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. John McDonald - Class of 1972 , CS-06

Deceased on October 24, 2024 - Informed on November 18, 2024

Memorial service: 1100 hours on 25 November 2024 at Franklin First United Methodist Church, 120 Aldersgate Way, Franklin, TN 37069. A recepition will follow. Interment with miliatry honors will immediately follow at the Middle Tennessee State Veterans Cemetery, 7931 McCrory Lane, Nashville, TN 37221. Memorial donations: In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Friends of Warner Parks, warnerparks.org/support/tribute-gifts or mailed to Friends of Warner Parks, 50 Vaughn Rd, Nashville, TN 37221. Obituary: https://www.alternativecremationandfuneralservice.com/obituary/john-mcdonald

Lt Col (Ret) Gary Pfeifer - Class of 1963 , CS-03

Deceased on October 27, 2024 - Informed on November 7, 2024

Please contact the Association of Graduates for condolence information. Funeral Mass: 1100 hours on 7 November 2024, at the St. Stephen Martyr Catholic Church, 1544 S Battlefield Blvd, Chesapeake, VA 23322. Obituary: https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/name/gary-pfeifer-obituary?id=56653012

Maj (Ret) Dorman Reed , Jr. - Class of 1964 , CS-09

Deceased on July 14, 2024 - Informed on November 7, 2024

Please contact the Association of Graduates for condolence informaiton. Service details: 1300 hours on 29 July 2024, at Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery at North Little Rock,1501 West Maryland Avenue, North Little, AR 72120 Memorial donations: In lieu of flowers donations can be made to DAV (Disabled American Veterans) https://help.dav.org/page/51242/donate/1?ea.tracking.id=fund_prgm&en_txn6=DFN001AABLGALA&utm_campaign=fund&utm_medium=programmatic&utm_source=display&utm_content=legaacyclio, or to PVA (Paralyzed Veterans of America) https://secure.pva.org/?sc=website&mc=WEO23JN&segment-code=ZZZ&utm_source=legacy&utm_medium=legacy&utm_content=evergreen&utm_campaign=WEO23JN. Obituary: https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/name/dorman-reed-obituary?id=55689317.

Col (Ret) John Stover - Class of 1961 , CS-17

Deceased on October 21, 2024 - Informed on November 6, 2024

Please contact the Association Graduates for condolence information. Memorial service: 1100 hours on 16 November 2024, at Whitney & Murphy Funeral Home, 4800 E. Indian School Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85018. Interment will take place at the USAFA cemetery at a later date. Memorial donation: In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Hospice of the Valley https://www.hov.org/donate/. Obituary: https://www.azcentral.com/obituaries/pazs0988808

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

Reverend David Jareo - Class of 1976 , CS-01

Deceased on October 23, 2024 - Informed on November 5, 2024

Please contact the Association of Graduates for condolence information. Celebration of Life: 1000 hours on 11 Nov 2024, at Heritage Hill Church of the Nazarene, 6909 Cornhusker Rd, Papillion, NE 68133 Interment: Will be held at a later date at the Omaha National Cemetery with full military honors. Memorial donations: I lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Nazarene Compassionate Ministries, https://www.churchteams.com/m/Give.asp?oID=15364&aID=V2tTRHQwdGNCTW5LbzFlQXpYSUIrSldIUmVNUTFPWFA%3D. Obituary: https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/papillion-ne/david-jareo-12043930

Lt Col (Ret) Christopher Soto - Class of 1975 , CS-23

Deceased on October 16, 2024 - Informed on October 30, 2024

Please contact the Association of Graduates for condolence information. Service detail: 1000 hours on 4 November 2024 at First Baptist Church of Woodbridge, 13600 Minnieville Road, Woodbridge, VA 22193. Memorial donations: In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the charity of your choice. Obituary: https://www.tributearchive.com/obituaries/33562542/christopher-c-soto

Col (Ret) George Greaves

Deceased on September 22, 2024 - Informed on October 29, 2024

Please contact the Association of Graduates for condolence information. A service will be held in early spring 2025 at the USAFA Cemetery. Memorial donations: In lieu of flowers donations can be made to DAV: Diabled American Veterans at https://help.dav.org/page/66135/donate/1?ea.tracking.id=davweb_mainbutton&en_txn6=F24FN006AADVAA&utm_campaign=fund&utm_medium=mainweb&utm_source=dav&utm_content=redbutton_camptemp&_gl=1*16c8qfk*_gcl_au*MTk4MDMyNTA0NC4xNzMwMjI0MjA5*_ga*NjA5NzU2MTQ4LjE3MzAyMjQyMTA.*_ga_1NLNFTWZTF*MTczMDIyNDIwOS4xLjAuMTczMDIyNDIwOS42MC4wLjA.

Lt Col (Ret) Steven Eszenyi - Class of 1965 , CS-03

Deceased on July 15, 2024 - Informed on October 29, 2024

Please contact the Association of Graduates for condolence information. Service details: A private service was held for the family. Obituary: https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/surprise-az/steven-eszenyi-11900731

Mr. Alexander Thomas - Class of 2002 , CS-27

Deceased on October 20, 2024 - Informed on October 24, 2024

Please contact the Association of Graduates for condolence information. Memorial service: 1430 hours on 24 October 2024 at Saint Margaret's Episcopal Church, 8515 Rea Rd., Waxhaw, NC 28173. Memorial donations: In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation, https://themmrf.org/ or to the National Kidney Foundation, https://www.kidney.org/?campaign=497078. Obituary: https://www.throbertson.com/obituaries/Alexander-Paul-Thomas?obId=33498086#/obituaryInfo

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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 will be published around March 2025.

As the Academy’s graduate population ages, Checkpoints has become increasingly stretched in accommodating the growing number of submitted memorial articles.
The new Here’s A Toast: Gone But Not Forgotten publication will honor the Long Blue Line by sharing the personal stories of graduates and preserving their legacy. It reflects the Association and Foundation’s mission to support the Academy, serve graduates and preserve the heritage of the institution and Long Blue Line.
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: As part of this new service, a complimentary copy will be provided to a loved one of the deceased memorialized in the publication. Additional printed copies will be available for a nominal fee. The digital version will be available to all AOG members.
A: AOG members can access the inaugural digital issue at usafa.org once live. 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 pre-order for $25 at shop.usafa.org or by calling 719-472-0300. Proceeds will help fund the program and offset the costs of providing a complimentary copy to families of fallen graduates, Air Training Officers, and cadets.
A: See below:
Each memorial article is available as a commemorative keepsake for $15. These articles are printed on parchment-like paper suitable for framing and come enclosed in a folder. Pre-orders can be placed at shop.usafa.org or by calling 719-472-0300.
A: See below:
A: Jan. 15 is the deadline for memorial article submissions for 2024 deaths.
A: Memorial articles should be 400 or fewer words in the inaugural publication.
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: Memorial articles for deaths in 2025 should be emailed when ready to ensure the Association can post the tribute on usafa.org/heritage/gbnf.
A: Memorial articles won’t appear in Checkpoints following the December 2024 issue, but the magazine will continue to list death notices.
A: Death notices will be printed in each issue of Checkpoints.
A: One of the major benefits of transitioning to a dedicated, annual publication is that memorial articles for deaths in 2025 can be up to 800 words. Each article will be respectfully presented on its own full page.
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.
A: Please reach out to David Bitton, assistant director of strategic communications and publications, at 719-247-8745 or use our Contact Form.

Gone But Not Forgotten