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Eight Bells

The practice of using bells stems from the days of the sailing ships. Sailors couldn't afford to have their own time pieces and relied on the ship's bells to tell time. The ship's boy kept time by using a half-hour glass. Each time the sand ran out, he would turn the glass over and ring the appropriate number of bells. Each ship “watch” is four hours, or eight bells, in length.

The tradition of Eight Bells pays respect to deceased mariners and signifies that a sailor's “watch” is over.

Submissions for Eight Bells

If you learn of the passing of a MMA classmate, associate, friend or family member, please contact the Office of Alumni Relations so that we may include the information in our Eight Bells listings. Send obituaries or their digital links to alumni@mma.edu.

  • Mitchell T. Kuflik ’11

    Deceased date: October 1, 2015
    Mystic - A Celebration of the Life of Mitchell Thomas Kuflik will be held at noo…read more

  • Granville I. Smith ’47

    Deceased date: September 19, 2015
    CUMBERLAND FORESIDE - Captain Granville Isaac Smith (Pete), 87, a resident of Cumberland Foreside and Township 6 Range 7, Maine, took his final voyage and crossed the bar on September 19,…read more

  • Michael M. Cushing ’68

    Deceased date: September 3, 2015
    Michael M. Cushing, Sr., 68
    WESTBROOK …read more

  • Jeffrey D. Harvey ’83

    Deceased date: August 22, 2015
    MILLINOCKET AND ST. FRANCIS - Jeffrey D. Harvey, 54, died August 22, 2015 at Millinocket Regional Hospital after a valiant fight. He was born December 1, 1960 in St. Francis, the son of Merril and Cozy (Jandreau) Harvey. Jeff graduated from Fort Kent H…read more

  • Maynard C. Ingraham ’44

    Deceased date: August 18, 2015
     ROCKPORT – Maynard C. Ingraham, 5th generation Rockport resident and community leader, passed away August 14th at Bartlett Woods in Rockland. He was 90 years old. Maynard married Joyce Mitchell on October …read more

  • Leonard D. Madden ’43-2

    Deceased date: August 17, 2015
    Len died peacefully at the age of 91 on August 17, 2015 at Mountain View Community, Ossipee, NH.  Len, or “Uncle Moose”, as he was affectionately called by his nieces and nephews, was born on September 7, 1923 in Waltham MA to “Al” and Corinne B…read more

  • Robert G. Bent ’50

    Deceased date: August 9, 2015
    FALMOUTH – Robert Galen Bent, 86, son of Frank Noel Mace Bent and Harriett Josephine Deguio, died early in the morning of Aug. 9, 2015. He was born in South Portland on May 27, 1929 and attended local schools. A graduate of Maine Maritime Academy, Cl…read more

  • Edgar W. Dorr ’43-1

    Deceased date: August 8, 2015
    Edgar W. Dorr, 94, passed away at his home August 8, 2015. He was a native of Maine and had a deep love of the sea. He was encouraged to seek an appointment to the Maine Maritime Acadamy where …read more

  • Wayne C. Shaw ’65

    Deceased date: August 1, 2015

    GEORGETOWN - Wayne C. Shaw, 72, of Georgetown and Greenville died on August 1, 2015 at home in Georgetown with his family by his side.

    He was born on October 3, 1942 in Bath, Maine, son of Charl…read more

  • Robert S. Footer ’56

    Deceased date: July 31, 2015
    CALAIS - Robert Stephen Footer, 80, passed away Friday, July 31, 2015 at a Bangor hospital with his family by his side. Robert was born in Bath on July 15, 1935, son of the late Edward and Beatrice (McLellan) Footer. He graduated from Morse High School…read more