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. Joseph Hoyle - Class of 1974 , CS-36

Deceased on September 27, 2024 - Informed on October 24, 2024

Please contact the Association of Graduates for condolence information. Celebration of Life: 1400 hours on 19 October 2024 at David Baptist Church, 2300 David Baptist Church Rd, Kings Mountain, NC 28086. Memorial donations: In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Joni and Friends North Carolina, 616-A Matthew's-Mint Hill Rd., Matthews, NC 28105 (or online at www.joniandfriends.org/north-carolina/), and Wake the World, 339 Legend Dr., Asheboro, NC 27205 (or via Venmo: @wake-the-world). Obituary: https://www.shelbystar.com/obituaries/pwlm0962609

Lt Col (Ret) Gary Horowitz - Class of 1974 , CS-37

Deceased on October 17, 2023 - Informed on October 24, 2024

Please contact the Association of Graduates for condolence information. Graveside service: 1300 hours on 22 October 2023 at United Hebrew Cemetery, 7855 Canton Ave., St. Louis, MO 63130. Memorial donations: In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Samburu Project, https://thesamburuproject.org/. Obituary: https://www.rindskopfroth.com/obituary/gary-horowtiz-md

Col (Ret) Gerald Carpenter - Class of 1970 , CS-08

Deceased on September 11, 2024 - Informed on October 23, 2024

Please contact the Association of Graduates for condolence information. Visitation: 1600 hours on 25 September 2024 at Palm Mortuary-Eastern, 7600 S. Eastern Ave., Las Vegas, NV 89123. Funeral Service: 1320 hours on 27 September 2024 at Southern Nevada Veteran's Memorial Cemetery, 1900 Veterans Memorial Dr., Boulder City, NV 89005. Obituary: https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/las-vegas-nv/gerald-carpenter-11985401

Lt Col (Ret) Paul Munninghoff - Class of 1969 , CS-17

Deceased on February 3, 2020 - Informed on October 22, 2024

Please contact the Association of Graduates for condolence information. There will be no services Obituary: https://starjournalnow.com/2020/02/12/obituary-paul-munninghoff/

Maj (Ret) Keith Lockhart - Class of 1963 , CS-08

Deceased on August 17, 2024 - Informed on October 21, 2024

Please contact the Association of Graduates for condolence information. Funeral service: 1100 hours on 26 August 2024 at the Flower Mound Family Funearl Home, 3550 Firewheel Dr., Flower Mound, TX 75028 Interment: Interment will be held at a later date at the Dallas Fort Worth National Cemetery with full military honors. Obituary: https://www.daltonandson.com/obituaries/Keith-Edwin-Lockhart?obId=32823440

Lt Col (Ret) John Conn , Jr. - Class of 1965 , CS-11

Deceased on October 6, 2024 - Informed on October 17, 2024

Please contact the Assocation of Graduates for codolence information. Celebration of Life: 1100 hours on 25 October 2024 at the USAFA Cemetery. Memorial donations: In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Alzheimer's Association at www.alz.org/donate Obituary: https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/abqjournal/name/john-conn-obituary?id=56509250

Capt Chad Demers - Class of 2015 , CS-35

Deceased on October 3, 2024 - Informed on October 10, 2024

Please contact the Associationof Graduates for condolence information. Visitation: 1500 until 1800 hours 6 October 2024 at Grafton Lutheran Church, 143 5th St. W., Grafton, ND 58237. Prayer service: 1800 hours on 6 October 2024 at Grafton Lutheran Church, 143 5th St. W., Grafton, ND 58237. Funeral service: 1000 hours on 7 October 2024 at Grafton High School Gymnasium, 1548 School Rd., Grafton, ND 58237. Obituary: https://www.tollefsonfuneralhome.com/obituary/chad-demers#:~:text=It%20is%20with%20heavy%20hearts,support%20in%20all%20his%20endeavors.

Maj (Ret) Reginald Parks - Class of 1972 , CS-29

Deceased on October 2, 2024 - Informed on October 10, 2024

Please contact the Association of Graduates for condolence information. Visitation: 1800 until 2000 hours on 7 October 2024 at Forest Lawn Funeral Home, 7909 Mormon Bridge Rd., Omaha, NE 68152. Funeral service: 1300 hours on 8 October 2024 at Forest Lawn Funeral Home, 7909 Mormon Bridge, R., Omaha, NE 68152. Burial to follow at Forest Lawn Cemetery. Obituary: https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/omaha/name/reginald-parks-obituary?id=56465332

Col (Ret) Jeffrey Levy - Class of 1964 , CS-09

Deceased on September 30, 2024 - Informed on October 10, 2024

Please contact the Association of Graduates for condolence information. Funeral service: 1100 hours on 6 October 2024, at Demaine Fairfax Funeral Home, 10565 Main St., Fairfax, VA 22030. Visitation will follow at 1130 until 1500 hours. Memorial donations: In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the National Veteran's Association, https://nvf.org/veterans-memorials-dedications/. Obituary: https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/fairfax-va/jeffrey-levy-12011817

Mr. Robert Avila - Class of 1984 , CS-04

Deceased on June 9, 2023 - Informed on October 10, 2024

Please contact the Association of Graduates for condolence information. No further details are available at this time.

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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