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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Dr. Gary Peterson - Class of 1967 , CS-17

Deceased on September 9, 2021 - Informed on September 20, 2021

A Celebration of Life service will be held on 1 Oct 2021 at 1400 hours at Walkers Funeral Home; 120 Franklin St; Chapel Hill, NC 27516; (919) 942-3861; www.walkersfuneralservice.com. Interment will follow on a later date still to be determined. His obituary can be found at https://walkersfuneralservice.com/tribute/details/3023/Gary-Peterson-MD/obituary.html#tribute-start

Lt Col (Ret) Gary Pointer - Class of 1971 , CS-01

Deceased on September 15, 2020 - Informed on January 29, 2021

Please contact the Association of Graduates for condolence information. A funeral service will be held on 30 June 2021 at 1000 hours at the USAFA Cemetery.

Maj (Ret) George Pollard - Class of 1972 , CS-34

Deceased on June 21, 2021 - Informed on June 22, 2021

Please contact the Association of Graduates for condolence information. A Memorial service was held on 27 June 2021 at 1600 at the Pulpit Rock Church in Colorado Springs. Burial and graveside service will be held on 6 Aug 2021 at 0900 hours at the USAFA Cemetery. Immediately following the burial a reception will be held at Holy Trinity Anglican Church; 13990 Glen Eagle Dr; Colorado Springs, CO 80921.

Lt Col (Ret) Clinton Price - Class of 1967 , CS-13

Deceased on December 26, 2020 - Informed on January 26, 2021

Please contact the Association of Graduates for condolence information. A funeral service will be held on 21 June 2021 at the USAFA Cemetery Memorial Pavilion. Placement in the columbarium will immediately follow. No obituary information is available.

Mr. John Rankin - Class of 1970 , CS-20

Deceased on March 5, 2020 - Informed on March 13, 2020

UPDATE: A funeral service for Colonel Rankin will be held on 8 Sep 2021 at 1400 hours at the USAFA Cemetery. The original notice is below. Please contact the Association of Graduates for condolence information. A memorial service will be held on 14 Mar 2020 at 1100 hours at St. Alban's Anglican Chruch; 3348 W State Rd 426; Oviedo, FL 32765; (407) 657-2376. His family has suggested that memorial donations be made in lieu of flowers to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation - Georgia Chapter; 57 Executive Park S, Suite 380; Atlanta, GA 30329; (800)344-4823; www.fightcf.cff.org

Mr. Cyrus Rickards - Class of 1963 , CS-17

Deceased on June 22, 2021 - Informed on June 28, 2021

Please contact the Association of Graduates for condolence information. A memorial service will be held on 30 Jun 2021 at 1000 hours at the St Ignatius Parish; 35 Arden Way; Sacramento, CA 95825; (916) 488-3907. His obituary may be found at https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/sacbee/name/cyrus-rickards-obituary?n=cyrus-rickards&pid=199196060&fhid=8307&utm_source=MarketingCloud&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=ObitMessenger_Results_PowerInbox_Neustar_081320&utm_content=ObituaryURL&sfmc_id=10120574&env=1bb3e59a170d6ee57c05160300b4089f385764d2.

Lt Col (Ret) Lesley Robinson - Class of 1979 , CS-40

Deceased on May 5, 2021 - Informed on May 19, 2021

Please contact the Association of Graduates for condolence information. Services and burial were held on 14 May 2021 in North Carolina. Burial was in Coastal Carolina Veteran's Cemetery. His family has suggested that memorial donations be made in lieu of flowers to the Masonic Home For Children at Oxford; 600 College St; Oxford, NC 27565; (800) 505-4357; https://my.simplegive.com/App/Giving/mhco. His obituary can be found at https://www.bryantfuneralhomeandcrematory.com/obituary/lesley-robinson.

Mr. Michael Roth - Class of 1963 , CS-05

Deceased on January 23, 2021 - Informed on January 25, 2021

Please contact the Association of Graduates for condolence information. A funeral service will be held on 31Jan 2021 at 1300 hours CST at the Temple Beth-El in San Antonio, TX. The service will be live-streamed at https://www.beth-elsa.org/live-streaming/. His obituary may be found at www.porterloring.com His family has suggested that memorial donations be made in lieu of flowers to Musical Education Programs at Trinity University. Checks made payable to Trinity University may be sent to Trinity University Advancement; One Trinity Place #49; San Antonio, TX 78212; (888) 883-6667. Please be sure to include a note directing where you wish your donation to go. Donations may also be made online at www.trinity.edu/give-trinity. UPDATE 9/15/2022: A funeral service will be held on 14 Oct 2022 at 1030 hours at the USAFA Cemetery Memorial Pavilion followed by placement in the Columbarium.

Col (Ret) Van Sanders , Jr. - Class of 1965 , CS-03

Deceased on April 29, 2021 - Informed on May 4, 2021

A direct burial will take place on 7 May 2021 at 1100 hours at the USAFA Cemetery. No service is planned, however, the class of 1965 is invited to attend the burial. Condolence information is not available.

Lt Col John Schriever - Class of 1997 , CS-21

Deceased on December 17, 2020 - Informed on January 7, 2021

Please contact the Association of Graduates for condolence information. A Celebration of Life will be held on 9 Jan 2021 at 1400 hours at the Cresson Volunteer Fire Dept.; 111 Concorde Cir; Cresson, TX 76035. His obituary can be found at https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/gosanangelo/obituary.aspx?n=lieutenant-colonel-john-michael-schriever-yeti&pid=197443292&utm_source=MarketingCloud&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=ObitMessenger_Results_PowerInbox_Neustar_081320&utm_content=ObituaryURL&sfmc_id=10120574.

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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