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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Capt Richard Smithwick - Class of 1970, CS-20

Deceased on September 26, 1976

Maj Cecil Snyder III - Class of 1970, CS-13

Deceased on August 31, 1982

Lt Col (Ret) Marius Sorenson - Class of 1970, CS-02

Deceased on February 16, 2014 - Informed on February 20, 2014

Please contact the Association of Graduates for condolence information. Services will be held on 3 Mar 2014 at 1000 at the USAFA Protestant Chapel immediatel y followed by a graveside service at the USAFA Cemetery. The family has suggested that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Class of 70 Fund-SEA; USAFA Endowment; 3116 Academy Dr; USAFA CO 80840-4475

Mr. Thomas Spear - Class of 1970, CS-23

Deceased on December 19, 2017 - Informed on January 8, 2018

Please contact the Association of Graduates for condolence information. A graveside service will be held on 29 June 2018 at the USAFA Cemetery.

1st Lt Bari Stone - Class of 1970, CS-37

Deceased on March 8, 1973

Mr. Patrick Sullivan - Class of 1970, CS-29

Deceased on December 2, 2023 - Informed on December 11, 2023

Please contact the Association of Graduates for condonlence information. Funeral service: 1100 hours on 8 Dec 2023 at Glen Haven Memorial Gardens, 7070 Houston Rd., Macon, GA 31216. Memorial donations: In lieu of flowers, please make donations in Patrick's honor to Middle Georgia Honor Flight, 1114 GA Hwy 96, Suite C-1 #344, Kathleen, GA 31047, or visit https://www.middlegahonorflight.org/ or to FOPAS (Friends of Perry Animal Shelter) 204 Kellwood Dr, Perry, GA 31069. Obituary: https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/name/patrick-sullivan-obituary?id=53749689

Lt Col (Ret) Dustin Swanson , Jr. - Class of 1970, CS-25

Deceased on November 16, 2019 - Informed on November 27, 2019

Please contact the Association of Graduates for condolence information. A funeral service will be held at USAFA on a later date still to be determined. His family has suggested that memorial donations be made in lieu of flowers to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society; PO Box 4072; Pittsfield, MA 01202-4072; (888) 557-7177; www.leukemia.org

Lt Col (Ret) Richard Swanson - Class of 1970, CS-34

Deceased on February 2, 2022 - Informed on March 29, 2022

Please contact the Association of Graduates for condolence information. A Celebration of Life will be held 09 Apr 2022 at 1030 hours at Sandhills Community College, 3395 Airport Rd, Pinehurst, NC 28374. Burial will be 2 May 2022 at 1030 hours on the Air Force Academy Cemetery.

Mr. William Tench - Class of 1970, CS-16

Deceased on December 29, 2017 - Informed on March 6, 2018

Please contact the Association of Graduates for condolence information. Mr. Tench graduated from CS-16. A graveside service will be held on 27 July 2018 at 1000 hours at the USAFA Cemetery.

Capt Francis Townsend - Class of 1970, CS-10

Deceased on August 13, 1972

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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