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. David Boeck - Class of 1963 , CS-22

Deceased on November 13, 2024 - Informed on November 19, 2024

Service details: 1300 hours on 11 December 2024 at the USAFA Cemetery. David "Dave" Joseph Boeck passed away on November 13, 2024 in MorningStar Memory Care at Bear Creek in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on July 5, 1940 to parents Joseph Boeck and Sylvia (nee Isleb) Boeck. He graduated from the United States Air Force Academy in 1963 as a Civil Engineer. He was stationed in Moses Lake, Washington and served overseas in Labrador, Newfoundland-Canada and was honorably discharged on June 4, 1969 at the rank of Captain. His awards and decorations include the Air Force Commendation Medal, the Air Force Longevity Service Award (one oak leaf cluster) and the National Defense Service Medal. He received a bachelor's degree of mechanical engineering from Marquette University in 1968 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He then received his master's degree of business administration from Marquette University in 1973. He was married to his childhood sweetheart Kathleen (nee Lowney) Simon from 1963 to 1985. He then found his second and final love and was married to Elaine Piwoni-Boeck from 1989 until her passing in 2019. Little known fact is that he has two patents in his name. He engineered computerized storage and retrieval systems. Some of the end-products (to name a few) were paint, cosmetics, calculators, and his last project involved pharmaceuticals. He loved working and truly missed it when he retired. One of his passions was photography and he spent numerous hours outside his back door in Divide, Colorado taking pictures of the majestic mountains. His other passions were geology and lapidary -spending hours rockhounding, flying personal aircraft, and scuba diving in the Caribbean and Pacific oceans. He is survived by his two children Lynnette (Chuck) Boeck-Lopushansky and Lisa Boeck-Jenkins; his grandchildren David and Lance Jenkins; his nephews Kevin (Kimberly) Boeck, Brian (Kathy) Boeck, and Michael (Rachel) Drake and their families; and his sister-in-laws Eleanore Piwoni, Jo-Ann Piwoni, and Susan Boeck. He is preceded in death by his wife Elaine, brother Arthur "Art", and his parents. A sincere thank you to all who tended to his care throughout the years to include all the team members at MorningStar Memory Care at Bear Creek (too many to list individually) and his healthcare teams from Bloom Health and Bloom Hospice. A special thank you to Quajaun "Q" and Angela Dersno who were his surrogate family and spent numerous hours providing him the love and comfort he needed. A formal burial with full military honors will take place at the United States Air Force Academy Cemetery at 1:00 pm on Wednesday, December 11, 2024. Reception to follow at the Eisenhower Golf Club at the Air Force Academy. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to Class of '63 Memorial Fund, 529631. [Make checks payable to Air Force Academy Foundation, include note with intended fund (Class of '63 Memorial Fund, 529631) along with your first name, last name, email address, home address and who the gift is intended for. Mail to: Air Force Academy Foundation ATTN: Gift Processing 3116 Academy Drive USAF Academy, CO 90840-4475 To make a gift online, please follow this link: usafa.org/63memorial To send flowers to the family or plant a tree

Mr. John Corman - Class of 1965 , CS-05

Deceased on November 30, 2023 - Informed on September 24, 2024

Please contact the Association of Graduates for condolence information. Cremation: 1200 hours on 6 December 2023 at Wat That Thong, 1325 Sukhumvit Rd, Phra Khanong Nuea, Watthana, Bangkok 10110, Thailand. An informal followed at Chesa, 5 Sukhumvit 20 Alley, Khlong Toei, Bangkok 10110, Thailand. Obituary: https://www.fccthai.com/archives/101

Mr. Barry Cox - Class of 1965 , CS-18

Deceased on May 7, 2017 - Informed on May 23, 2017

Please contact the Association of Graduates for condolence information. No services were held. His ashes were scattered privately along the northern California coastline. His family has suggested that memorial donations be made to the Lung Transplant Program; UCSF Foundation; Box 45339; San Francisco, CA 94145-0339; (877) 499-8273; https://makeagift.ucsf.edu/hospitals.

Mr. Richard Cox , Jr. - Class of 1971 , CS-16

Deceased on December 27, 2020 - Informed on January 5, 2021

Please contact the Association of Graduates for condolence information. Funeral Services are currently pending safer travel conditions. His obituary can be found and condolence left online at https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/longmont-co/richard-cox-9968759

Maj Gen (Ret) Lawrence Day - Class of 1963 , CS-03

Deceased on July 17, 2019 - Informed on July 18, 2019

Please contact the Association of Graduates for condolence information. Visitation will be held on 24 Jul 2019 from 1500-1800 hours at the Lucas & Eaton Funeral Home; 91 Long Sands Rd; York, ME 03909; (207) 363-3531; www.lucaseatonfuneralhome.com. A Funeral Mass will be said at St. Christopher's Catholic Church; 4 Barrel Ln; York, ME 03909; (207) 363-4177 on 25 Jul 2019 at 1300 hours. Burial will be private in First Parish Cemetery, York, ME.

Mr. Donovan DeRuyter - Class of 1987 , CS-40

Deceased on September 5, 2021 - Informed on September 10, 2021

Please contact the Association of Graduates for condolence information. A funeral service will be held on 13 Sep 2021 at 1100 hours at the St. Joseph Catholic Church; 6180 East Willow Street; Long Beach, CA 90815. His family has suggested that memorial donations be made in lieu of flowers to the American Cancer Society; PO Box 22718; Oklahoma City, OK 73123-1718; (800) 227-2345; Donate Today | The American Cancer Society <https://donate3.cancer.org/?campaign=default&lang=en%20&_ga=2.65652334.1365290812.1631231870-412661109.1621870687>.

Maj (Ret) Allen Dorn - Class of 1980 , CS-02

Deceased on August 21, 2024 - Informed on August 29, 2024

Please contact the Association of Graduates for condolence information. Celebration of Life: 1500 hours on 31 August 2024 at the Groce Funeral Home - Lake Julian location, 72 Long Shoals Rd., Arden, NC 28704. A prrivate burial will take place at the Western Carolina State Veterans Cemetery, Black Mountain, NC. Memorial donations: In lieu of flowers donations can be made to National Multiple Sclerosis Society, https://www.nationalmssociety.org/. Obituary: https://www.grocefuneralhome.com/obits/allen-earl-dorn/

Col (Ret) Michael Francis Fleck - Class of 1988 , CS-11

Deceased on September 12, 2023 - Informed on October 3, 2023

Please contact the Association of Graduates for condolence information. No service information is available at this time. Obituary: https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/longmont-co/colonel-michael-buch-fleck-11460694

Lt Col Morris Fontenot , Jr. - Class of 1996 , CS-33

Deceased on August 27, 2014 - Informed on September 3, 2014

Please contact the Association of Graduates for condolence information. A funeral service will be held on 3 Oct 2014 at 1400 hrs. at the Cadet Protestant Chapel. graveside service will immediately follow the funeral service at the USAFA Cemetery. In the event of inclement weather the graveside service will be moved to the Memorial Pavilion. In lieu of flowers and cards, and at the family's request, a fund has been established to assist the family in the loss of Lt. Col. Fontenot, and donations can be made through the Red River Valley Fighter Pilots Association, http://www.river-rats.org/. In the comments section write, In Memory of Morris Fontenot Condolences may be sent to his family in care of his wife, Kara: Mrs. Kara Fontenot; 30 Clairmont St; longmeadow, MA 01106-1002

Maj (Ret) John Garrard - Class of 1973 , CS-31

Deceased on April 9, 2008 - Informed on May 12, 2008

Condolences: Mrs Ann Cole Garrard C/O Association of Graduates. Memorial Services: Were held on 12 April 2008 in Roxboro NC and he was buried in the Mount Lebanon Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery. Memorial Donations: Long Memorial Methodist Church Endowment Fund, PO Box 310, Roxboro NC 27573.

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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: 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: 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: 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