany and passed away there. Thonegwa Kyaw Win visited him.
Saya U Nyunt Maung (Arts subjects teacher) : Taught Maths in Sacred Heart
SayaBeatson(Science subjects teacher) : Became a monk
Brother Xavier (English teacher) : Also taught English in 9th standard. After nationalization, moved to UK and presumably left the Order.
Dr. Khin Maung U
OPA DinnerKhin Maung U
First in Burma in the Matric exam in 1963; Won Collegiate Scholarship
Had perfect scores of 100 in Maths & Chemistry and a score of 99 in Physics. Grapevine says that one point was deducted from the initial score.
Multiple Luyechun at IM(1)
Due to changes in the Edu System, he had to do M.Sc. (Med Sc) locally. Top students from earlier years studied in UK as State Scholars.
His persistence paid off. Got Fellowships from UK and MD from Australia
Retired from Food & Drug Administration in the USA
Translator/interpreter for dhamma courses & meditation retreats.
Wore thick glasses since his younger days.
Classmate in Stds VIII(A), IX(A) and X(A). We were in different sections in the lower classes.
Dr. Min Oo (Kenneth)
Stood second in Burma in the Matric exam in 1963. Won Collegiate Scholarsip.
Some saw him reading a German book before entering the hall to take the Matric exam.
Scored distinctions in English, Maths, Physics and Chemistry.
Chose to study Maths at RASU.
Saya U Aung Sein (Maths) saw Min Oo get out of the Tutorial classes after a few minutes and yet had perfect score. He decided to give challenging questions for a Tutorial. Min Oo took longer time than the easier Tutorials, but most of the other students could not get a passing grade.
A Tuition Saya (now GBNF) challenged his students. “Ask your teachers to solve the problem. I will give you free tuition if you can provide the correct answer.” One student asked Min Oo, who was enjoying a card game. Min Oo scribbled the answer during the card game. The Tuition Saya was disappointed. He did not keep his promise to give the student free tuition.
Attended Tekkatho Luyechun Camps twice.
Min Oo (Seated Right)
In the Summer of 1965, he was chosen as Luyechun among second year RASU students.
In the Slummer of 1968, he was chosen as a Saya for the Tekkatho Luyechun camp.
As a multiple Tekkatho Luyechun from IM(1), Dr. Khin Maung U was present at both camps. He remembers Min Oo with a cigar trying to look like a Sayagyi.
Min Oo received two doctorates in Maths from Germany. He taught at McMasters University in Canada. He voluntarily retired in 2015.
He was one of the young students in the class, but also among the brightest.
Classmate in Stds VIII(A), IX(A) & X(A). We were in different sections in the lower classes.
He often visited his daughter in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Dr. Myo San (Freddie, GBNF)
Khin Mg Zaw, Myo San, Khin Mg U
Stood third in Burma in the Matric of 1963. Won Collegiate Scholarship.
He had studied phonetics. He had read lots of English books.
He scored distinctions in English, Maths, Physics and Chemistry.
He was older than us. That might have given him a slight advantage in the early years.
He gave me a quiz. “How do you pronounce GHOTI?” I gave an answer which he corrected as “FISH”. He had read George Bernard Shaw, who posed the quiz as an example of eccentricity in English. GH is phonetically equivalent to F as in ROUGH. O is phonetically equivalent to I as in WOMAN. TI is phonetically equivalent to SH as in ATTENTION. Thus, GHOTI is phonetically equivalent to FISH.
He became a surgeon, but the stress caused him to take early retirement.
Sadly, he passed away.
Classmate in Stds VIII(A), IX(A) & X(A), We were in different sections in the lower classes.
Collegiate Scholarship Holders
In 1963, students from private schools had to be in the Top Forty to be eligible for Collegiate Scholarship.
SPHS had ten students in the Top Twenty. Min Oo studied Maths. Hla Min, Maung Maung Kyi & Aung Thu Yein studied Engineering. Khin Maung U, Myo San, Nyunt Wai, Thein Wai, Aung Kyaw Zaw & Khin Maung Zaw studied Medicine. Myo San, Maung Maung Kyi and Aung Thu Yein are GBNF
First : Dr. Khin Maung U (Medical Researcher, FDA, USA)
2nd : Dr. Min Oo (Maths Professor, McMasters University, Canada)
3rd : Dr. Myo San (Surgeon, GBNF)
4th : Dr. Nyunt Wai (Physiology Professor in IM & Malaysia)
5th: Dr. Thein Wai (Moved to USA)
7th: U Hla Min (Lifelong Learner; Software Engineer, Silicon Valley)
9th: Dr. Aung Kyaw Zaw (Specialist, Base Military Hospital)
11th : U Maung Maung Kyi (Dip. Ing in Pulp & Paper, Wales, UK, GBNF)
13th : U Aung Thu Yein (EC, Schlumberger, GBNF)
17th: Dr. Khin Maung Zaw (Medical Doctor, UK)
SPHS63
In the group photo
Seated (L to R) : Min Oo, Khin Maung U, Myo San (GBNF)
Paulians — Myo Nyunt (Harry), Atom Hla & team — offered soon to Sayadaw
Sayadaw BeatsonPaulians offering Soon
La Min
Nyunt Wai (Victor)
Sayadaw Beatson
Nyan Taw (Dicky)
Hla Min
Than Win
Aung Kyi (Arthur)
Sein Nyunt (Swe Set)
Classmate in Stds IV(D), V(D) & VI(D)
Shared names & status of former classmates. Several are GBNF. Hla Myint (Snow Makeup), Maung Maung Thaung, Sonny Yone Sein, Sydney Khant, Tin Tun are some who have passed away
450+ Matriculates were admitted to 1st BE in November 1964 based on ILA (Intelligence Level Aggregate).
Steeve Kay (Thaung Sein, EC70)
Steeve hosted a Reunion & PZP for the Combined 1st BE Intake of 64 and 65
Admitted as Roll No. (8) to 1st BE in Nov 1964.
Graduated with EC in 1970
Moved to USA. An immigration officer spelled his name as Steeve instead of Steve. He kept the name with the variant unconventional spelling.
Masters from Stanford University
Designer of Power IC Chip
Per his younger sister’s request, co-founded QTC
MBA from Pepperdine University
QTC was bought by an investment company. Steeve became a multi-millionaire
Established Kay Family Foundation. Steeve became an outstanding philanthropist.
He never forgot his roots, his alma mater, his mentors and his friends.
A short biography — summarized as three dreams — was published by the Combined 1st BE Intake of 64 and 65, and also in “RIT Alumni International Newsletter”.
Details can be found in the commemorative issue celebrating the 25th Anniversary of the founding of QTC.
Three Dreams of Steeve Kay
Steeve Kay First Dream of Steeve KaySecond and Third Dreams of Steeve Kay
Team Builder
40th Anniversary of arrival in the USA
In 2011, Steeve hosted a gathering to celebrate the 40th anniversary of his arrival in the US. The gathering was coordinated by his daughter Elanor. She arranged a visit to Teehub (which provides incubation for aspiring innovators).
Attendees include :
Chris Lee, Dr. (EE59) & spouse
Sam Chin (ChE62) & spouse
Henry Khoo (EC67)
Hla Min (EC69) & spouse
Benny Tan (M70) & spouse
Zaw Min Nawaday (EP70) & spouse
Htin Aung (Richard, M70)
Zaw Htun, Dr. (BDS) & spouse
Benny, Zaw Min & Richard were Steeve’s classmates from RIT.
Henry picked up Steeve on his arrival in San Francisco, California, USA.
Saya Chris Lee, Sam Chin and Dr. Zaw Htun were active in the Burmese American organizations in Southern California.
QTC
His younger sister Dr. Lay Kay had patents related to the medical and legal processes to handle disability claims. She requested Steeve to co-found QTC and serve as CEO.
Two decades later, QTC was bought by a group of investors making the two siblings multi-millionaires.
They did not forget their roots. Steeve set up the Kay Family Foundation. His sister set up the B K Kee Foundation in memory of her mother. Their foundations have provided support for education, medical research, areas inflicted by disasters (e.g. Cyclone Nargis) and much more.
Aspirations & Actions
Steeve took time to trace his roots. He also joined expeditions to visit the holy sites of Four Religions.
He is a Trustee and/or Board Member of several US universities.
He is a Multiple Golden Sponsor for the SPZPs. He set up the “Steeve and Helen Kay Health Care Fund for RIT Sayas and Sayamas”. He hosted a delegation from the Ministry of Science and Technology to visit selected universities and research institutions in California.
There were some proposals that did not materialize. He offered to set up a Computing Laboratory and promote Leapfrogging Technology for engineering sayas and students in Myanmar. He offered to provide air fare and expenses for Sayagyis willing to share their experience in Myanmar. He requested some support from the Myanmar side (e.g. taking care of the security and maintenance of the Laboratory and providing accommodation for the visiting Sayagyis), but due to the bureaucracy of the then authorities, the proposals were not materialized.
When his health started to decline, he could not take long trips or wait too long for responses to his proposals. He requested the balance of his Health Care Fund to be transferred to Swel Daw Yeik Foundation.
He delegated his children to run KFF and his enterprise. He still has desires to help his beloved home land. “The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
2015 Alumni Reunion in Los Angeles, USA
Kay Family Foundation provided $30000 for the Alumni Reunion. Steeve sang Shwe Mi during his presentation.
LA 2015
Sponsorships
He provided the seed money for holding the First RIT Grand Reunion and Saya Pu Zaw Pwe (SPZP-2000) in San Francisco. California, USA in October 2000.
He became a Multiple Golden Sponsor of SPZPs.
He established the “Steeve and Helen Kay Health Care Fund for RIT Sayas and Sayamas”. The balance fund has recently been handed over to Swel Daw Yeik Foundation.
He and Kay Family Foundation donated US $200,000+ for RIT-related causes.
He hosted several gatherings in the USA and Yangon.
U Zaw Min Nawaday (EP70)
Zaw Min entered 1st BE as Roll Number One (Top student). He was selected Luyechun for Inlay Khaung Daing Camp in the Summer of 1965.
In the USA, he studied Electronics and also changed his name to Zaw Min Nawaday.
He was the main author of the article covering the six years at RIT. U Ohn Khine was the co-author.
The article was first posted in the Google Group for “Combined 1st BE Intake of 64 and 65”. I edited the article.
The revised versions have been published in (a) the Golden Jubilee Magazine for the combined group (b) RIT Updates and (c) hlamin.com website
Benny Tan (Tan Eu Beng, M70)
Benny beside Steeve’s picture
Founding member of RIT Alumni International
Hosted meetings of the San Francisco Bay Area Alumni including the one that led to the formation of RIT Alumni International
Wore multiple hats for SPZP-2000 — Golden Sponsor; Co-chair of the Working Committee; Designer of SPZP Banner, commemorative Mug, Clock & T-shirt
Multiple Golden Sponsor for SPZPz and for his class gatherings.
Fundraiser Kyan Yay (Sugar Cane Drink) Htamane Food & Desserts
BAP Booth selling Sugar Cane Drink
Annual Dinner & Entertainment
Trips
Helped 2015 RIT Alumni Reunion in Los Angeles
2015 Reunion 12015 Reunion 22015 Reunion 3
Active in Activities sponsored by SCBA (Southern California Burmese Associations)
Notes
Many members are RIT alumni. Some volunteered for SPZP-2000 held in San Francisco.
U Aung Khin (EP68) is Past Vice President
James Shwe (M76) is a Donor and EC.
U Khin Maung Lay (Henry) served as Emcee for BAPS gatherings and 2015 Alumni Reunion. He was Secretary of RIT Track & Field Association. He represented RIT in Soccer, Rowing and T&F. He loves Cooking.
I attended BASES gatherings as Guest of EC and/or Saya U Tin Htut.
Mra Tun (UCC, TAMPS) and Ricky Zaw are guitarists & vocalists. Ricky’s sister is Nyunt Nyunt Zaw (T68, GBNF).
2015 Reunion
NorCal RITAA invited selected BASES EC to the gatherings.
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
Editor’s Notes
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)
Served as Captain of RUBC as a student, and later as a Saya Administrator.
Organizer of RUBC Jubilee and Anniversary regattas.
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).
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.
Financial Controller for the 2015 RIT Alumni Reunion in Los Angeles
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.
HlaMin 