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. Virgil Staponski - Class of 1971 , CS-40

Deceased on March 23, 2025 - Informed on April 1, 2025

Visitation: 0900 hours on 10 April 2025, at Holy Angels Catholic Church, 15440 Leavenworth Rd., Bashor, KS 66007. Mass: 1000 hours on 10 April 2025, at Holy Angels Catholic Church, 15440 Leavenworth Rd., Basehor, KS 66007. A reception will immediately follow. Burial: 1130 hours on 10 April 2025, at Gate of Heaven Catholic Cemetery, 12600 Parallel Pkwy, Kansas City, KS 66109. Memorial donations: In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Holy Angels Catholic Church, https://holyangelsbasehor.org/giving. Obituary: https://www.kansascityfuneral.net/obituaries/virgil-staponski

Col (Ret) Richard Troy - Class of 1963 , CS-04

Deceased on March 15, 2025 - Informed on April 1, 2025

Memorial Service: 1100 hours 4 April 2025 at the Sullivan Funeral Home, 51 N. Enola Dr., Enola, PA 17025. Obituary: https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/name/richard-troy-obituary?id=58008434

Mr. Thomas Steipp - Class of 1971 , CS-06

Deceased on February 16, 2025 - Informed on April 1, 2025

Celebration of Life: 1500 hours on 3 May 2025 at Venture Christian Church, 16845 Hicks Rd., Los Gatos, CA 95032. A reception will follow Obituary: https://www.darlingfischer.com/obituaries/Thomas-Walter-Steipp?obId=37714843

Mr. Theodore Knowles - Class of 1981 , CS-27

Deceased on February 19, 2025 - Informed on March 31, 2025

Service details: 1400 hours on 9 May, 2025, at the USAFA Cemetery. Obituary: https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/name/theodore-knowles-obituary?id=57714238

Mr. Daniel Ward - Class of 1964 , CS-12

Deceased on April 12, 2022 - Informed on March 31, 2025

Service details: 1100 hours on 20 August 202 at the UAFA Cemetery, Colorado Springs, CO.

Lt Col (Ret) Kenneth Hamlin - Class of 1969 , CS-27

Deceased on March 28, 2025 - Informed on March 28, 2025

No further information is available at this time.

Mr. William Mitchell - Class of 1963 , CS-20

Deceased on March 26, 2025 - Informed on March 27, 2025

A private service will be held for the family.

Mr. Albert Pfeltz III - Class of 1965 , CS-06

Deceased on March 12, 2025 - Informed on March 26, 2025

No services details are available at this time. Obituary: https://www.bandcfuneral.com/obituary/Albert-PfeltzIII

Mr. F. Reid - Class of 1965 , CS-08

Deceased on March 8, 2025 - Informed on March 25, 2025

Celebration of Life: 1030 hours 5 April 2025, at St. Andrew United Methodist Church, 5801 West Plano Parkway, Plano, TX 75093. Obituary: https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/dallas-tx/frank-reid-12276465

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

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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