The tradition of Eight Bells pays respect to deceased mariners and signifies that a sailor's “watch” is over.
The practice dates back to the days of the sailing ships, when 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.
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.
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James M. Earley ’77
Deceased date: December 1, 2025James Martin Earley, beloved father, legendary captain, and lifelong waterman, passed away surrounded by family. A proud graduate of t…read moreHarold R. Tiensivu ’69
Deceased date: November 23, 2025PORTLAND – Harold “Skip” R. Tiensivu, 78, of Portland, passed away on Nov. 23, 2025, at the Barron Center. He was born in Portland on Jan. 26, 1947, the son of the late Wilho and Margaret (Page) Tiensivu. Harold grew up in South Portland and grad…read moreLeroy Evrard ’55
Deceased date: November 12, 2025Leroy Evrard, Commander USN (Retired), of Topsham, Bowdoinham, and Harpswell, Maine, passed away November 12, 2025 at the age of 91. Roy, as he was known to his friends and colleagues, lived independently with his wife, Jean, until he reached the age of 9…read moreCapt. Russell G. Wuestefeld ’64
Deceased date: November 9, 2025Russell George Wuestefeld, 82, of Williamsburg, passed away on November 9, 2025. He was born February 22, 1943, in Brooklyn, NY, to Dorothy Eleanor Heiner and Robert Henry Wuestefeld. A graduate of Maine Maritime Academy, Russ was a ship’s captain fo…read moreFrederick J. Harris ’67
Deceased date: October 24, 2025Frederick Joseph Harris of Mystic Conn., passed peacefully at 5:47PM on 10/24/2025, with his family by his side. “Fred” was born on 11/25/1944 at Framingham Union Hospital to Frederick Everett and MaryRosa Camilla Harris. Fred was a proud patriot w…read moreRichard P. Wrigglesworth ’74
Deceased date: October 22, 2025Richard "Rick" Paul Wrigglesworth passed away unexpectedly on October 22, 2025, while doing what he loved most - boating on a cloudles…read moreNorman F. Laskay ’62
Deceased date: October 13, 2025Norman Frank Laskay (Norm) born July 3, 1941 in Lorraine, Ohio passed away at home in New Orleans on October 13, 2025 surrounded by his family and beloved dogs, Bella and Olive Grace. He is survived by his beloved wife of 53 years Leslie Weathersby Las…read moreCapt. Charles E. Zenter ’96
Deceased date: October 13, 2025Captain Charles E. “Chuck” Zenter, 59, of Castine, Maine, and Key West, Florida, died October 13, 2025, in the loving care of his devoted wife and daughter. He charted his journey with bile duct cancer with a commitment to embody peace, grace, and dig…read moreThomas W. Oliver
Deceased date: October 10, 2025Bangor, Maine - Thomas W. Oliver, 78, passed away peacefully on October 10, 2025. He was born in Millinocket, Maine, May 12, 1947, a son of Robert W. and Joan G. Oliver. He grew up in Millinocket, graduated from George W. Stearns High School in 1965, a…read moreWilliam Mahoney ’56
Deceased date: October 1, 2025SOUTHWEST HARBOR — William Mahoney responded to the Naval last bell “FWE” on Oct. 1, 2025, at Mount Desert Island Hospital, Bar Harbor. He was born in Boston Nov. 8, 1935, the son of Patrick Mahoney and Marcella (…read more
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