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.
Maj (Ret)
Richard
Rowan
- Class of 1967
,
CS-04
Deceased on January 21, 2025 - Informed on February 13, 2025
Celebration of Life: 1400 hours on 1 February 2025, at the Raymer-Kepner Funeral Home, 6901 Old Statesville Rd, Huntersville, NC 28078. Interment: 1630 hours on 1 February 2025, at Crown Memorial Park, 9620 Rodney St, Pineville, NC 28134. Memorial donations: In lieu of flowers donations can be made to American Heart Association at https://www.heart.org/ or the Veterans Yoga Project at https://veteransyogaproject.org/. Obituary: https://www.kepnerfh.com/obituaries/richard-rowan
Lt Col (Ret)
Joseph
Calderon
- Class of 1984
,
CS-01
Deceased on February 2, 2025 - Informed on February 12, 2025
Service: Details are not available at this time. Obituary: https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/riverside-ca/joseph-calderon-12236295
Mr.
Johnny
Stavely
- Class of 1969
,
CS-08
Deceased on January 16, 2025 - Informed on February 12, 2025
Service details: Burial at USAFA Cemetery will be held at a later date. Obituary: https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/name/johnny-stavely-obituary?id=57332154
Col (Ret)
Michael
Clarke
- Class of 1960
,
CS-13
Deceased on January 14, 2025 - Informed on February 12, 2025
Service: Burial will be held at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date.
Lt Col (Ret)
Thomas
McAtee
- Class of 1962
,
CS-11
Deceased date unknown - Informed on February 12, 2025
Visitation: 1600 until 1800 hours on 30 January 2025, at Bucktrout of Williamsburg, 4124 Ironbound Rd., Williamsburg, VA 23188. Funeral Mass: 1500 hours on 31 January 2025, at St. Bede Catholic Church, 3686 Ironbound Rd., Williamsburg, VA 23188. To view the livestream go to www.bedeva.org and select "Watch Livestream Mass". A reception will immediately follow in the James River Grand Ballroom at The Kingsmill Resort,1010 Kingsmill Rd, Williamsburg, VA Burial service: 1230 hours on 4 February 2025, at the USAFA Cemetery, Colorado Springs, CO. Memorial donations: In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Williamsburg Aviation Scholarship Program, https://www.tmcfunding.com/funds/williamsburg-aviation-scholarship-program-wasp-/12369/ Obituary: https://www.bucktroutfuneralhome.net/obituaries/Thomas-Tuck-Pearson-Mcatee?obId=34822835
Mr.
Fletcher
Wiley
- Class of 1965
,
CS-20
Deceased date unknown - Informed on February 12, 2025
No details available at this time.
Mr.
Alan
Mackey
- Class of 1985
,
CS-40
Deceased on February 3, 2025 - Informed on February 7, 2025
Funeral service: 1000 hours on 14 February 2025, at the USAFA Cemetery, Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Lt Col (Ret)
Gregory
White
- Class of 1975
,
CS-01
Deceased on June 9, 2023 - Informed on February 7, 2025
Memorial service: 1300 hours 18 May 2024, 26 Rust Pond Rd., Wolfeboro, New Hampshire. Memorial donations: In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Cornerstone VNA, https://cornerstonevna.org/donate/. Obituary: https://everloved.com/life-of/gregory-white/
Lt Col (Ret)
James
Thyng
- Class of 1963
,
CS-12
Deceased on January 16, 2025 - Informed on February 4, 2025
Memorial service: 1100 hours on 1 February 2025 at the First Congregational Church, 24 Main Street, Pittsfield, NH. Memorial donations: In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Harrison Thyng Memorial Maintenance Fund of the Pittsfield Historical Society, P.O. Box 173, Pittsfield, NH, 03263 or the First Congregational Church Building Fund, P.O. Box 188, Pittsfield, NH, 03263. Obituary: https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/unionleader/name/james-thyng-obituary?id=57389789
Col (Ret)
Edward
Daniel
- Class of 1967
,
CS-08
Deceased on August 1, 2024 - Informed on January 30, 2025
Service details; Not available at this time. Memorial donations: In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Save our Cats and Kittens (SOCKS) organization at 498 Carmel Drive Fort Walton Beach Florida, 32547 or online at https://www.saveourcatsandkittens.com/. Obituary: https://www.twincitiescremationsfunerals.com/tributes/Edward-Daniel
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 here
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 here or by calling 719-472-0300.
A: Jan. 29 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.
