U Soe PaingU Soe Paing & Daw Saw Yu Tint U Soe Paing, U & Mrs. Hla Min
Name: U Soe Paing
Qualification: BS (Stanford), MS (Stanford), MSc. Computer Science (Southampton)
Department: Electrical Communications Position: Assistant Lecturer, (Jan 1964 to March 1971) Reason for Leaving: Joined Universities’ Computer Center in April 1971.
Engineering Alumni: Attended First Year Faculty of Engineering, Rangoon University from June to December, 1958. Reason for Leaving: Awarded State Scholarship to study in USA.
Occupation: Data Processing Adviser (Retired)
Organization: United Nations
Updates
Saya was my mentor at RIT and UCC.
He offered me and Saya U Aung Zaw (UCC, GBNF) to be his co-authors. We wrote programming texts, manuals and guides.
Saya was a prime mover to get the “RIT Alumni International Newsletters” and http://www-ex-rit.org started.
Saya would mention that I am a “Shay Hmi; Nauk Hmi. ရှေ့မှီ၊ နောက်မှီ”
Sayagadaw added: “Bay Hmi ဘေးမှီ as well’.
Saya wrote articles for the RIT Newsletter and selected journals & magazines. They can be accessed via SCRIB-D
Conventional wisdom says, “Pyauk thor thu shar hlyin tway. Thay thor thu kyar hlyin mae.” ပျောက်သောသူ ရှာလျှင်တွေ့။ သေသောသူ ကြာလျှင်မေ့။ One may find a lost person. One tends to forget those who have passed away.
Unconventional wisdom says, “We should maintain GBNF (Gone But Not Forgotten) lists as part of the Written History of our beloved alma mater, our mentors and colleagues.”
We use GBNF in the “RIT Alumni International Newsletter” and in my Posts. Other posts may provide additional information for the entries in the GBNF (by period or year) posts.
Others use RIP (Rest in Peace), and BFHA (Bound For Higher Abode)
First RIT Website
U Khin Maung Zaw (KMZ, EC76) set up three GBNF pages on ex-RIT.org web site :
GBNF for sayas and sayamas
U Ba Hli
GBNF for alumni
GBNF for spouses
I used GBNF in the last stanza of my poem “SAYA PU ZAW PWE” for SPZP-2000. The poem was reprinted as the Back Cover of Swel Daw Yeik Sar Saung for SPZP-2000. It was only reprinted by the Class of 69 and Combined 1st BE intake of 64 and 65.
Poem for SPZP-2000
GBNF for RIT Class of 69
The GBNF list is maintained by U Aung Min (M69) and team.
There are 138 entries in the GBNF list. About 20 succumbed to Covid.
About 320 students entered the first ever 2nd BE in 1964. The list includes a few seniors who took sabbatical in their study and ended up as our classmates. Over 40% of our former classmates have passed away.
69ers GBNF
EE69ers
There were 13 EC69ers. The following have passed away :
U Kyaw Soe (DCA)
U Aung Thu Yein (Brownie, Schlumberger)
U Aung Thu Yein
U Chit Tin (MOGE)
U Chit Tin & Maung Kabar
U Oo Kyaw Hla (Canada)
Sai Aik Yee
Several EPers are also GBNF. They include
Khin Maung Win (Sargalay)
Khin Maung Win (Sargalay)
Thein Swe (3rd BE Luyechun)
Aung Gyi Shwe (Track & Field)
Soe Win (Basketball)
Khin Win (Weightlifting)
Abdul Rauf
Golden Jubileees
Due to the decline of health of 69ers, the group chose to have two Golden Jubilees : the first in 2014 to celebrate the admission to RIT, and the second in December 2019 to celebrate the graduation of most members in 1969.
GBNF for RIT Class of 70
U Ohn Khine (M70) reported close to 130 entries in the GBNF list of the Class of 70.
Tommy Shwe, Cho Aye, Peter Pe and Thaung Sein (Steeve Kay) were among the Top Ten students from the class. They are now GBNF.
Tommy ShweSteeve Kay (Thaung Sein)Cho Aye
Over 450 students entered the first ever 1st BE.
GBNF from PPBRS
Most of my sayas and sayamas from PPBRS have passed away.
U Kyaw Zaw & Daw Khin Khin Aye
Among my PPBRS classmates, Myo Set (son of actor Tha Gaung Gyi) was the first to pass away. He perished in a car accident. Myint Sein (Veda) and Myat Hla Sein (Movie Tech) are among the recent GBNF from PPBRS.
Myat Hla Sein
GBNF from SPHS
Most of my sayas and sayamas from SPHS have passed away. Sayadaw Beatson (Physics, Boy Scouts) is still active and strong.
SPHS Sayas
Among my SPHS classmates, Min Thaw (Gilbert, SPHS63) is among the early ones to pass away. Dr. Myo San (Freddie), Aung Thu Yein (Brownie), Tin Tun, Maung Maung Kyi, Aung Kyi (Arthur Kyi), Khin Maung Bo (Alan Saw Maung), Aung Chaw (Victor) are among the GBNF from SPHS63.
Myo San (Freddie)Maung Maung Kyi Soon Kyaw by Kyaw Wynn
GBNF from UCC & ICST
Several of my sayas, colleagues and former students have passed away.
CO Hla Min (Pauk Si) is an early GBNF from UCC. U Aung Zaw, Daw Nge Ma Ma Than, U Maung Maung Lay (Ah Ba), U Aung Myint and U Maung Maung Gyi are among the recent GBNF from UCC.
Dr. Chit Swe & U Aung ZawDr. Tin Maung & Daw Nge Ma Ma ThanU Maung Maung Lay & U Maung Maung GyiCO U Hla Min, U Aung Myint, U Aung Zaw
Relatives
Dr. “Cherry” Khin Kyi Nyunt
U Tin U, Dr. Cherry, Peter
Dr. “Peter” Khin Tun
U Tin Tun
Daw “Peggy” Than Than Yee
Dr. Khin Yi Than
Daw Aye May
Daw Hla Hla Myint
Dr. Myo Tint
Dr. Myo Tint
Saya U Ba Than
U Ba Than
Daw “Betty” Myint Thwe
Daw Myint Thwe
Saya U Tin U
U Tin U
U “Charlie” Thein Han
U Thein Han
Tone Kyaw တုံးကျော်
One should have Samvegha (sense of urgency) after hearing the sad news. When my namesake Hla Min (Pauk Si, SPHS64, EP70) 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. The consultant doctor was Dr. Min Lwin (Maurice Hla Kyi, SPHS64, IM71). Ko Pauk Si 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” လွမ်းသူ့ပန်းခွေ
U Han Sein (C69) became a Tone Kyaw when the Organizers of the 30th Anniversary of Graduation inadvertently listed him in the GBNF list of the Class of 69. The organizers were unaware that U Han Sein was detained by the authorities after the 8-8-88 event. He resurfaced two decades later with the declaration of Amnesty.
Han Sein
Saya Dr. Tin Hlaing (M63) became a Tone Kyaw when his namesake Saya Dr, Tin Hlaing (formerly of Maritime Studies) passed away. Some alumni had to revoke the wrong announcement.
Saya Allen Htay (C58) is a founding member of RIT Alumni International and served as its President.
He wrote “Brother, can you spare US $500 and more?” for the First RIT Grand Reunion and Saya Pu Zaw Pwe (aka SPZP-2000).
Saya retired thrice, but his former students coaxed him to un-retire twice.
With the help of U Maurice Chee (M75), Daw Mu Mu Kin donated Saya’s books to YTU Library. The dedication ceremony took place at YTU on February 26, 2016.
The Metallurgy Department was established in 1954 with the assistance of contract staff from India. Mr. H.S. Shastri was the first head of department and Mr. A.C. Agrawal was an assistant lecturer.
I was awarded a government scholarship to study Metallurgy at Lehigh University in 1954, when I was a second year student of Civil Engineering in Rangoon. (Incidentally, it was at Lehigh that I first met Sayas U Aung Khin and U Pu.) I returned home in 1957 after completing my bachelor’s degree and joined the department as assistant lecturer. Saya U Saw Pru joined the department as an assistant lecturer in 1958.
I was awarded a Colombo Plan Fellowship in 1959 for further studies at the University or Queensland, Australia, and came back in 1961 after finishing my master’s degree. I was promoted to lectureship in 1962.
Saya U Than Tin joined the department in 1960 and left for U.S. after a few years. There were visiting lecturers from U.S.S.R., namely, Mr. Charlichev from 1961 to 1963 and Mr. Chalpanov from 1963 to 1965.
Sayas U Aung Hla Tun, U Pe Win and Dr. Khin Maung Win joined the department in 1965, 1966 and 1967 respectively. There were also part-time teaching staff from time to time from UBARI, such as U Khin Maung and U Nyunt.
I left the department in 1968 to go to Australia.
The continuing history of the Metallurgy Department after 1968 can best be written by Saya U Aung Hla Tun.
Editor’s Notes in 2019 :
Taught Materials and Processes in our 2nd BE class in 1964.
Head of the Metallurgy Department
Wrote memories of Saya Allen Htay in “RIT Alumni International Newsletter”
GBNF
In response to my request, several sayas (Dr. Aung Gyi, U Min Wun, U Aung Khin, U Thit and U Myo Myint Sein) wrote about the history of their departments. The articles appear in the CD supplement of the HMEE-2012 book
Upon his return from USA, he was assigned to the Department of Mining Engineering at BOC College to teach part-time and to act as Head of the Department.
He was succeeded by Saya U Soon Sein as full-time saya and Head.
U Soe Khaw worked at the Ministry of Mines.
After retirement, he worked for UN assignments overseas.
He then migrated to the USA.
He was a Patron of selected monasteries in the San Francisco Bay Area.
He was healthy even in his early 90s.
Last Journey
Saya U Tin Maung Nyunt (M60) wrote :
U Soe Khaw, (RIT Part-time Lecturer – Mining), passed away peacefully on February 14, 2018 at 4:45 pm per Michael Khaw, his son.
Ph 408-737-0238. 1082 Noriega Ave, Sunnyvale, Ca 94086
Memorial Service
Date : February 24, 2018 (Sunday) Time : 10:30 AM Place : Tathagata Meditation Center (TMC) 1215 Lucretia Avenue San Jose, CA 95122 Contact : 1 (408) 977 0300 or 1(408) 294 4536
Soon offering : 11:15 AM Lunch for guests : 11:30 AM Dhamma talk : 12:30 PM
During our RIT days, there were about 20 sayas at the Electrical Engineering Department
The Department offered two options : EC (Electrical Communications) and EP (Electrical Power).
Several decades later EC and EP became Departments with their own Professors and Heads. EC is also known as EcE or Electronics Engineering.
The Group photo shows 15 sayas. One was absent for the Photo Shoot. A few were on doing further studies abroad.
For SPZP-2010 held in Singapore, I wrote an article “A Short and Sad Clip : EE Sayas” for the Commemorative Issue of Swel Daw Yeik Sar Saung. Saya U Moe War (Tekkatho Moe War, Chief Editor) suggested the Title.
U Thein Lwin and U Nyi Nyi (who passed away a few years back) were not covered in the article.
Article from SPZP-2010Article (continued)Article (End)
U Kyaw Tun
Engg Students
Group photo of the “Reunion in January 1980 of the Final Year Engineering Students in 1948 and 49” showed Sayagyi.
Joined the Department of Electrical Engineering
Continued teaching until his retirement.
Recruited Saya C. Ping Lee to join EE department in 1950.
Children : Dr. Elizabeth (Daw Tun Nu, Ph.D in English), Dorothy
“Doctor” Tin Aung Win wrote about his beloved father-in-law.
C. Ping Lee
C. Ping Lee
Recruited by Saya U Kyaw Tun to join Electrical Engineering, BOC College.
Transferred to the Directorate of Technical Education and Vocational Training at the request of H.E. U Than Aung (his Burmese teacher at St. Paul’s).
Dr. Win Aung (M 62) wrote about his beloved father in the “Post Reunion” series of SPZP-2000.
Articles by Dr. Win Aung, Saya U Htin Paw (EE 58), U Aw Taik Moh (C54), Saya Dr. San Hla Aung (C58) have references to Saya C. Ping Lee.
Saya passed away in Berkeley, CA in 1987.
Former students included the late Professor U Sein Hlaing.
U Sein Hlaing
U Sein Hlaing
Top in the class of 1952
MSEE from MIT
Professor of Electrical Engineering
Taught at BIT/RIT until retirement
Passed away a few years after retirement
U Tin Swe
U Tin Swe was member of the Prome Football Team
MSEE from the University of Michigan.
Excellent in Soccer and Tennis.
Early Power User at the Universities’ Computer Center (UCC).
U Sein Win
U Sein Win
MSEE from the University of Michigan
Worked at the famous Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Technical Consultant for the UCC Project.
President of RIT Swimming, Water Polo and Diving
President of RIT Rowing
Line Judge at RUBC Regattas
Dr. Freddie Ba Hli
Dr. F Ba Hli in Sydney, 2006
Sc.D in EE from MIT
Director General, UBARI
Taught part time at EE Department
Retired as National Advisor at the Ministry of National Planning and Finance
Member, UCC Advisory Board
External Examiner, UCC
Passed away in Sydney, Australia in his 90s
U Thein Lwin
Saya U Thein Lwin’s birthday in Singapore
MSEE from Lehigh University
Saya taught at RIT and Singapore Polytechnic
President, RIT Badminton Association
Dr. San Tint
Dr. San Tint
Taught until retirement
External Examiner, UCC
Attended SPZP-2000
U Soe Min
After training in UK, transferred to DCA (Directorate of Civil Aviation)
U Chin Way
Joined RIT in 1963
Active in SPARK
Was offered a job [promptly] by his interviewers after learning that their boss U Tun Aung (Jeffrey, EC68) was a student of Saya
Passed away in the USA
U Nyi Nyi
Joined RIT in 1963
Introduced U Soe Paing to Dr. Chit Swe
Passed away in UK
U Tin Shwe
U Tin Shwe
Joined RIT in 1966
Taught at RIT and ABAC
Became monk after retirement
His demise is lamented in “To the Shwe Duo” (Poem by Tekkatho Moe War, Translation by Hla Min)
U Kyaw Lwin
Hobbies : Rowing, Piano
RIT EightsRIT Eights
Daw Mya Mya Than
Joined RIT in 1968
Passed away
Daw Nyunt Nyunt Yee
Joined RIT in 1972
Widow of Saya U Sein Hlaing
Head of Electrical Engineering (Power) Department at RIT/YIT/MIT.
Passed away on Jan 05, 2000
U Myo Kyi
U Myo Kyi
Joined EE Faculty in 1959.
Provided two lists of EE sayas : one for Senior sayas and another for Junior sayas
Was on deputation when the EE Sayas Group photo was taken.
Provided video for the 60th Anniversary of RIT.
Dr. Ba Lwin
Dr. Ba Lwin
Joined EE Faculty in 1959.
Was on deputation when the EE Sayas Group photo was taken.
Provided video for the 60th Anniversary of RIT.
U Tin Maung Thein
U Tin Maung Thein
Eldest son of Arzani U Ohn Maung.
Joined EE Faculty in 1962.
Was on deputation when the EE Sayas Group Photo was taken.
Wrote several articles for the 69er Golden Jubilee Magazine RIT Thaing Exhibition RIT Nicknames
Spouse (Mu Aye) is a cousin of Ko Win Boh (Robert, EC69, Australia)
Retired Member of Parliament of Pyitthu Hluttaw Oversaw Committees related to Mining and Natural Resources.
Surprised us at an ad hoc breakfast gathering with Uzin Aung Chaw, Ko Sein Myint, Ko Myint Maung, Ko Win Maung, Ko Shwe, Ko Maung Maung, Ko Myat Soe Lwin …
69ers
Kyaw Tint (Min69)
Kyaw Tint
Youngest, smartest and most stubborn among the 14 students in Min69.
Joined the Faculty
Received Masters from Australia.
Prisoner of Conscience.
Wrote an article in the 69er Golden Jubilee magazine.
GBNF #110 Passed away in September 2021
Khin Kyaw Nyein (GBNF)
Khin Kyaw Nyein
RIT Volleyball Selected
Taught/coached female Volleyball players (e.g. Ma Tin Aye, C73)
Also good at Soccer, Dobat & Dancing.
He is GBNF #117 Passed away in January 2022
Khin Maung Gyi (Min69)
One of two Khin Maung Gyi in the Class of 69.
Room mate of Ko Chit Pe (M69, GBNF)
Still have dark hair (hopefully original)
Mech KMG (GBNF) passed away in 2021.
Tin Win (Min69)
Hosted some 69er gatherings.
He was Honorary Consul for Switzerland.
Min69 (GBNF)
Aung Naing (Bahadhur) : Aug 14, 2011, #055, GTI Principal (Taunggyi), Yangon
Chit Htun
Chit Htun : Dec 11, 2011, #058, YIT Lecturer, Yangon
Heis an organizer of the Combined 1st BE intake of 64 and 65. He is a bilingual writer, poet and translator.
Aung Myint (Thamankyar Ko Myint)
Thamankyar
He is a member of the A1 Family. He is an actor, composer, vocalist, guitarist and production manager. Sad to note that his younger brother Sai Wunna passed away.
Ko Zaw Winn and friends
Mining Engineering
The first course was given at the BOC College in 1954.
U Soe Khaw (GBNF)
U Soe Khaw
Received BS from UC Berkeley and MS from Minnesota School of Mines.
Served as Part-time lecturer and Head of the newly established Mining Department at BOC College.
Wrote an article for HMEE project.
After working for the Ministry of Mines and UN projects, he moved to USA.
Attended SPZP-2000.
Saya Allen Htay (GBNF) and Dr. San Lin asked me to join a micro-gathering with Saya U Soe Khaw. It started before lunch and ended after dinner.
U Soon Sein (GBNF)
Received MS from Colorado School of Mines.
Mawgunwin Third Grade.
Succeeded U Soe Khaw as Head of Department.
Retired as Professor.
Spoke to him before SPZP-2000. Per advice from his doctors, he declined the invitation to attend SPZP-2000.
HlaMin 