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.

Reset
Mr. Russel Akerblom , Jr. - Class of 1979

Deceased on June 13, 1976 - Informed on June 13, 1976

Mr. Scott Allan - Class of 1979 , CS-25

Deceased on May 5, 2020 - Informed on June 8, 2020

Please contact the Association of Graduates for condolence information. Funeral services are pending at this time. His family has suggested that memorial donations be made in lieu of flowers to the following charities: Scholarships for Military Children; Fisher House Foundation; 12300 Twinbrook Pkwy, Suite 410;Rockville, MD 20852; (888) 294-8560; www.militaryscholar.org Southern Arizona Research, Science, and Engineering Foundation (SARSEF); 4574 E Broadway Blvd; Tucson, AZ 85711; (520) 273-8259; www.sarsef.org

Mr. Garth Anderson - Class of 1979 , CS-33

Deceased on April 13, 1996

Mr. Jay Armstrong - Class of 1979 , CS-01

Deceased on May 21, 2014 - Informed on June 9, 2014

Please contact the Association of Graduates for condolence information. Services were held on 27 May 2014 in Conroe, TX.

Mr. Daniel Baumgartner , Jr. - Class of 1979 , CS-24

Deceased on April 23, 2023 - Informed on May 5, 2023

Please contact the Association of Graduates fro condolence information. Funeral Service: 8 May 2023 at 1100 hours Covenant Funeral Service-Stafford, 1310 Courthouse Rd, Stafford, VA 22554 Burial: Follows funeral service Quantico National Cemetery, 18424 Joplin Rd, Triangle, VA 22172 A reception at the funeral home will be held after the burial. Memorial Donations: Please make Checks payable to WarFighters PHC. Please notate on memo line "For Bubba Memorial." WarFighters Motorcyle Club, 5219 Cedar Ridge Dr, Fredericksburg, VA 22407

Mr. Jon Box - Class of 1979 , CS-36

Deceased on March 15, 2021 - Informed on April 13, 2021

Please contact the Association of Graduates for condolence information. A funeral service was held on 20 Mar 2021 at Twickenham Church of Christ in Huntsville, AL. His family has suggested that memorial donations be made in lieu of flowers to His Way, Inc., a faith based addiction recovery program. Donations may be made online at https://hiswayinc.org/ways-to-give/

Mr. Keith Brandin - Class of 1979 , CS-06

Deceased on October 31, 2016 - Informed on November 4, 2016

Please contact the Association of Graduates for condolence information. A private family service was held 6 Nov 2016. The family has suggested that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation; 26 Broadway, 14th Floor; New York, NY 10004 (212) 785-9595 www.jdrf.org

Mr. Steven Candeto - Class of 1979 , CS-10

Deceased on May 19, 1996

Maj (Ret) John Carpenter - Class of 1979 , CS-19

Deceased on June 10, 2023 - Informed on February 5, 2024

Please contact the Association of Graduates for condolence information. A private memorial service and burial service will be held at a later date at the USAFA Cemetery. Obituary: https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/athens-al/john-carpenter-11328095

Maj (Ret) William Clardy - Class of 1979 , CS-07

Deceased on July 24, 2007 - Informed on July 27, 2007

Condolences: Mrs Tawnya Clardy, C/O Association of Graduates. Memorial Services: Visitation will be held on 29 July from 1700-2000 at the Grace Fellowship Baptist Church, 7804 Eckhert Rd, San Antonio TX. Memorial Service will be held on 30 July 2007 at 1200 hrs at the Crossroads Baptist Church, 8300 Tezel Rd, San Antonio TX. Interment will follow at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery. Funeral Arrangement are be handled by Sunset Northwest Funeral Home, 6321 Bandera Rd, San Antonio TX 78238.

Page 1 of 8 total

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