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. Jimmie Amos - Class of 1973 , CS-07

Deceased on April 10, 2024 - Informed on January 23, 2025

Col (Ret) Erik Anderson - Class of 1973 , CS-19

Deceased on August 4, 2022 - Informed on August 10, 2022

Please contact the Association of Graduates for condolence information. A Celebration of Life will be held 13 Aug 2022 at 1400 hours at Roan Mountain Community Park, 146 Carter Street, Roan Mountain, TN 37687. A potluck will follow at 1600 hours, which will also be at the park and hosted by Magill Memorial Presbyterian Church. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in Erik's name to ACS Thrift Shop and Food Pantry, c/o Magill Memorial Presbyterian Church, PO Box 83, Roan Mountain, TN 37687

Capt Barry Barr - Class of 1973 , CS-15

Deceased on March 6, 1980

Lt Col (Ret) Byron Beal - Class of 1973 , CS-07

Deceased on August 7, 1998

Mr. Roger Beigh - Class of 1973 , CS-35

Deceased on May 7, 2020 - Informed on April 18, 2022

Please contact the Association of Graduates for condolence information. Funeral services are currently pending. His family has suggested that memorial donations be made in lieu of flowers to the ALS Cure Project https://alscure.net or to Team Gleason https://teamgleason.org. His obituary can be found on the Tulocay Cemetery Funeral Home website at https://www.tulocaycemetery.org/obituary/Roger-Beigh

Col (Ret) Gordon Bendick - Class of 1973 , CS-09

Deceased on September 4, 2023 - Informed on November 15, 2023

Please contact the Association of Graduates for condolence information. Funeral service: A graveside service will be held at 1300 hours on 20 Nov 2023 at the USAFA Cemetery. Memorial donations: In lieu of flowers donations may be made in Gordon's name to the National Character and Leadership Symposium. Address gifts to the Air Force Academy Foundation, 3116 Academy Dr. USAFA, CO 80840. Please note on donation "Class of 1973 Endowment for NCLS." Obituary: https://memorials.aefuneral.com/gordon-bendick/5264299/

Mr. Kenneth Betts , Jr. - Class of 1973 , CS-04

Deceased on October 30, 2020

Mr. David Boeck - Class of 1963 , CS-22

Deceased on November 13, 2024 - Informed on November 19, 2024

Service details: 1300 hours on 11 December 2024 at the USAFA Cemetery. David "Dave" Joseph Boeck passed away on November 13, 2024 in MorningStar Memory Care at Bear Creek in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on July 5, 1940 to parents Joseph Boeck and Sylvia (nee Isleb) Boeck. He graduated from the United States Air Force Academy in 1963 as a Civil Engineer. He was stationed in Moses Lake, Washington and served overseas in Labrador, Newfoundland-Canada and was honorably discharged on June 4, 1969 at the rank of Captain. His awards and decorations include the Air Force Commendation Medal, the Air Force Longevity Service Award (one oak leaf cluster) and the National Defense Service Medal. He received a bachelor's degree of mechanical engineering from Marquette University in 1968 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He then received his master's degree of business administration from Marquette University in 1973. He was married to his childhood sweetheart Kathleen (nee Lowney) Simon from 1963 to 1985. He then found his second and final love and was married to Elaine Piwoni-Boeck from 1989 until her passing in 2019. Little known fact is that he has two patents in his name. He engineered computerized storage and retrieval systems. Some of the end-products (to name a few) were paint, cosmetics, calculators, and his last project involved pharmaceuticals. He loved working and truly missed it when he retired. One of his passions was photography and he spent numerous hours outside his back door in Divide, Colorado taking pictures of the majestic mountains. His other passions were geology and lapidary -spending hours rockhounding, flying personal aircraft, and scuba diving in the Caribbean and Pacific oceans. He is survived by his two children Lynnette (Chuck) Boeck-Lopushansky and Lisa Boeck-Jenkins; his grandchildren David and Lance Jenkins; his nephews Kevin (Kimberly) Boeck, Brian (Kathy) Boeck, and Michael (Rachel) Drake and their families; and his sister-in-laws Eleanore Piwoni, Jo-Ann Piwoni, and Susan Boeck. He is preceded in death by his wife Elaine, brother Arthur "Art", and his parents. A sincere thank you to all who tended to his care throughout the years to include all the team members at MorningStar Memory Care at Bear Creek (too many to list individually) and his healthcare teams from Bloom Health and Bloom Hospice. A special thank you to Quajaun "Q" and Angela Dersno who were his surrogate family and spent numerous hours providing him the love and comfort he needed. A formal burial with full military honors will take place at the United States Air Force Academy Cemetery at 1:00 pm on Wednesday, December 11, 2024. Reception to follow at the Eisenhower Golf Club at the Air Force Academy. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to Class of '63 Memorial Fund, 529631. [Make checks payable to Air Force Academy Foundation, include note with intended fund (Class of '63 Memorial Fund, 529631) along with your first name, last name, email address, home address and who the gift is intended for. Mail to: Air Force Academy Foundation ATTN: Gift Processing 3116 Academy Drive USAF Academy, CO 90840-4475 To make a gift online, please follow this link: usafa.org/63memorial To send flowers to the family or plant a tree

Lt Col (Ret) Robert Bolton - Class of 1973 , CS-02

Deceased on September 11, 2018 - Informed on September 24, 2018

Please contact the Association of Graduates for condolence information. A funeral service was held on 17 Sep 2018 at the USAFA Cadet Catholic Chapel. A graveside service and burial followed at the USAFA Cemetery. His family has suggested that memorial contributions be made to the Cadet Catholic Community; USAFA Endowment; 3116 Academy Dr, Suite 200; USAFA, CO 80840; (719) 472-0300 ext.200; www.usafa.org/give.

Mr. Eric Brown - Class of 1973 , CS-12

Deceased on August 14, 1982

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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