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.
Mr.
John
Fitzpatrick
- Class of 1969
,
CS-08
Deceased on December 12, 2024 - Informed on December 19, 2024
Funeral details: 1000 hours 17 January 2025, at the Memorial Pavilion at the USAFA Cemetery, Colorado Springs, CO.
Mr.
Michael
Hay
- Class of 1973
,
CS-18
Deceased on October 7, 2024 - Informed on December 18, 2024
Interment: 1 November 2024 at Prescott National Cemetery, Prescott, AZ.
Mr.
John
Kurzdorfer
- Class of 1968
,
CS-17
Deceased on December 16, 2024 - Informed on December 17, 2024
Visitation: 1500 - 1800 hours on 19 December 2024 at the Paull A. Kloc Blossom Chapels, Inc., 4680 Clinton St., West Seneca, MA 14224. Mass of Christian Burial: 1100 hours on 20 December 2024 at our Lady of Peace RC Church, 10950 Main St., Clarence, NY 14031. Memorial donations: In lieu of flowers donations can be made to WNYHeros Inc. at https://wnyheroes.org/. Obituary: https://www.howefuneralhome.com/obituary/capt-john-kurzdorfer
Maj Gen (Ret)
Charles
Butler
- Class of 1962
,
CS-05
Deceased on December 12, 2024 - Informed on December 16, 2024
Service details: A private graside service will be held on 17 December 2024 at Memorial Park Cemetery, 5668 Poplar Ave, Memphis, TN 38119. Memorial donations: In lieu of flowers donations can be made to The Michael J. Fox Foundation at https://give.michaeljfox.org/give/508128/%23!/donation/checkout?c_src=ad_ciddp-a1bHq00000Abgx0#!/donation/checkout or to the Parkinson's Foundation https://secure3.convio.net/prkorg/site/Donation2;jsessionid=00000000.app30014b?idb=1795972633&df_id=11023&11023.donation=form1&mfc_pref=T&NONCE_TOKEN=327528E2809B354860801EF05EE013C6&11023_donation=form1. Obituary: https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/dailymemphian/name/mike-butler-obituary?id=57014671
Lt Col (Ret)
Thomas
Stack
- Class of 1959
,
CS-06
Deceased on December 6, 2024 - Informed on December 16, 2024
Services will be announced at a later date. Memorial donations: In lieu of flowers donations can be made to your favorite animal rescue organization. Obituary: https://www.coxrichmondhillfh.com/obituary/thomas-stack
Mr.
Richard
McNally
- Class of 1976
,
CS-24
Deceased on November 11, 2024 - Informed on December 16, 2024
No services were held. Obituary: https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/baltimoresun/name/richard-mcnally-obituary?id=56966435
Lt Col (Ret)
Philip
Hepburn
, Jr.
- Class of 1962
,
CS-06
Deceased on December 2, 2024 - Informed on December 12, 2024
Mass of Christian Burial: 1000 hours on 17 December 2024 at St. Theresa Parish, 815 Central Rd., Rye Beach, NH 03871. Burial with military honors will follow in the High Street Cemetery, 140 Hight St., Hampton, NH 03842. Memorial donations: In lieu of flowers donations can be made to to a veteran's organization of your choice. Obituary: https://www.remickgendron.com/obituaries/Philip-Hepburn/#!/Obituary
Lt Col (Ret)
Dennis
Sbach
- Class of 1972
,
CS-13
Deceased on November 14, 2024 - Informed on December 6, 2024
Funeral Service: 1330 hours on 7 December 2024, at the House of Prayer Lutheran Church,14045 Space Center Blvd., Houston, TX 77062. Interment: Will be held at a later date at the USAFA Cemetery, Colorado Springs, CO. Memorial donations: In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to an organization of your choice. Obituary: https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/legacyremembers/dennis-sbach-obituary?id=56855501
Mr.
Philip
Keck
- Class of 1969
,
CS-14
Deceased on November 30, 2024 - Informed on December 4, 2024
Funeral Service: 1000 hours on 12 December 2024 at the Memorial Pavilon at the USAFA Cemetery, Colorado Springs, CO.
Lt Col (Ret)
Francis
Porter
- Class of 1963
,
CS-16
Deceased on November 28, 2024 - Informed on December 4, 2024
Funeral service: 1300 hours 18 December 2024, at the USAFA Cementery, Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Next of Kin
For Next of Kin support resources please visit: https://www.usafanextofkin.org/
Frequently Asked Questions
Here’s A Toast: Gone But Not Forgotten annual publication
The Association of Graduates and Air Force Academy Foundation has introduced a new benefit to better memorialize USAFA graduates and support their families.
Gone But Not Forgotten, which appeared in Checkpoints magazine for decades, has transitioned to a dedicated, annual publication. The inaugural edition of Here’s A Toast: Gone But Not Forgotten will be published around March 2025.
As the Academy’s graduate population ages, Checkpoints has become increasingly stretched in
accommodating the growing number of submitted memorial articles.
The new Here’s A Toast: Gone But Not Forgotten publication will honor the Long Blue Line
by sharing the personal stories of graduates and preserving their legacy. It reflects the Association
and Foundation’s mission to support the Academy, serve graduates and preserve the heritage of the
institution and Long Blue Line.
We considered several cost-effective, impactful options and consulted with our peers at the U.S.
Military Academy and the U.S. Naval Academy. West Point’s TAPS publication provided an excellent
model for this new publication.
A: As part of this new service, a complimentary copy will be provided to a loved one of the
deceased memorialized in the publication. Additional printed copies will be available for a
nominal fee. The digital version will be available to all AOG members.
A: AOG members can access the inaugural digital issue at usafa.org once live. If you are
not a member but wish to join and access this benefit and others, membership is available at
no cost to all USAFA graduates here.
A: Here’s A Toast: Gone But Not Forgotten is available for pre-order for $25 at shop.usafa.org
or by calling 719-472-0300. Proceeds will help fund the program and offset the costs of providing
a complimentary copy to families of fallen graduates, Air Training Officers, and cadets.
A: See below:
Each memorial article is available as a commemorative keepsake for $15. These articles
are printed on parchment-like paper suitable for framing and come enclosed in a folder.
Pre-orders can be placed at shop.usafa.org or by calling 719-472-0300.
A: Jan. 15 is the deadline for memorial article submissions for 2024 deaths.
A: Memorial articles should be 400 or fewer words in the inaugural publication.
A: Email a recent favorite photo of the deceased. The photo (head and shoulders, color preferred)
should be emailed as a high-resolution .jpg. Low-resolution image submissions may be declined in
favor of a cadet yearbook photo.
A: Submit a memorial article and photo through a form at
usafanextofkin.org or
email deceasednotifications@usafa.org.
A: Memorial articles for deaths in 2025 should be emailed when ready to ensure the
Association can post the tribute on usafa.org/heritage/gbnf.
A: Memorial articles won’t appear in Checkpoints following the December 2024 issue, but the
magazine will continue to list death notices.
A: Death notices will be printed in each issue of Checkpoints.
A: One of the major benefits of transitioning to a dedicated, annual publication is that memorial articles
for deaths in 2025 can be up to 800 words. Each article will be respectfully presented on its own full page.
A: See below:
A: Memorial articles for deaths in 2025 will be printed around March 2026.
A: Call 719-472-0300 or email Terri Davis, next-of-kin support specialist, at
deceasednotifications@usafa.org.
A: Please reach out to David Bitton, assistant director of strategic communications and publications,
at 719-247-8745 or use our Contact Form.
