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.

• Capt. Donald V. Church ’55

  Deceased date: June 1, 2025
  Captain Donald Vernon Church, beloved father of three, grandfather of nine and great grandfather (aka Grumpa and Grumpy Winkle) of eight and a half passed away in his Bristol home on June 1, 2025 just a few days shy of his 91st birthday. We are certain th…read more

• Capt. Richard C. Holt, Sr. ’58

  Deceased date: May 23, 2025
  Greenland, NH – Captain Richard Curtis Holt, Sr, age 87, of Greenland, formerly a 50 year resident of Rye, passed away on May 23, 20…read more

• Richard L. MacLean ’50

  Deceased date: May 22, 2025
  Richard MacLean, 95, of Forestdale, MA passed away peacefully on Thursday, May 22, 2025, after a brief illness. Born in Allston, MA, the oldest son of the late Horace and Eleanor (Lombard) MacLean of Allston. Rich graduated from Maine Maritime Academy …read more

• Capt. Jeffrey W. Monroe ’76

  Deceased date: May 13, 2025
  Jeffrey Wayne Monroe, 71, of Cape Elizabeth, Maine, husband of Linda Mallik Monroe, entered into eternal rest Tuesday, May 13, 2025.…read more

• Allen E. Huntley ’68

  Deceased date: May 3, 2025
  ROCKPORT — Allen E. Huntley, 78, passed away peacefully surrounded by family, on Saturday, May 3, 2025 at Pen Bay Hospital. He was born in Camden to the late George A. Huntley and Patricia A. (Allen) Huntley on June 20, 1946. Allen graduated from Roc…read more

• Wayne E. Nason ’70

  Deceased date: April 18, 2025
  Wayne E. Nason died on April 18, 2025 at the Gosnell Memorial Hospice House in Scarborough, Maine. He was born in Biddeford, Maine, on…read more

• Leroy W. Philbrook ’57

  Deceased date: April 10, 2025
  THOMASTON — Leroy “Roy” W. Philbrook, 90, of Thomaston, passed away peacefully at the Sussman House in Rockport on April 10, 2025. Born on February 18, 1935, in Stoneham, Massachusetts, Roy was the son of Ivan A. and Naida H. (Ainsworth) Philbrook. …read more

• David A. Holmes ’51

  Deceased date: April 10, 2025
  David Ashton Holmes passed away at his home on Vose Mountain in Kingfield, Maine, on April 10, 2025, at the age of 95. David was born in Stoneham, MA, on December 6, 1929, the son of Ashton B. Holmes and Alice A. Sheppard of Alstead, NH. He graduated from…read more

• Eric F. Fournier ’70

  Deceased date: April 5, 2025
  RALEIGH, N.C. – Eric “Rick” Fournier, 76, beloved husband, father, brother, and friend, passed away peacefully on April 5, 2025, in Raleigh, N.C. surrounded by his family. He was a man whose warmth, humor, and generous spirit touched the lives of…read more

• Capt. Ronald W. Snyder ’73

  Deceased date: April 2, 2025
  On April 2, 2025, Captain Ronald W. Snyder passed away unexpectedly after a fall. But like any good sea story, you must start at the beginning. Captain Ron was born in Bangor, Maine, Nov. 6, 195…read more