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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1st Lt Thomas Sanders - Class of 1961 , CS-14

Deceased on July 7, 1965

Mr. Thomas Savala - Class of 1979 , CS-01

Deceased on December 28, 1987

Lt Col (Ret) Thomas Sawner III - Class of 1976 , CS-06

Deceased on July 11, 2010 - Informed on July 20, 2010

Please contact the Association of Gradautes for condolence information. Memorial Service will be held on 26 July 2010 at 1100 hrs at the Clarendon United Methodist Church; 606 N Irving St; Arlington VA 22201 Memorial donations may be made to the Educational Options Foundation; Thomas Sawner Memorial; 3440 N Fairfax Dr; Arlington VA 22201 www.edoptions.com

Mr. Thomas Schlechte - Class of 1960 , CS-02

Deceased on September 18, 2022 - Informed on November 6, 2024

Please contact the Association of Graduates for condolence information. Service details: A private family service was held. Memorial donations: In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Sts. Mary and John Parish, 613 Cherry St., Evansville, IN 47713 or Monastery of St. Clare, 6825 Nurrenbern Road, Evansville, IN 47712. Obituary: https://www.browningfuneral.com/obituaries/Thomas-Tom-Walter-Schlechte?obId=25915442

Mr. Thomas Schmidt - Class of 1986

Deceased on November 28, 1983 - Informed on November 28, 1983

Mr. Thomas Schmitt - Class of 1974 , CS-38

Deceased on December 22, 1997

Maj Kelly Schuetz - Class of 2010 , CS-08

Deceased on September 25, 2022 - Informed on October 5, 2022

Please contact the Association of Graduates for codolence information. A Funeral Mass will be held on 8 Oct 2022 at 1100 hours at Good Shepherd Catholic Church, 4665 Thomasville Road, Tallahassee, Florida, 32309. A reception will follow at the church. The church service will be live streamed at the Good Shepherd website <https://goodshepherdparish.org/livestream>. Burial will be held on 8 Oct 2022 at 1400 hours at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Cemetery, 3609 Coastal Highway, Crawfordville, Florida, 32327. In lieu of flowers, the family request donations be made to the Air Force Aid Society <https://portal.afas.org/donate/?freq=1&isMemoriam=0&utm_source=website&utm_medium=donate-button&utm_campaign=EOYappeal>.

Col (Ret) Michael Scott - Class of 1967 , CS-16

Deceased on September 3, 2020 - Informed on September 8, 2020

Please contact the Association of Graduates for condolence information. Services will be held privately due to COVID, on 9 Oct 2020 at 10:00 am at the USAFA Cemetery. His obituary may be viewed at; https://www.tsfs.co/obituaries/Col-Michael-Thomas-Scott-US-Air-Force-Ret?obId=18233297#/celebrationWall. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Michael's memory made out to the Air Force Academy Foundation, (afacademyfoundation.org) or to Suncrest Hospice, Colorado Springs, (http://suncrestcolorado.com/location/suncrest-hospice-colorado-springs/). The family respectfully requests no flowers.

Dr. Thomas Seebode - Class of 1960 , CS-07

Deceased on August 26, 2015 - Informed on August 26, 2015

Please contact the Association of Graduates for condolence information. A Celebration of Life will be held on 29 Aug 2015 at 1700 hours at the Lebanon United Methodist Church; 10220 Garners Ferry Rd; Eastover, SC 29044. A funeral service will be held at the US Air Force Academy at a later date. The family has suggested that donations in lieu of flowers be sent to the USAFA Endowment; Class of 1960 Heritage Fund; 3116 Academy Dr; USAF Academy, CO 80840 or the Lebanon United Methodist Church Building Fund at the address above.

Lt Col (Ret) Thomas Shircliff , Jr. - Class of 1981 , CS-26

Deceased on July 29, 2020 - Informed on July 30, 2020

Please contact the Association of Graduates for condolence information. A rosary will be held on 7 Aug 2020 at a time still to be determined at the DeGuispe Funeral Home; 9001 Orlando Avenue; Maitland, FL 32751. Attendees are respectfully asked to wear masks inside the funeral home. For those who are unable to attend in person, the service will be available to view via livestream. Services will be held 8 Aug 2020 at 1:00 pm at the Annunciation Catholic Church; 1020 Montgomery Road; Altamonte Springs, FL 32714. Attendees are respectfully asked to wear masks inside the church. For those who are unable to attend in person, the service will be available to view live. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbbOyVWLs_g&feature=youtu.be>A commitment ceremony is being scheduled at the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, CO. For those who are unable to attend in person, the ceremony will be available to view via livestream.

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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