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. Ronald Gundy - Class of 1966 , CS-14

Deceased on October 29, 2023 - Informed on January 12, 2024

Please contact the Association of Graduates for condolence information. Funeral service: 1000 hours on 2 Nov 2023 at First Baptist Church of Rosharon. Interment will follow at 1:00 p.m. at Rosewood Cemetery in Humble, TX. Obituary: https://www.tributearchive.com/obituaries/29753154/ronald-lee-gundy/angleton/texas/palms-funeral-home

Col (Ret) Stephen Hamer - Class of 1959 , CS-08

Deceased on July 5, 2023 - Informed on July 20, 2023

Please contact the Association of Graduates for condolence information. Obituary: https://www.piercefh.com/obituaries/Stephen-Hamer/#!/Obituary Funeral and Services: Visitation 13 Jul 2023 1900-2100 hours at Pierce Funeral Home, 9609 Center St, Manassas, VA 20110 Mass of Christian Burial 14 Jul 2023 at 1100 hours at St. Stephen the Martyr Catholic Church, 23331 Sam Fred Rd, Middleburg, VA 20117 Burial 25 Jul 2023 at 1000 hours USAFA Cemetery; In the event of inclement waether the service will be moved to the Memorial Pavilion. Memorial Doantions: Wounded Warrior Project, PO Box 758516, Topeka, KS 66675 woundedwarriorproject.org Oblates of St. Francis DeSales, 2200 Kentmere Pkwy, Wilmington, DE 19806 https://www.oblates.org/support-us American Life League, PO Box 6170, Falmouth, VA 22403, https://www.all.org/donate VHL Alliance, PO Box 844682, Boston, MA 02284-4682, https://www.vhl.org/donate Tunnel to Towers, 2361 Hylan Blvd, Staten Island, NY 10306, https://t2t.org/donate

Col (Ret) Albert Hamilton - Class of 1965 , CS-12

Deceased on November 24, 2023 - Informed on December 11, 2023

Please contact the Association of Graduates for condolence information. A Celebration of Life was held on 9 Dec 2023 at First United Methodist Church, Bryan, TX. Obituary: https://www.hillierfuneralhome.com/obituaries/colonel-albert-thomas-tom-hamilton

Lt Col (Ret) Henry Happ III - Class of 1972 , CS-27

Deceased on October 30, 2023 - Informed on October 31, 2023

Please contact the Association of Graduates for condolence information. Memorial service: 1400 hours, 18 Nov 2023 at Bella Vista Baptist Church, 2800 Louisiana Blvd N.E., Albuquerque, NM 87110. Obituary: https://www.frenchfunerals.com/obituaries/henry-happ-iii

Lt Col (Ret) James Heffner - Class of 1977 , CS-19

Deceased on November 4, 2023 - Informed on November 20, 2023

Please contact the Association of Graduates for condolence information. A burial service will be held at 1300 hours on 21 Nov 2023 at the USAFA Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made in lieu of flowers to Teller County Regional Animal Shelter https://www.tcrascolorado.org/donate.html Obituary: https://www.echovita.com/us/obituaries/co/woodland-park/james-edward-heffner-17225505

Mr. Timothy Heider - Class of 1994 , CS-28

Deceased on August 23, 2023 - Informed on August 25, 2023

Please contact the Association of Graduates for condolence information. Obituary: https://memorials.cumberlandchapels.com/timothy-heider/5258999/index.php?_ga=2.238005254.788487780.1692988967-2037198424.1692988963 Visitation: 29 Aug 2023 from 1500-2000 Cumberland Chapels, 8300 W Lawrence Ave,Norridge, IL 60706 Funeral Service: Mass of Christian Burial 30 Aug 2023 at 1100 St Francis Borgia Roman Catholic Church, 8033 W Addison St, Chicago, IL 60634 Burial: St. Adalbert Cemetery, 6800 N Milwaukee Ave, Niles, IL 60714 Memorial Donations: Gift of HopeCommunity Foundation, 425 Spring Lake Dr, Itasca, IL 60143-2076; (630) 758-2620; www.giftofhope.org

Maj (Ret) John Helinski - Class of 1963 , CS-21

Deceased on July 5, 2023 - Informed on September 21, 2023

Please contact the Association of Graduates for condolence information. Funeral Mass: 118 Aug 2023 at 1300 hours at the USAFA Community Chapel followed by an interment at the USAFA Cemetery. Memorial Donations: Boy Scouts of America Pathway to the Rockies Council online at <https://pathwaytotherockies.harnessgiving.org/donate/?selected-method=monthly&amount=50&campaign_id=0> or to the Air Force Academy Foundation at <https://securelb.imodules.com/s/1885/21/interior-2col.aspx?sid=1885&gid=2&pgid=418&cid=1063>

Maj Richard Hemmings - Class of 1998 , CS-20

Deceased on February 16, 2023 - Informed on March 14, 2023

Please contact the Association of Graduates for condolence information. Funeral services: 22 Feb 2023 at Einsiedlerhof AS, Germany. Burial is intended in Hungary. Memorial Donations: A GoFundMe has been set up for the family's support at https://gofund.me/ea3a3a30

Lt Col Allan Henley - Class of 2003 , CS-05

Deceased on June 18, 2023 - Informed on July 5, 2023

Please contact the Association of Graduates for condolence information. Obituary: https://www.connerandkoch.com/memorials/allan-henley/5218028/index.php Services information: Visitation - 7 Jul 2023 1700-2000 hours Conner and Koch Life Celebration Home, 92 W Franklin St, Bellbrook, OH 45305 (800) 786-3304 Funeral Service - 8 Jul 2023 at 1100 hours Bellbrook United Methodist Church, 47 E Franklin St, Bellbrook, OH 45305 Burial - 8 Jul 2023 at 1200 hours Bellbrook Cemetery, 3939 Upper Bellbrook Rd, Bellbrook, OH 45305 Full military honors will be rendered. Memorial Donations: Wounded Warrior Project, PO Box 758516, Topeka, KS 66675 (855) 448-3995 woundedwarriorproject.org American Cancer Society, PO Box 22718, Oklahoma City, OK 73123-1718 (800) 227-2345 cancer.org Flowers are also welcome.

Maj (Ret) George Herr , Jr. - Class of 1981 , CS-17

Deceased on January 13, 2023 - Informed on February 21, 2023

Please contact the Association of Graduates for condolence information. Funeral Service: 24 Jan 2023 at 1300 St. Andrew Catholic Church, 16300 Domain Ln, Anchorage, AK 99577 Memorial Donations: Society of American Military Engineers (SAME)- Benjamin B. Talley Scholarship Endowment Fund, C/O Alaska Community Foundation, 3201 C Street, Suite 110, Anchorage, AK 99503. Please make checks payable to the Benjamin B Talley Scholarship Endowment Fund. Online donations may be made at: https://alaskacf.org/funds/benjamin-b-talley-scholarship-endowment-fund/ Obituary: https://obituaries.adn.com/adportal/listingView.html?id=5644

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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