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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1st Lt Roger Roselle - Class of 1970 , CS-10

Deceased on December 29, 1972

Mr. Michael Rosenblatt - Class of 1970 , CS-19

Deceased on February 15, 2018 - Informed on February 16, 2018

Please contact the Association of Graduates for condolence information. A funeral service will be held on 19 Feb 2018 at 1000 hours at the USAFA Cadet Chapel, Jewish Synagogue. Interment will follow in the USAFA Cemetery with a reception following at the AOG Building, Doolittle Hall; 3116 Academy Dr; USAF Academy, CO 80840.

Mr. Thomas Rosenstock - Class of 1970 , CS-31

Deceased on July 7, 1979

Lt Col (Ret) Ronald Rouse - Class of 1970 , CS-11

Deceased on June 22, 1995

Capt Gilbert Rovito - Class of 1970 , CS-04

Deceased on June 14, 1973

Mr. Michael Ryan - Class of 1970 , CS-13

Deceased on February 20, 2014 - Informed on February 27, 2014

Please contact the Association of Graduates for condolence information. Services are not being held. Donations are not requested.

Lt Col (Ret) Harry Sands III - Class of 1970 , CS-14

Deceased on December 12, 1999

Col (Ret) Timothy Sharkey - Class of 1970 , CS-16

Deceased on January 26, 1996

Lt Col (Ret) James Shirley - Class of 1970 , CS-21

Deceased on November 10, 1998

Maj (Ret) Charlie Smisson , Jr. - Class of 1970 , CS-02

Deceased on March 25, 2022 - Informed on March 30, 2022

Please contact the Association of Graduates for condolence information. His viewing will be held 31 March 2022 at 1800 hrs. at Torbert Funeral Chapels South, 1145 E. Lebanon Rd., Dover, DE 19901. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 1 April 2022 at 1150 hrs. at Holy Cross Catholic Church, 641 S. State St., Dover DE 19901. Interment will be at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date. For those unable to attend the funeral service, there will be a livestream on www.torbertfuneral.com that can be found under the Upcoming Livestreams tab and viewed by clicking on his name. The family has suggested in lieu of flowers contributions be made to American Legion Charities. https://mylegion.org/PersonifyEbusiness/Give/Donate-Online/Donate-Now?CashProductId=13441

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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 will 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