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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Mr. Theodore Keefer III - Class of 1970, CS-12

Deceased on August 4, 2016 - Informed on January 13, 2017

No further information is available.

Lt Col (Ret) Gerald Lands - Class of 1970, CS-37

Deceased on September 2, 2006 - Informed on September 5, 2006

Place: Prescott, AZ Condolences: Mrs Carol Lands, C/O Association of Graduates Memorial Donation: Class of 1970 Memorial Project, Association of Graduates, 3116 Academy Dr, USAFA, CO 80840

Lt Col (Ret) David Lyons - Class of 1970, CS-19

Deceased on August 9, 2021 - Informed on August 10, 2021

Please contact the Association of Graduates for condolence information. Services will be held on 23 Aug 2021 with visitation beginning at beginning at 0900 hours at St. Peter's Catholic Church; 55 N Jefferson St; Monument, CO 80132. The funeral mass will begin at 1000 hours and a reception will follow the mass at 1100 hours. Graveside service and burial will be held on 23 Aug 2021 at 1330 hours at the USAFA Cemetery. In the event of inclement weather, the service will be moved to the Memorial Pavilion. His family has suggested that memorial donations be made in lieu of flowers to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society; Donor Services; PO Box 4072; Pittsfield, MA 01202; (888) 557-7177; donate online here <https://givenow.lls.org/give/342076/> or to Tunnels to Towers Foundation; 2361 Hylan Blvd; Staten Island, NY 10306; (718) 987-1931; donate online here <https://t2t.org/>.

Lt Col Robert Marshall - Class of 1970, CS-04

Deceased on September 14, 1986

Mr. Marcel Mayer - Class of 1970, CS-17

Deceased on February 13, 2019 - Informed on February 25, 2019

Please contact the Association of Graduates for condolence information. A memorial service will be held on 1 Mar 2019 at 1300 hours at St. Paul's Piney Church Cemetery; 4535 Piney Church Rd; Waldorf, MD 20604. His family has suggested that memorial donations be made in lieu of flowers to the American Battlefield Trust; 1140 Professional Court; Hagerstown, MD 21740; (888) 606-1400; www.battlefields.org.

Lt Col (Ret) William McClelland - Class of 1970, CS-15

Deceased on November 23, 2003

Mr. Robert McCowen - Class of 1970, CS-27

Deceased on April 14, 2022 - Informed on April 25, 2022

Please contact the Association of Graduates for condolence information. No service information is available.

Mr. Steven Minneman - Class of 1970, CS-22

Deceased on December 12, 1993

Lt Col (Ret) Channing Morse - Class of 1970, CS-38

Deceased on August 27, 2015 - Informed on September 17, 2015

Please contact the Association of Graduates for condolence information. Services are pending at this time.

Lt Col (Ret) Jack Mueller - Class of 1970, CS-28

Deceased on April 26, 2024 - Informed on April 30, 2024

Please contact the Association of Graduates for condolence information. Service information: 1000 hours on 14 August 2024 at St. Peter Catholic Church, 55 Jefferson St., Monument, CO 80132. Inturment at USAFA cemetery will follow.

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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