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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Col Michael Stapleton - Class of 1988, CS-38

Deceased on November 6, 2012 - Informed on November 6, 2012

Please contact the Association of Graduates for condolence information. A Funeral Mass was said at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church in Lakeridge, VA on 23 Aug 2012.  He will be interred in Arlington National Cemetery on 9 Nov 2012 at 1300 hrs with full military honors. The family has requested that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to any or all of the following charities: Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C); File 1224; 1801 W Olympic Blvd; Pasadena, CA 91199-1224  www.standup2cancer.org (888) 90-STAND (888) 907-8263 National Bone Marrow Donor Program; Be The Match; 3001 Broadway St NW, Ste 100; Minneapolis, MN 55413-1753 www.marrow.org (800) 507-5427 Leukemia & Lymphoma Society; Donor services; PO Box 4072; Pittsfield, MA 01202-4072  www.leukemia.org (888) 557-7177

Ms. Annette Stephens - Class of 1988, CS-26

Deceased on April 11, 2023 - Informed on October 23, 2023

Please contact the Assocation of Graduates for condolence information.

2ndLt Cyrus Whinnery - Class of 1988, CS-25

Deceased on June 18, 1990

Mr. Gregory Wright - Class of 1988, CS-34

Deceased on September 27, 2023 - Informed on October 1, 2023

Please contact the Association of Graduates for condolence information. Visitation: 4 Oct 2023 at 1030 hours at Monument Hill Church, 18725 Monument Hill Road, Monument, CO 80132. Funeral servic e: 4 Oct 2023 at 1200 hours at Monument Hill Road Church, 18725 Monument Hill Road, Monument, CO 80132. Graveside service: 4 Oct 2023 at the United States Air Force Academy Cemetery, 3024 Parade Loop, Air Force Academy, CO 80840 immediatley following the funeral service. Memorial donations: Donations may be made to the Allan Wright Scholarship Fund c/o Monument Hill Church, 18725 Monument Hill Dr, Monument, CO 80132. https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/colorado-springs-co/gregory-wright-11479411

Lt Col (Ret) Daniel Wuchenich - Class of 1988, CS-03

Deceased on January 6, 2014 - Informed on January 14, 2014

Please contact the Association of graduates for condolence information. Services were held on 11 Jan 2014 in Woodbridge, VA. He will be buried in Arlington National Cemetery on 16 May 2014 at 1500 hrs. Memorial donations may be made to the Wings of Blue Association; "Wuchenich Assistance Fund"; PO Box 248; USAF Academy, CO 80840. Please be sure to include "Wuchenich Assistance Fund" on the memo line.

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Next of Kin

For Next of Kin support resources please visit: https://www.usafanextofkin.org/

Frequently Asked Questions

Gone But Not Forgotten Annual Publication

The Air Force Academy Association and Foundation are introducing a new benefit to better memorialize USAFA graduates and support their families. We are launching a new annual memorial publication in 2025.

A: As the Academy graduate population ages, Checkpoints is increasingly insufficient in accommodating the increasing number of obituaries. This has necessitated the creation of a new publication as part of our commitment to remembering all fallen graduates, Air Training Officers and cadets.
A: The purpose of the publication is to honor and perpetuate the legacy of the Long Blue Line through the personal stories of our graduates. The publication is in the spirit of our mission to support the Academy, serve graduates and preserve the heritage of the institution.
A: Gone But Not Forgotten will be part of the final name, which is not yet finalized.
A: No, but the Association will list basic information on deaths in each issue of Checkpoints.
A: No. If/when memorial articles are sent to the AOG, the tribute is posted to this webpage.
A: A complimentary copy will be mailed to a loved one of the deceased. It is not yet determined if the printed publication will be available at a nominal cost or at no cost to AOG members.
A: There will be a one-year transition period. Memorial articles sent in to run in Checkpoints in 2024 will also appear in the inaugural memorial publication. The deadline for Gone But Not Forgotten submissions in the December 2024 issue of Checkpoints is mid-October, but any memorial articles about deaths for the remainder of 2024 received by mid-January 2025 will appear in the inaugural 2025 stand-alone publication. Then going forward, the full years’ worth of tributes would be published in the next year’s volume.
A: The first memorial publication will likely be printed in February or March of 2025.
A: We currently have a 400-word maximum for each memorial tribute and will continue with that limit for the first stand-alone publication. We’re doing this because we have already received submissions at that length and don’t plan to ask for longer versions for the 2025 edition.
A: We will transition to roughly 450- or 900-word options for memorial tributes. Whoever writes and submits the memorial article with have the option to write to either word limit.
A: A recent favorite photo of the deceased, when possible. The photo (head and shoulders, color preferred) should be emailed as a .jpg and sent as a high-resolution image.
A: Please email Next-of-Kin Support Specialist Terri Davis at deceasednotifications@usafa.org.
A: That is coming soon.
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