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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Col (Ret) Lewis Svitenko - Class of 1962 , CS-22

Deceased on August 19, 2021 - Informed on August 25, 2021

Please Contact the Association of Graduates for condolence information. A funeral service will be held on 20 Sep 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 Gary Sinise Foundation; PO Box 368; Woodland Hills, CA 91365; (888) 708-7757; www.garysinisefoundation.org/donate.

Lt Col (Ret) Victor Thomas - Class of 1960 , CS-09

Deceased on April 19, 2021 - Informed on April 28, 2021

Please contact the Association of Graduates for condolence information. A memorial service will be held on 1 May 2021 at 1000 hours at the Faith Christian Church; 1100 Buchanan Blvd; Boulder City, NV 89005. His obituary can be found at https://www.bouldercityfamilymortuary.com/obituary/Victor-Thomas. His family has suggested that memorial donations be made in lieu of flowers to the Faith Christian Church Music Department at the address above or online at https://www.myegiving.com/App/Form/d2a6afd5-30cf-45b0-8bfe-faa5a83f4d46. The Church phone number is (702) 293-2454.

Col (Ret) Edward Tooley - Class of 1966 , CS-05

Deceased on April 28, 2020 - Informed on April 28, 2020

Please contact the Association of Graduates for condolence information. His family has suggested that memorial donations be made in lieu of flowers to Birthright of Charleston, P.O. Box 30191, Charleston, SC 29417 or online at www.birthrightofcharleston.org. A mass of Christian Burial will be held on 5 Aug 2021 at 1100 hours at St Benedict's Catholic Church; 950 Darrell Creek Trail; Mt. Pleasant, SC 29466. A second service will be held on 16 Sep 2021at 1300 hours at the USAFA Community Center Chapel followed by interment in the USAFA Cemetery.

Lt Col (Ret) Andrew Travnicek - Class of 1993 , CS-11

Deceased on August 20, 2021 - Informed on August 24, 2021

Please contact the Association of Graduates for condolence information. Visitation will be held on 29 Aug 2021 from 1400 - 1600 hours at Remick &Gendron Funeral Home; 811 Lafayette Rd; Hampton, NH 03842; (603) 926-6500; www.remickgendron.com. A funeral service will be held on 30 Aug 2021 at 1400 hours at Bethany Church; 500 Breakfast Hill Rd; Greenland, NH 03840.

Mr. William Van Amerongen - Class of 1968 , CS-27

Deceased on March 26, 2021 - Informed on March 31, 2021

Please contact the Association of Graduates for condolence information. The family has requested that this be a private service for only family members. Services are pending for Jun or Jul of 2021, no official date has been set by the family.

Mr. William Vinnedge - Class of 1973 , CS-26

Deceased on May 23, 2021 - Informed on June 4, 2021

Please contact the Association of Graduates for condolence information. A funeral service will be held on 11 Jun 2021, at 1000 hours, at the USAFA Cemetery. In the event of inclement weather, the service will be moved to the Memorial Pavilion.

Mr. Robert Weight - Class of 1962 , CS-02

Deceased on September 12, 2021 - Informed on January 24, 2022

Please contact the Association of Graduates for condolence information. Funeral services were held on 8 OCT 2021 at The Eisenhower Chapel at Lowry in Denver, Colorado. UPDATE: His family has suggested memorial donations be made to Mile High 360. Online donations can be made at https://www.milehigh360.org/donate. No further information is available.

Mr. John Whitt - Class of 1978 , CS-28

Deceased on September 16, 2021 - Informed on September 27, 2021

A funeral service will be held on 30 Sep 2021 at 1400 hours at the USAFA Cemetery. No further information is available.

Dr. Richard Wolniewicz - Class of 1964 , CS-08

Deceased on December 21, 2020 - Informed on December 29, 2020

Please contact the Association of Graduates for condolence information. A memorial service will be held on 11 Jan 2021 at 1000 hours at St. Francis of Assisi Roman Catholic Church; 3791 Pike Rd; Longmont, CO 80503. Due to limited attendance please rsvp to his daughter, Susie Nothnagel at brecksusie@yahoo.com. His obituary can be found at https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/longmont-co/richard-wolniewicz-9962870

Mr. Carrick Yaws - Class of 2000 , CS-31

Deceased on April 12, 2021 - Informed on April 19, 2021

Please contact the Association of Graduates for condolence information. A funeral service will be held on 24 Apr 2021 at 1500 hours at the Mount Zion Baptist Church;18 County Road 161; Brundidge, AL 36010. Visitation will begin at 1430 hours immediately preceding the service. His family has suggested that memorial donations be made in his memory to an adoption fund for family friends Jeffrey and Estella Smith at Lifesong for Orphans. Copy and paste this address to your browser: https://give.lifesong.org/lifesong/09489-ff?fbclid=lwAR3YaVmOE4YO4YI4BAO_9u_bks215clrVyE4cj_x_RuW5vnuWNMOTj7HtEo His obituary can be found at www.fuquabankston.com

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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