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. Robert Badger - Class of 1960 , CS-04

Deceased on January 31, 2025 - Informed on June 5, 2025

Services: All services were private. Obituary: https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/nvdaily/name/robert-badger-obituary?id=57471042

Col (Ret) John Brunhaver - Class of 1981 , CS-23

Deceased on May 26, 2025 - Informed on June 4, 2025

Memorial Service: 1030 hours 13 June 2025, at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona. 2929 E. Pinnacle Peak Rd., Phoenix, AZ 85024. Celebration of Life: 1230 hours 6 June 2025, at the Arizona Wilderness Brewing Co., 721 N. Arizona Ave., Gilbert, AZ 85233. Memorial donations: In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Lewy Body Dementia Association https://www.lbda.org/donate/, or Wounded Warrior Project https://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/. Obituary: https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/phoenix-az/john-brunhaver-12396594

Ms. Ellen Ratti - Class of 1980 , CS-03

Deceased on May 31, 2025 - Informed on June 3, 2025

Viewing and Visitation: 1700 hours until 2000 hours 12 June 2025 at the Anderson Funeral Home, 40 N. Main St., Springboro, OH 45066 Mass of Christian Burial: 1000 hours 13 June 2025 at St. Mary of the Assumption Church, 9579 Yankee St., Springboro, OH 45066 Interment: At a later date at the USAFA Cemetery. Memorial donations: In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Ohio's Hospice of Dayton at https://www.ohioshospice.org/dayton/, The Giving Voice Foundation at https://givingvoicefdn.org/donate/, or Family Promise of Warren County at https://www.familypromisewarren.org/. Obituary: https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/springboro-oh/ellen-ratti-12401196

Col (Ret) Edward Hospodar , Jr. - Class of 1993 , CS-36

Deceased on April 15, 2025 - Informed on May 30, 2025

Funeral service: 1000 hours 24 May 2025 at American Martyrs Catholic Church, 1431 Deegan Pl, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266. Interment: Date and time to be determined, Arlington National Cemetery, 1 Memorial Ave. Arlington, Virginia 22211. Obituary: https://www.indianagazette.com/obituaries/edward-john-hospodar-jr/article_b571150e-5f3a-4192-85fe-a35a4550ef36.html

Mr. Richard LaReau - Class of 1963 , CS-08

Deceased on May 1, 2025 - Informed on May 21, 2025

Celebration of Life: Will be held at a later date. Interment: Cyrstal Lake Cemetery, Minneapolis, MN Obituary: https://www.washburn-mcreavy.com/obituaries/richard-lareau/#!/Obituary

Maj (Ret) Raymond Broussard - Class of 1968 , CS-29

Deceased on April 13, 2025 - Informed on May 15, 2025

Funeral service: 1000 hours 21 May 2025 at the USAFA Cemetery, Colorado Springs, CO. Obituary: https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/legacyremembers/raymond-broussard-obituary?id=58420147

Mr. Owen Fonorow - Class of 1976 , CS-35

Deceased on April 2, 2025 - Informed on May 12, 2025

Visitation: 0900 until 1100 hours 26 April 2025 at Beidelman-Kunsch Funeral Homes & Crematory, 516 S. Washington St., Naperville, IL 60540. Celebration of Life: 1100 hours 26 April 2025 at Beidelman-Kunsch Funeral Homes & Crematory, 516 S. Washington St., Naperville, IL 60540. Obituary: https://www.beidelmankunschfh.com/obituaries/Owen-R-Fonorow?obId=41259486

Col (Ret) Michael Reardon - Class of 1959 , CS-12

Deceased on May 9, 2025 - Informed on May 9, 2025

Memorial Service: 1400 hours on 14 July 2025, at Most Preciouse Blood Catholic Church, 2200 S. Harrison St., Denver, CO 80210. Burial Service: 1100 hours on July 15, 2025, at the USAFA Cemetery, Colorado Springs, CO. Memorial donations: In lieu of flowers donations can be made to The Mayhew Program, https://www.mayhew.org/giveonline. Obituary: https://funeralchoices.com/obits/michael-peter-reardon/

MAJ. (Ret) Stephen Cross - Class of 1966 , CS-08

Deceased on May 7, 2025 - Informed on May 7, 2025

Rosary and Funeral Mass: 1030 hours 20 June 2025 at the St. George Catholic Church, 259 West 200 North, St. George, UT 84770. A Funeral Mass will follw at 1100 hours. Interment: Riverside National Cemetery, 22495 Van Buren Blvd., Riverside, California 92518 at a later date. Memorial donations: In lieu of flowers donations can be made to your favorite organization dedicated to serving and supporting our nation's veterans. Obituary: https://www.metcalfmortuary.com/obituary/stephen-cross

Lt Col (Ret) Hamilton Lenox - Class of 1962 , CS-18

Deceased on January 20, 2023 - Informed on May 5, 2025

Visitation: 1700 hours until 1900 hours 24 January 2023 at the Rolla Chapel of the James and Gahr Mortuary, 1651 MO-72, Rolla, MO 65401. Funeral Mass: 1100 hours 25 January 2023 at the St. Patrick Catholic Church, 17 St Patricks Ln., Rolla, MO 65401. A visitation will be held prior to the mass. Interment: 1245 hours 12 January 2025 at the Lake Spring Cemetery, 10527 Lake Spring Cemetery Rd., Lake Spring, MO. Memorial donations: In lieu of flowers donations can be made to St. Patrick Church General Operations Fund, St. Patrick Parish, 17 St. Patrick Lane Rolla, MO 65401, The Rolla Lions Club, P.O. Box 244, 1061 S Bishop Ave., Rolla, MO 65401 or Choices for People, https://choicesforpeople.org/. Obituary: https://www.jamesgahrmortuary.com/obituaries/hamilton-lenox/#!/Obituary

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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