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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Maj Michael McVay - Class of 1975 , CS-36

Deceased on October 31, 1985

Lt Col (Ret) Marlo Mellum - Class of 1975 , CS-20

Deceased on September 14, 2020 - Informed on September 16, 2020

Please contact the Association of Graduates for condolence information. A private funeral service will be held on 26 Sept 2020 for his family. A public Celebration of Life will be held on 17 Oct 2020 at 1300 hours at the Crown of Life Lutheran Church; 19291 Stone Oak Pkwy; San Antonio, TX 78258; (210) 490-6886. His family has suggested that memorial donations be made in lieu of flowers to the University of Minnesota Foundation for the Center for Lung Science and Health (CLSH); PO Box 860266; Minneapolis, MN 55486-0266; (800) 775-2187 or online at www.giving.umn.edu/giveto/clsh.

Lt Col (Ret) Michael Murdoch - Class of 1975 , CS-11

Deceased on March 21, 2023 - Informed on March 27, 2023

Please contact the Association of Graduates for condolence information. Funeral service: 30 Mar 2023 at 1200 hours Hoover Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc., 88 Lucy Ave, Hershey, PA 17033 Burial: Immediately following Funeral service on 30 Mar 2023 Indiantown Gap National Cemetery, 60 Indiantown Gap Rd, Annville, PA 17003 Obituary: https://www.hooverfuneralhome.com/obituaries/Michael-Brian-Murdoch?obId=27568278#/obituaryInfo Memorial Donations: St Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St Jude Pl, Memphis, TN 38105; (800) 805-5856; Stjude.org Shriners Hospitals For Children, PO Box 947765, Atlanta, GA 30394; (855) 401-4897; donate.lovetotherescue.org

Lt Col (Ret) Frederick Nickel , Jr. - Class of 1975 , CS-36

Deceased on August 4, 2023 - Informed on March 25, 2025

Celebration of Life: 1500 until 1700 hours, 19 August 2023, Coldstream Country Club, 400 Asbury Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45255. Memorial donations: In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the ALS Association, https://www.als.org/ or to your favorite charity in memory of Rick. Obituary: https://www.springgroveobituaries.org/obituaries/Rick-Nickel-Jr?obId=28809272

Lt Col (Ret) Charles Nystrom , Jr. - Class of 1975 , CS-07

Deceased on August 14, 2008 - Informed on August 18, 2008

Condolences: Mrs Teresa R. Nystrom C/O Association of Graduates. Memorial Services: Visitation will be from 1700-1800 18 August 2008 at Bring's Broadway Chapel, 6910 E Broadway Blvd, Tucson AZ 85710-2803. A memorial service will be held at 1730, 19 August 2008 at the Mountain Avenue Church of Christ, 2848 N Mountain Avenue, Tucson AZ 85719-2698. Will be held August 25, 2008, 11:30 a.m., USAFA Cemetery. This service will be open to classmates wishing to attend.

Maj (Ret) Joseph O'Brien - Class of 1975 , CS-22

Deceased on April 8, 2021 - Informed on April 22, 2021

Please contact the Association of Graduates for Condolence information. Funeral service are currently pending. Burial will be in Ft Sam Houston National Cemetery on a date still to be determined. No obituary is available.

Lt Col (Ret) John Owens - Class of 1975 , CS-11

Deceased on November 29, 1994

Mr. Phil Pearce - Class of 1975 , CS-09

Deceased on June 30, 2011 - Informed on July 5, 2011

Please contact the Association of Graduates for condolence information. Funeral services will be held on 14 July 2011 at 1100 hrs. at the USAFA Cadet Chapel. Burial will follow at the USAFA Cemetery after which a reception will be held at Doolittle Hall (the AOG building).

Mr. Carl Peterson - Class of 1975 , CS-08

Deceased on September 26, 1996

Lt Col (Ret) Thomas Peterson - Class of 1975 , CS-20

Deceased on April 20, 2024 - Informed on May 6, 2024

Please contact the Association of Graduates for condolence information. Service information: A celebration of life service at 1100 hours on 3 May 2024, at Bethleham Lutheran Church, St. Cloud, MN. A memorial serivce will be held at 1100 hours 10 May 2024 at the Mankato Regional Airport Hangar, 3030 Airport Rd. N., Mankato, MN. Lunch will immediately follow. Obituary: https://obituaries.mankatofreepress.com/obituary/thomas-peterson-1089664905

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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