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. Paul Craig - Class of 1977 , CS-38

Deceased on December 31, 2020 - Informed on January 12, 2021

Please contact the Association of Graduates for condolence information. A funeral service will be held on 20 Jan 2021 at 1000 hours at the USAFA Cemetery Memorial Pavilion. Burial will immediately follow in the cemetery.

Col James Culpepper - Class of 1995 , CS-13

Deceased on December 17, 2020 - Informed on January 5, 2021

Please contact the Association of Graduates for condolence information. A funeral service and burial will be held on 9 Jan 2021 at 1300 at the New Hope Baptist Church; 6573 Highway 145; Meridian, MS 39301. Burial will immediately follow the service in New Hope Baptist Cemetery. His family has suggested that memorial donations be made to Dallas Baptist University at www.DBU.edu where his daughter, Caitlin attends.

Mr. Donovan DeRuyter - Class of 1987 , CS-40

Deceased on September 5, 2021 - Informed on September 10, 2021

Please contact the Association of Graduates for condolence information. A funeral service will be held on 13 Sep 2021 at 1100 hours at the St. Joseph Catholic Church; 6180 East Willow Street; Long Beach, CA 90815. His family has suggested that memorial donations be made in lieu of flowers to the American Cancer Society; PO Box 22718; Oklahoma City, OK 73123-1718; (800) 227-2345; Donate Today | The American Cancer Society <https://donate3.cancer.org/?campaign=default&lang=en%20&_ga=2.65652334.1365290812.1631231870-412661109.1621870687>.

Mr. Nathan Dodd - Class of 2001 , CS-19

Deceased on April 22, 2021 - Informed on April 29, 2021

Visitation will be held on 1 May 2021 from 0900 to 1300 hours at the Living Glory Church; 200 E Butcher Switch Rd; Lafayette, LA 70501. A funeral service will immeditely follow at 1300 hours at the chruch and will be streamed on Facebook Live: https://www.facebook.com/LivingGloryChurch. Burial will be in Greenlawn Memorial Gardens 2300 N University Ave; Lafayette, LA 70507 after the service. Condolences may be left online and his obituary seen at https://www.waltersfh.com/obituary/NathanNate-Dodd

Brig Gen (Ret) Frank Drew

Deceased on November 13, 2021 - Informed on November 23, 2021

Please contact the Association of Graduates for condolence information. A funeral service will be held on 4 Dec 2021 at 1100 hours at St. Matthew Lutheran Church, 800 N New Rd, Waco, TX 76710, (254) 772-9349. No obituary is available.

Mr. Nick Duran - Class of 2023

Deceased on June 24, 2021 - Informed on June 29, 2021

Please contact the Association of Graduates for condolence information. The wake will be held on 1 Jul 2021 beginning at 1900 hours at the Keene Spanish Seventh Day Adventist Church; 304 US-67; Keene, TX 76059. A candlelight vigil will immediately follow the wake at 2130 hours. The funeral service will be held at the church on 2 July 2021 at 1900 hours. Cadet Duran will be laid to rest in Dallas Fort Worth National Cemetery; 2000 Mountain Creek Pkwy; Dallas, TX 75211 on 3 July 2021 with the committal service beginning at 0930.

Mr. Stephen Durham - Class of 1978 , CS-23

Deceased on June 10, 2021 - Informed on June 22, 2021

Please contact the Association of Graduates for condolence information. Services will be held on 28 Jun 2021, 1330 hours at the Community Chapel at the United States Air Force Academy, followed by inurnment. The service will be moved to the Memorial Pavilion in the event of inclement weather.

Dr. Jeffrey Edgecomb - Class of 1975

Deceased on April 14, 2021 - Informed on October 1, 2024

Please contact the Association of Graduates for condolence information. Memorial service: 1300 hours 17 July 2021, at the Hammond Street Congregational Church, 28 High St., Bangor, ME 04401. Interment: 1400 hours 29 July 2021 at the Maine Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 143 Blue Star Ave., August ME 04330. Obituary: https://obituaries.bangordailynews.com/obituary/jeffrey-jeff-edgecomb-1082371528

Maj (Ret) Richard Fallon - Class of 1968 , CS-14

Deceased on January 6, 2021 - Informed on January 14, 2021

Please contact the Association of Graduates for condolence infomation. A Celebration of Life will be held on 16 Jan 2021 at 1400 hours at the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church;

Mr. William Finch - Class of 1965 , CS-01

Deceased on October 14, 2021 - Informed on November 9, 2021

Please contact the Association of Graduates for condolence information. A memorial service was held on 21 Oct 2021 in Excelsior, MN. He will be buried on 15 Nov 2021 at 1030 hours at the USAFA Cemetery. In the event of inclement weather the USAFA service will be moved to the Memorial Pavilion. His obituary can be found at Huber Funeral Home, Excelsior Chapel <https://memorials.huberfunerals.com/william-finch/4755776/index.php> or at the Star Tribune <https://m.startribune.com/obituaries/detail/0000405848/?fullname=william-steve-finch>. His family would prefer a memorial donation be made in lieu of flowers, but did not specify a charity.

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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