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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Maj (Ret) Jay Pelzer - Class of 1970 , CS-23

Deceased on March 19, 2019 - Informed on March 21, 2019

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

Lt Col (Ret) Robert Penny , Jr. - Class of 1970 , CS-18

Deceased on December 8, 2022 - Informed on December 29, 2022

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

Lt Col (Ret) Peter Penta , Jr. - Class of 1973 , CS-16

Deceased on March 20, 2022 - Informed on April 6, 2022

Please contact the Association of Graduates for condolence information. Funeral services will be held on 12 April 2022 at 1100 hours at Torbert Funeral Chapel South, 1145 E. Lebanon Road, Dover, DE 19901. Visitation will be preceding the service at 1000 hours. Interment will be at Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 2465 Chesapeake City Road, Bear, DE 19701 For those unable to attend the funeral service there will be a livestream on www.torbertfuneral.com, it can be found under the "Upcoming Livestreams" tab and viewed by clicking on their name or by following this link. https://www.torbertfuneral.com/upcoming-livestreams/peter-penta-jr-april-12-2022 In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions be made to the Alzheimer's Association and the Air Mobility Command Museum Foundation.

Col (Ret) John Petty - Class of 1970 , CS-12

Deceased on July 24, 2017 - Informed on July 26, 2017

Please contact the Association of Graduates for condolence information. A service and burial will be held on 29 Jul 2017 at 1500 hours at the Springfield Friends Meeting; 555 E Springfield Rd; High Point, NC 27263; (336) 889-4911; www.springfieldfriends.org. A memorial service will be held on 5 Aug 2017 at the Truro Anglican Church; 10520 Main St; Fairfax, VA 22030. His family has suggested that memorial donations be made to the Kairos Prison Ministry; 100 DeBary Plantation Rd; DeBary, FL 32713; (407) 629-4948; www.kairosprisonministry.org. Please designate your donation to the Ministry in the state of Virginia.

Col (Ret) Thomas Pratt - Class of 1970 , CS-40

Deceased on February 5, 2014 - Informed on February 11, 2014

Update: Due to inclement weather in North Carolina, the mass that was originally scheduled to be held there, had to be cancelled. Therefore, the family has scheduled a funeral mass to be held at the Cadet Catholic Chapel on Tuesday, 18 Feb 14, 1300 hours, followed by interment in the USAFA Cemetery. Please contact the Association of Graduates for condolence information. Visitation will be on 13Feb 2014 from 1800 to 2000 hrs. at Hall - Wynn Funeral Home: 1113 W. Main St.; Durham, NC 27701 (919) 688-6387. A Mass of Christian Burial will be said at 1100 on 14 Feb 2014 at St. Thomas More Catholic Church: 920 Carmichael St., Chapel Hill, NC 27515. Burial with full military honors will be held on 18 Feb 2014 at 1300 hrs at the USAFA Cemetery with a reception immediately following at DooLittle Hall (AOG): 3116 Academy Drive.. USAFA, CO 80840-4475 The family has suggested that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the following charities: Class of 70 Gift Fund: USAFA Endowment, 3116 Academy Dr., USAFA, CO 80840-4475 Hock Family Pavilion Hospice at Duke Hospice: 4023 N. Roxboro Rd., Durham, NC 27704

Mr. Vincent Puglisi - Class of 1970 , CS-03

Deceased on July 23, 2015 - Informed on July 24, 2015

Please contact the Association of Graduates for condolence information. A Celebration of Life will be held on 1 Aug 2015 from 1400-1600 hours at his home. Please contact the Association of Graduates for this information.

Mr. John Rankin - Class of 1970 , CS-20

Deceased on March 5, 2020 - Informed on March 13, 2020

UPDATE: A funeral service for Colonel Rankin will be held on 8 Sep 2021 at 1400 hours at the USAFA Cemetery. The original notice is below. Please contact the Association of Graduates for condolence information. A memorial service will be held on 14 Mar 2020 at 1100 hours at St. Alban's Anglican Chruch; 3348 W State Rd 426; Oviedo, FL 32765; (407) 657-2376. His family has suggested that memorial donations be made in lieu of flowers to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation - Georgia Chapter; 57 Executive Park S, Suite 380; Atlanta, GA 30329; (800)344-4823; www.fightcf.cff.org

Mr. Steven Riggs - Class of 1970 , CS-18

Deceased on October 11, 2015 - Informed on October 20, 2015

Please contact the Association of Graduates for condolence information. A Celebration of Life was held on 14 Oct 2015 in Atlantic, IA. His family has suggested that donations in lieu of flowers be made to the following charities: The National Kidney Foundation; 1228 8th St, Suite 103; West Des Moines, IA 50265 (505) 440-0402 www.kidney.org The American Diabetes Association; PO Box 11454; Alexandria, VA 22312 (800) 342-2383 www.diabetes.org

Lt Col (Ret) Larry Ritchard - Class of 1970 , CS-30

Deceased on August 1, 2018 - Informed on August 8, 2018

Please contact the Association of Graduates for condolence information. Colonel Ritchard's obituary may be viewed at www.reislegacycenter.com. Private burial will be in Dayton National Cemetery. The family has suggested that memorial donations be made to The Cleveland Clinic; PO Box 931517; Cleveland, OH 44193-1655; (800) 223-2273 ext. 41245; www.clevelandclinic.org

Mr. Richard Ritter - Class of 1970 , CS-06

Deceased on June 25, 2020 - Informed on July 13, 2020

Please contact the Association of Graduates for condolence information. Funeral services are pending.

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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 published in March 2025.

A: As the Academy’s graduate population ages, Checkpoints has become increasingly insufficient in accommodating the growing number of submitted memorial articles.
A: The new Here’s A Toast: Gone But Not Forgotten publication honors the Long Blue Line by sharing the personal stories of graduates, cadets, Air Training Officers and AOG Honorary Members. It reflects our mission to support the Academy, serve graduates and preserve the heritage of the institution and Long Blue Line.
A: 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: One complimentary copy is provided to a loved one of the deceased memorialized in the publication. Additional printed copies are available for a nominal fee of $25 each. The digital version is available at no cost to all AOG members.
A: AOG members can access the digital issue at usafa.org. 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 $25 here or by calling 719-472-0300. The fee supports providing one complimentary copy to families of those memorialized.
A: See below:
A: Past memorial articles printed in Checkpoints are available as a commemorative keepsake for $15 each. These keepsakes include the photo that ran with the tribute and are printed on sturdy paper, suitable for framing. Articles come enclosed in a blue linen folder and can be ordered here or by calling 719-472-0300. Commemorative keepsake orders will ship or be available for pickup within two weeks of the order date.
A: See below:
A: A major benefit of transitioning to an annual publication is that 2025 memorial articles may run up to 800 words — double the current limit. In the 2026 Here’s A Toast: Gone But Not Forgotten memorial publication — which will include deaths in 2025 — each article will be presented on its own full page.
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: One of the major benefits of transitioning to a dedicated, annual publication is that memorial articles can now be up to 800 words. In the 2026 Here’s A Toast: Gone But Not Forgotten memorial publication — which will include deaths in 2025 — each article will be presented on its own full page.
A: Memorial articles for deaths in 2025 should be emailed when ready to ensure the Association and Foundation can post the tribute on usafa.org/heritage/gbnf.
A: The last issue memorial articles appeared in Checkpoints was in December 2024, but death notices will continue to be published in Checkpoints.
A: Death notices will be printed in each issue of Checkpoints.
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.

Gone But Not Forgotten