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  • M69er

    M69er

    by Hla Min

    Updated : May 2025

    The Mechanical Engineering Department had two sub-departments:

    • Agricultural Engineering
    • Automobile Engineering

    Major Gatherings of 69ers

    The 69er had several major gatherings:

    • 30th Anniversary Gathering in 1999
    • 40th Anniversary Gathering in 2009
    • Golden Jubilee of Admission to RIT in 2014
    • Golden Jubilee of Graduation in 2019

    40th Anniversary Gathering in 2009

    Group photos were taken at the gathering.

    Several sayas and alumni in the Mech Group photo are GBNF.

    • Saya S. Kyaw Aye
    • Saya S. Arya
    • Saya U Soe Lwin
    • Saya U Han Tun
    • Yi Pinn (Maung Maung Kaung)
    • Soe Win
    • Myint Sein
    • Khin Maung Gyi
    • Thein Maung
    • Chit Pe
    • Aye Lwin
    • Myint Thein (Kabar)
    • Tin Tun

    Aung Min

    • Chair, 69er Health Care Fund
      Maintains the 69er GBNF List
    • Organizer, 69er Gatherings
    • Organizer, Paying respect to Saya U Ba Than around Saya’s birthday (October 2nd).
    • Photo taken at a gathering with Fred Thetgyi (M69)

    Some M69ers

    Aung Myint

    • Taught at RIT and Singapore Polytechnic
    • After retirement, resided mostly in New Zealand

    Aye Lwin (GBNF)

    • Secretary, RIT Annual Magazine
    • Secretary, RIT Mechanical Engineering Association
    • Attended 2015 RIT Alumni Reunion in Los Angeles

    Charlie Aung (Chit Aung)

    • MEHS Alumnus
    • Brother : Stanley Aung (EE63)

    Chit Pe (GBNF)

    • Succumbed to COVID

    Chit Po Po (GBNF)

    • Rowed for RIT
    • Harpist

    Daniel (Tint Lwin)

    • Attended SPZPs starting with SPZP-2000 in the San Francisco Bay Area, California, USA
    • Organizer and Entertainer, Gatherings in Singapore (Thingyan, PZP)
    • Guitarist ad Vocalist
    • Retired Associate Professor, NTU

    David (Myint Thein)

    • Alumnus of St. Columban’s High School, Bhamo
    • Member of RUBC (Cox: Dicky / Win Naing)
    • MOGE

    Dicky Tan (Win Naing, GBNF)

    • Represented RIT in Rowing
    • Passed away in Singapore

    Frederick Thetgyi

    • Moved to Philadelphia, USA
    • Attended RIT-UCC Gatherings in New Jersey
    • Drove most of the trip to Canada and East Coast of USA (organized by Ivan)
    • President of MASTAA

    Hla Kyaing

    • Represented RIT in Swimming and Water Polo
    • Had a consulting / contracting firm in the SF Bay Area

    Htay Aung

    Htay Aung
    • Burma Selected in Water Polo (1969 SEAP Games)
    • Secretary, RIT Swimming and Water Polo
      Won Gold medal for 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, 1500m and Crosslake
    • Spouse: Than Than (Asian Games Champion)

    Ivan Lee (Khin Maung Oo)

    • Life time Platinum for Bridge
    • Major Donor, 69er Health Care Fund
    • Golden Sponsor, SPZP-2000 and SPZP-2007
    • Host, RIT-UCC Gatherings in New Jersey
    • Founder and CEO, MASTAA
    • Organized two trips to Canada to pay respect to Saya U Aung Khin and Saya Dr. Aung Gyi

    Kenny Wong

    • 6th in Burma in the Matriculation of 1963
    • Moved to California
      Worked briefly in Malaysia as Engineer and Missionary



    Khin Maung Aye

    • Pen name: Maung Hmutt

    Khin Maung Gyi (GBNF)

    • Succumbed to Covid

    Khin Maung Lay

    • Need info

    Khin Maung Tin

    • Taught at RIT and Maritime University

    Khin Than Myint Tin (Margaret)

    • Represented RIT in Track and Field
    • Selected RIT Luyechun
    • Spouse : Kyi Win

    Kyaw Nyunt (GBNF)

    • Member of RIT Tennis Team that won the Inter-Institute Trophy

    Kyi Win (Chan Nyein)

    • Spouse : Khin Than Myint Tin

    Kyin Lwin

    • He is now GBNF

    Mehm Aye Chan (Ohn Maung)

    • Taught at RIT
    • Seafarer
    • Company/Agency for Seafarers
    • For his 80th birthday, hosted the 69er Breakfast Gathering and donated K10 Lakhs to 69er HCF

    Myat San

    • Need info

    Myint Aung

    • Nickname: Minthagyi

    Myint Sein (GBNF)

    • Member, RIT Badminton Team that won the Inter-Institute Trophy

    Myint Swe

    • Need info

    Myint Thein (Kabar, GBNF)

    • Organizer, 69er HCF

    Nay Win (GBNF)

    • Alumnus of PPBRS and MEHS
    • Taught at a Polytechnic in Singapore

    Saw Law La Htwe

    • Need info

    Sein Tun

    • Seafarer

    Sein Win

    • Need info

    Soe Win

    • Need info

    Than Hlaing

    • Need info

    Than Myaing

    • Musician (Violin)

    Thein Maung (GBNF)

    • Succumbed to Covid

    Tin Aung Win (Oscar)

    • Organizer, HIC Zoom Meeting
    • Photo taken at Graduation with his father

    Tin Htut (Harry)

    • Pen name: Mon Yu
    • Hobbies; Music, Tai Chi

    Tin Htut

    • Seafarer

    Tin Maung Lay (GBNF)

    • Moved to California
    • Worked for assignments in Middle East

    Tin Myint (John T Lee, GBNF)

    • Luyechun for 4th BE
    • Represented RIT in Table Tennis
    • Spouse : Lyo Kyin Sein (Mabel)

    Tin Shein

    • Represented RIT in Chinlon

    Tin Tun (GBNF)

    • Old Paulian (SPHS63)
    • Secretary, RIT Thaing Association
    • Taught to seafarers

    Walter (Ngwe Soe)

    • UTC
    • Guitarist

    Win Htein (GBNF)

    • Helped run his family business (e.g trucking)

    Win Lwin

    • Secretary, RIT Hiking and Mountaineering Association
    • Represented RIT in the All Institutes Expedition to Sarameti.

    Ye Kaung

    • Need info

    Yi Pinn (Maung Maung Kaung, GBNF)

    • Entrepreneur in Dawei
    • Spouse succumbed to Covid
    • A year later, he succumbed to Covid
  • Neikban

    Neikban

    by Hla Min

    Updated : May 2025

    Neikban Zaw

    Neikban

    • It is the Burmese term for Nibanna (in Pali) and Nirvana (in Sanscrit).
    • It is translated as “Liberation” or “Enlightenment”.
    • Some associations for Dhamma activities are known as “Neikban Zaw Ah Phwe”.
      The volunteers for Dhamma activities often call themselves “Neikban Zaw”.

    Neikban Zaw

    It is the pen name of my beloved spouse. She wrote articles for Dhammananda Newsletter.

    • A Question and an Answer
    • Ko Seik Kyan Mar Yay
    • Wut Hmar Ah Myair Nga Yair Ah Pa
    • Doctor turned patient
    Article by Neikban Zaw
    Article by Neikban Zaw

  • Kyaw Min (T69)

    by Hla Min

    Updated : May 2025

    Sad news in 2019

    Ko Aung Min (M69) wrote :

    Dear friends of RIT69ers,

    I am quite saddened to inform you that Ko Kyaw Min (Tex69) passed away at 3 / 30 pm today (3 August 2019) at Mandalay. He had been paralyzed for about 10 years. Daw Linn Linn Aung of Singapore recently supported him in some ways while she was here .
    May his soul Rest In Peace
    GBNF is now 89
    TAKE CARE ALL

    Aung Min (M69)

    Ko Tin Aung Win (M69) wrote :

    We will follow you one day, my dear friend Ar boung Ni.

    Ma Nyunt Nyunt Wai (Millie, T69) wrote :

    So sad to hear about Ko Kyaw Min. He was my thesis partner in final year. Never heard or met him after our convocation. One of us has gone. May his soul rest in peace!

    RIT 69ers FB Page

    The page has 20+ comments for Ko Aung Min’s post.

  • RIT69ers

    RIT69ers

    by Hla Min

    Updated : May 2025

    Sai Kham Pan

    Kham Pan
    • Burma Selected for Badminton.
    • National ranks: No. (1) in Doubles. No. (2) in Singles.
    RIT Badminton 1
    RIT Badminton 2
    • RIT Badminton won Inter-Institute Trophy. Myint Sein and Bishnu Shahi are now GBNF.

    Burma Selected Couple

    Than Than & Htay Aung
    • Htay Aung represented Burma in Water Polo at the 5th SEAP Games in 1969.
    • Than Than won Gold Medals at SEAP Games and Asian Games.

    Hla Min

    • Received Alumni Appeciaton Award three times
    • First time : Oct 2000 at SPZP-2000
    SPZP-2000
    • Second time : Aug 2016 at Soon Kwyay Gathering at Half Moon Bay
    Award 2
    • Third time : Sep 2016 at Annual Dinner of NorCal RIT AA
    Award 3

    U Han Sein (A Pho Gyi)

    • RIT Selected for Swimming, Water Polo, Diving and Basketball
    Han Sein
    • Became a Tone Kyaw when he was inadvertently listed as GBNF in the 69er Contact List (in 1999).
    • He was sentenced to 20 years by a kangaroo court (along with Dr. Aung Khin Sint and Ma Thidar – Sanchaung).
      He was released after 17 years.
    • He was a Thet Kyee of Latha Township.
    • He took photos at the 69er gatherings and distributed them to selected attendees.
    • He succumbed to Covid

    U Ngwe Tun (Tun Tun)

    Ngwe Tun
    • Every month, he offers Garawa money to Ashin Ukkamsa (Victor Aung Chaw) and Ashin Pannagavesaka (Bobby Myo Tun) in memory of his beloved spouse.
    • He offered to host the 69er breakfast gathering for September 2022, but the gathering did not take place.
      Apology was offered by U Aung Min and team.

    U Khin Maung Win (Roland)

    Roland (Center), Cyril (Right)
    • He was known for his debating skills.
    • He also competed in Scrabble tournaments.

    U Sein Myint (K K Wong)

    Sein Myint (Right)
    • He represented RIT in Swimming, Water Polo and Rowing.
    • He is a major Donor for 69er HCF and EE69er HCF.
    • He spends time in Singapore, California and Myanmar.

    U Than Hla (Cyril)

    • Left before graduation to study overseas

    U Tin Aung Win (Oscar)

    Oscar
    • He is a Moderator of RIT Updates FB group.

      He uses Zoom to keep in touch with selected 69ers and HIC Colleagues.
    • He gave me rides to attend 69er gatherings.

    U Tin Htut (Harry)

    U Tin Htut ( Harry)
    • Senior 69er
    • Retired author
    • Tai Chi, Music

    Albert Kyaw Min

    Albert Kyaw Min
    • President (AGPPI)
    • Guitarist & Vocalist along with Daniel Tint Lwin (Singapore) and Robert Win Boh (Australia)

    Gathering in Singapore

    • Nay Win (GBNF)
    • Win Boh / Robert– Australia
    • Yi Yi Khaing / Vilma
    • Minn Aung / Hla Thaung
    • Win Naing / Dicky (GBNF)
    • Tint Lwin / Danny — retired Associate Professor from NTU
    • Aung Myint — retired from Singapore Polytechnic
    • Kyaw Minn / Ei Kun

    Mini-gathering

    • Tint Lwin / Danny
    • Sein Myint / K K Wong
    • Aung Myint & spouse
    • Myint Maung

    Update

    • Many 69ers have less or no time for their hobbies. e.g U Tin Maung Aye (Accordion)
    • About 40% of the 69ers are GBNF. 20+ passed away (within the past two years; mostly due to Covid)
    • Some have medical problems.
  • Inlay

    Inlay

    by Hla Min

    Updated : May 2035

    Visits

    • Visited Inlay Lake in the Shan States four times.
    • My first visit was as RIT Luyechun (Outstanding Student) to the Inlay Khaung Daing Camp in the summer of 1965.
    Inlay 1
    Inlay 2
    • My second visit was as a guest of Peter Pe (SPHS63), whose cousins (including a medical doctor) live in Inn Paw Khone in Inlay Lake. Ko Maung Maung Aye (SPHS63, GBNF) also joined the trip.We also saw the Phaungdaw-u Festival.
      I later wrote a poem “Phaungdaw-u Festival”.
    Poem
    • My third trip was via a Tour Company which arranged a Tour Guide, a private boat and a night stay at a hotel in the Lake. The photo shows a rainbow in the background.
      Sad to note that there were water & drainage issues in the Inlay Lake area.
    Third trip to Inlay
    • My fourth trip was with PSA (Professional Speakers Association). One hotel in the area provided accommodation for the group. A PSA Lecturer conducted a training session for the Hotel manager and selected employees.
  • Dr. Htay Lwin Nyo

    Dr. Htay Lwin Nyo

    • Son of Col. Khin Nyo.
    • Brothers : Myint Lwin Nyo, Kyaw Lwin Nyo and Aung Lwin Nyo.
    Htay Lwin Nyo (Standing)
    • He matriculated from St. Paul’s High School in 1968
    • He was admitted to 1st BE as Roll Number 1.
    • He was selected as RIT Luyechun.
    • Graduated among the top of the EP74 class.
    • Studied M.Sc. (Computer Science) at UCC (Universities’ Computer Center)
    • Received Ph.D. in EE from Syracuse University, New York, USA.
    • Last Job: Part-time Professor at SJSU (San Jose State University), California, USA.

    Last Journey

    • I was honored to push the incinerator, and later to scatter the ashes in the ocean near Santa Cruz
    • I wrote about his Sea Burial for Burmese American Professional Society (BAPS) Newsletter.
    Newsletter
    BAPS Newsletter
    • U Khin Maung Zaw (KMZ, EC76) set up special web page for HLN. My poem HTAY LWIN NYO was also posted there.
    • There was no next-of-kin of HLN in the USA. KMZ remembered that Kyaw Zwa Than (Jaws, UCC) was HLN’s cousin. The missing link was supplied by some alumni (including Ko Ko Kyi).

    Ko Ko Kyi (EC72) wrote :

    Ko Hla Min, sad to read about Htay Lwin Nyo’s sea burial. I played a small part in notifying his first cousin Myo San Than in Toronto, when my brother called me from Birmingham, UK and informed me about HLN’s demise. Apparently, someone from California had contacted a friend of my brother’s and asked him to inform me, as he knew that HLN had a cousin living in Toronto. I informed HLN’s cousin Myo San Than, who called his elder brother living in Winnipeg, Canada. Subsequently, this cousin went to the US for HLN’s funeral. HLN was a good friend of mine, although he was two years my junior at RIT.

  • Longing [for]

    Longing [for]

    by U Moe Aung & Hla Min

    Updated : May 2025

    • Poem by Tekkatho Moe War
    Saya Moe & me
    • Translated by Hla Min

    Longing [for]

    A Tar Ye (water for Burmese New Year) is cool.

    My heart is not; it’s still (some what) hot.

    Thingyan Ye (water) is clear.

    My vision is still (some what) fuzzy.

    Thingyan Tay (music) is lively.

    It can no longer penetrate/capture my heart.

    Thingyan Nya (night) is beautiful.

    My life is still (some what) ugly.

    Mont lone ye baw (delicacy) is dancing merrily.

    My feet and hands are (seemingly) slow and laggard.

    Well … This year’s Thingyan
    this (auspicious) season
    makes me long for youth again.

    (To [my] birthday on April 1 & to Jaya [old age])

    Tekkatho Moe War
    Translated by Hla Min

  • May (Notes)

    by Hla Min

    Updated : May 2025

    Background

    • 3rd month of the old Roman Calendar
    • 5th month of the Gregorian Calendar.
    • Has 31 days

    Events

    May 1

    • May Day in some countries

    May 5

    • Cinco de Mayo
    • Holiday in Mexico
    • Celebrated by Mexican Americans

    Second Sunday in May

    • Mother’s Day (in the USA)

    Miscellaneous

    • April flowers bring May flowers (Saying)

    SPHS (May 1963)

    • The Matriculation Only examination was held in May 1963
    • In the previous years, the examination was for High School Final and Matriculation (combined). Those who matriculated are eligible to study at the university.
    • SPHS students were outstanding in the Matriculation of 1963.
      There were five in the Top Five, seven in the Top Ten and ten in the Top Twenty. The following were awarded Collegiate Scholarship.
      Khin Maung U (First)
      Min Oo (Second)
      Myo San (Freddie, Third, GBNF)
      Nyunt Wai (Victor, Fourth)
      Thein Wai (Fifth)
      Hla Min (Seventh)
      Aung Kyaw Zaw (Johnny, Ninth)
      Maung Maung Kyi (Eleventh, GBNF),
      Aung Thu Yein (Brownie, Thirteenth, GBNF)
      Khin Maung Zaw (Frank, Seventeenth)
    Top Matriculates from SPHS63
  • Mote Seik Phone Gyi

    Mote Seik Phone Gyi

    by Hla Min

    Updated : May 2025

    Reverend Friedrich Lustig
    Estonian Buddhist monk

    • He was born on 26 April 1912 in Narva, Estonia.
    • He passed away on 4 April 1989 in Rangoon, Myanmar.
    • He and his mentor Karlis Tennisons (Buddhist Archbishop of Latvia and Sangharja for Estonia and Lithuania) lived for many years in a monastery on “A Le Pyit Sa Yan” အလယ် ပစ္စယံ of Shwe Dagon Pagoda.
    • He went for alms round every day, and was fondly known as “Mote Seik Phone Gyi” (named after his beard).
    • After his mentor’s demise, he inherited his master’s titles. He shaved his beard and became ordained as a Theravada monk with the name “Ashin Ananda”.
    • He was a Poet Laureate. He wrote poems in English. He also translated Burmese poems (including Anandathuriya’s kabyar) into English.
    • He would review my poems.
    Mote Seik 1
    Mote Seik 2
  • Samvega

    Samvega

    by Hla Min

    Updated : May 2025

    Urgency

    • It is a Pali word meaning “Sense of urgency”. We’ve heard it many times especially when we attended the last journey of our loved ones.
    • We feel the pain even when the dearly departed are in their 80s. The pain grows when we learn that someone young (not so old) had passed away.
    • We feel shocked and upset when we hear about the untimely demise. My cousin nephew Dr. Peter Tun warned about lack of PPE, but he succumbed to Covid.

    Gone But Not Forgotten (GBNF)

    • The list of GBNF for RIT 69ers is now 128. About 40% of our classmates are no longer with us. Covid claimed about 20.
    • U Sein Win (Win Kyaw, C69) was an expert in Palmistry. His spouse is a professional Palmist. Not sure whether he knew his life span, but he is GBNF.
    • U Myint Sein was a former classmate at PPBRS. He was Principal of BARB. He later founded Idea Astrology. Not sure whether he informed his spouse and son about his life span or his sudden demise, but he is also GBNF.
    • My uncle was sent as a state scholar to Japan during the Second World War. He was in Hiroshima & Nagasaki before both cities were ravaged by the Atomic Bombs. He was lucky. His luck ran out when he was sentenced to seven years by a kangaroo court during the Adhamma Era. The UN Human Rights Rapporteur pleaded with the government to release him. Sadly, he passed away early (because of the harsh environment & treatment). His siblings all lived to be 80+ years. The eldest sister lived to be 94.

    Dr. Khin Tun (Peter)

    Dr. Peter Tun
    • He is the elder son of my cousin U Tin U. He became one of the early doctors in UK to fall victim to COVID-19. He is an MRCP and a former Associate Dean of Oxford University. He at the Royal Berkshire Hospital. His ward needed PPE, but he was told that they would be supplied when there is a case. He replied, “It would be too late”. Sad to say, he passed away on April 12, 2020. Could his life been saved?
    • The news shocked not just his immediately family, but many around the world. BBC and the newspapers in UK have reported several heroes who died in the battle fighting COVID-19.
    • Should Samvega sink in?