Gone But Not Forgotten

Honoring fallen comrades is an important part of the AOG mission and we ask to be notified as soon as possible of the death of any graduate, Air Training Officer or cadet so that we can take appropriate actions. The AOG has learned of the following deaths within the past 90 days.

For best results, try searching by Last Name (e.g. Smith), Class Year (e.g. 1959), or Cadet Squadron (e.g. CS-01). More complex searches may not return desired results.

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Col (Ret) Clayton Wittman - Class of 1983, CS-39

Deceased on February 4, 2024 - Informed on February 26, 2024

Please contact the Association of Graduates for condolence information. Visitation: 1300 hours on 23 March 2024 at Zaagman Memorial Chapel, 2800 Burton St. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546. Memorial service: 1430 hours on 23 March 2024 at Zaagman Memorial Chapel, 2800 Burton St. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546. Memorial donations: Florida State University (Matthew T. Wittman Memorial Scholarship Fund) 325 W. College Ave., Tallahassee, FL 32301-9969, Kent County Veterans Treatment Court (Leave No Veteran Behind) P.O. Box 3500, Grand Rapids, MI 49501, or Kids' Food Basket, 1300 Plymouth Ave. NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49505 Obituary: https://www.zaagman.com/obituaries/Clayton-Wittman?obId=30754850

Col (Ret) Joseph Bavaria - Class of 1964, CS-14

Deceased on January 25, 2024 - Informed on February 26, 2024

Please contact the Assocation of Graduates for condolence information. Obituary: https://www.wecarelv.com/obituary/Joseph-Bavaria No furthter information is available at this time.

Mr. Raymond Russ - Class of 1974, CS-26

Deceased on February 7, 2024 - Informed on February 22, 2024

Please contact the Assocation of Graduates for condolence information. Mr. Russ' wishes were not to have a funeral. The family will celebrate the life he lived and his birthday on 11 May 2024. Memorial donation: The family has suggested in lieu of flowers donations be made to Best Friends Animal Society, https://support.bestfriends.org/site/SPageServer/?pagename=new_memorial_gift&utm_source=vanity&utm_medium=redirect&utm_campaign=bfas+org+legacy. Obituary: https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/name/raymond-russ-obituary?id=54369449

Mr. Parker Wright - Class of 1976, CS-05

Deceased on November 27, 2023 - Informed on February 20, 2024

Please contact the Assocation of Graduates for condolence information. Memorial Service: 1400 hours on 29 Dec 2023 at Mowell Funeral Home, 200 Robinson Rd, Peachtree City, GA 30269. Memorial donations: In lieu of flowers the family has asked that donations be made to the Tunnel To Towers Foundation, https://dogood.t2t.org/give/320847/?_gl=1*amyqi7*_ga*MTc3NzI1MjkxMS4xNzA4NDY2NzA0*_ga_KKJBEGGEYM*MTcwODQ2NjcwMy4xLjAuMTcwODQ2NjcwMy42MC4wLjA.#!/donation/checkout, or to Samaritan's Purse https://www.samaritanspurse.org/. Obituary: https://www.mowells.com/obituaries/Parker-Smith-Wright?obId=30152760

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Next of Kin

For Next of Kin support resources please visit: https://www.usafanextofkin.org/

Frequently Asked Questions

Gone But Not Forgotten Annual Publication

The Air Force Academy Association and Foundation are introducing a new benefit to better memorialize USAFA graduates and support their families. We are launching a new annual memorial publication in 2025.

A: As the Academy graduate population ages, Checkpoints is increasingly insufficient in accommodating the increasing number of obituaries. This has necessitated the creation of a new publication as part of our commitment to remembering all fallen graduates, Air Training Officers and cadets.
A: The purpose of the publication is to honor and perpetuate the legacy of the Long Blue Line through the personal stories of our graduates. The publication is in the spirit of our mission to support the Academy, serve graduates and preserve the heritage of the institution.
A: Gone But Not Forgotten will be part of the final name, which is not yet finalized.
A: No, but the Association will list basic information on deaths in each issue of Checkpoints.
A: No. If/when memorial articles are sent to the AOG, the tribute is posted to this webpage.
A: A complimentary copy will be mailed to a loved one of the deceased. It is not yet determined if the printed publication will be available at a nominal cost or at no cost to AOG members.
A: There will be a one-year transition period. Memorial articles sent in to run in Checkpoints in 2024 will also appear in the inaugural memorial publication. The deadline for Gone But Not Forgotten submissions in the December 2024 issue of Checkpoints is mid-October, but any memorial articles about deaths for the remainder of 2024 received by mid-January 2025 will appear in the inaugural 2025 stand-alone publication. Then going forward, the full years’ worth of tributes would be published in the next year’s volume.
A: The first memorial publication will likely be printed in February or March of 2025.
A: We currently have a 400-word maximum for each memorial tribute and will continue with that limit for the first stand-alone publication. We’re doing this because we have already received submissions at that length and don’t plan to ask for longer versions for the 2025 edition.
A: We will transition to roughly 450- or 900-word options for memorial tributes. Whoever writes and submits the memorial article with have the option to write to either word limit.
A: A recent favorite photo of the deceased, when possible. The photo (head and shoulders, color preferred) should be emailed as a .jpg and sent as a high-resolution image.
A: Please email Next-of-Kin Support Specialist Terri Davis at deceasednotifications@usafa.org.
A: That is coming soon.
A: Please reach out to David Bitton, assistant director of strategic communications and publications, at 719-247-8745 or use our Contact Form.

Gone But Not Forgotten