Thu Yain “Roy” Kyaw’s favorite movie was "Silver Lining’s Playbook." He believed in never having to choose between two flavors of ice cream, asking his friends, “Why choose when you can have both?” He had a lifelong dream of flying.

Roy was defined by his goofiness and grace. Friends and teachers said he was wise beyond his years, and best known for his awkward, loveable and often “horrible sense of humor.” He loved to show his love, often leaving friends and family unexpected small notes and gifts. He surprised several friends with bouquets on Valentine’s Day because he believed “every girl should get something on Valentine’s Day.”

The USC Marshall School of Business sophomore was 22-years-old when he was found lifeless in his bedroom Sunday, Oct. 27.

Hundreds poured into USC’s Bovard auditorium to celebrate Roy’s short, but exuberant life Monday night. The diverse room included members of the Singapore Student Association, professional fraternity Delta Sigma Pi, students and faculty from the Marshall School of Business and scores of others.

Roy’s sister, mother and father traveled 20 hours from Yangon, Myanmar, Singapore to attend the ceremony. Roy’s older brother, Arkar Kyaw, is a current USC student expected to graduate this spring.

After clearing his throat several times and gripping the podium, Roy’s father, Kyaw Kyaw, told the crowd he had great expectations for his son, but often times life reminds us that so much is beyond our control.

Like any father forced to bury his son, Kyaw told the silent room that he and his family “never expected this.”

“We will try our best to understand it. We accept this law of nature, its cause and effect,” Kyaw said. “Young or old, educated or uneducated, everyone must face this [death].”

Kyaw talked about his son’s dreams, and how, he, as a father, did his best to meet them. Roy had plans to return home to Myanmar after graduation and apply his business education to the family business. He often spoke of his desire to better his hometown and take care of his parents.

Kyaw said his son loved fine things and wanted to make everything perfect in his own way.

“He was a lovely person and he gave so many gifts to us,” said Kyaw.

Faculty members and teachers reiterated Roy’s wisdom, maturity, beaming smile and curiosity.

The Dean of the Marshall School, James G. Ellis recalled his quiet leadership and desire to explore. Roy often wore a suit, sat in the front row of class and asked many questions.

“I will learn from his presence for the rest of my career,” said Ellis.

One of Roy’s professors, Judy Tolan, described the sophomore as a “beautiful soul.”

Laughs and funny stories often broke the auditorium’s palpable heaviness as Roy’s friends, brother and sister shared some of his most memorable moments.

“Roy loved to share things with people, even if you didn’t want to hear it,” said his brother, Arkar. "But you always ended up smiling."

Arkar unabashedly recalled childhood memories of training potties and the accidents that ensued while learning to use them, relationships with stuffed animals, and the times when Roy would call and ask to be picked up when he lost his car in one of the many parking garages on campus.

Smiling, Arkar noted that his younger brother taught him many things.

“He taught me how important family is because before he came to USC I only called my parents a few times a semester to check in,” Arkar said. “But when he got here I saw how much attention he gave my mom and dad and he taught me to always check in every week.”

Roy’s older sister, Khant Khant,said that Roy “came into the world as unexpectedly as he left,” adding a unique layer to the family.

Khant Khant also spoke of the family’s belief in Buddhism, and how the physical world is just a mere part of a a soul’s journey through 31 different worlds. 

In this world, Roy knew how to live. He traveled, took classes outside his major juat because they sounded interesting. He was always making others laugh. Friends noted how he would sometimes splurge on seafood and champagne on the beach. He loved milkshakes and surfing with his brother. Just recently he piloted a handglider over Dockweiler Beach.

His ability to relish life helps soften the gaping sorrow of his loss, say his friends and family.

“We don’t have the chance to see the grown up he aspired to be, but I realized the actual greatness of what he was and that is that he is a kid, always smiling and leaving silly notes,” said Hanna Hurr, Delta Sigma Phi’s pledge mom.

In a Facebook post, Arkar wrote, "He would never want us to be burdened by his loss but rather celebrate the great times we had, and be on our way to live our lives to the fullest, with purpose."

“We live in such a big, crowded world but Roy would never make you feel small, even though he was one of the most brilliant and gifted,” shared Roy’s friend, Sherry Shi Yiyang.

Friends recalled his warmth. How he was the “type of person who actually made you believe that everything would be OK.” His hugs. One friend wished she had told him “how happy he made her every time she saw him.”

“You know when someone says something awkward and makes you palm your face but you love those lame jokes because they always make you laugh. That was him,” Yiyang added. “In the end it’s all the small things you remember.”

It is not fair, nor right, to lose a 22-year-old. It seems unjust to leave behind so many who were not prepared and now have to suffer an insurmountable loss. Death is never final for those who are still here.

“I don’t know what it means to be tied to something inexplicably bigger than myself but I think that it’s fitting that one person who loved to learn so much is now the one teaching us how to handle this,” said Roy’s friend Leslie Chang. 

Grieving is a process. It is punctuated by anger, memories, unity and fear. But his friends reiterated that it is also etched with a silver lining—Roy touched hundreds of people. Friends, teachers and other students shared how the 22-year-old taught them lessons about friendship, loyalty, laughter and how to live joyfully. He brought different cultures, groups and people together to celebrate his life.

This month, Roy wanted to see “The Room,” a cult classic, for a second time in Westwood.  He adored the film, despite it being known as one of the worst movies ever made. That’s the kind of person he was, said his friends, a big kid with a contagious sense of humor who treasured life’s quirks and imperfections.
 
A group of his friends plan to see the film in his honor.

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