U Hai Htan (aka) Lim Bon Yon passed away on the 7th of August, 2018 at St.Michael's Hospital in Toronto. He was 98.
Born in 1923 to a Chinese merchant family in rural Burma, he studied his way up to attend a prominent Chinese high school in Rangoon(Yangon). He was talented in poetry, brush writing and sports. He wrote poems for his high school year book. He played Basketball and Volleyball in high school.
He met his wife during the second World War when she left the capital to escape from Japanese bombing. Their first child was born at the end of the war. They had eight children in their marriage.
He and his wife understood the value of education for their children. Both of them were such visionaries that they worked tirelessly to send their children to the capital for study while they stayed behind in the village to support them financially. They were proud of their achievements as all children graduated from universities and all but one eventually emigrated to the west for better future. Six of them immigrated to Canada. One Immigrated to The United States. Their second daughter's family immigrated to Australia and Singapore. Their dream came true mostly. They stayed very close to their children and their extended families all the time.
His generosity was shown in donations to the Free Sanga's Hospital in Rangoon and donations for water wells in upper Burma.
He was loved by every member of his family and their extended families. During his hospitalization, one or more of his family members were at his side all the time.
He is survived by seven children, sixteen grandchildren and ten great grandchildren.