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. Nicholas E. Salata ’68

  Deceased date: August 6, 2025
  Nicholas (Nikk) Edward Salata passed away peacefully at his home in North Berwick, Maine on Aug. 6, 2025, with his family by his side. He was 79 years old. Born July 8, 1946, at Saint Andrew’s Hospital in Boothbay Harbor to Nickolas Salata of Hamtramck,…read more

• Fenton R. McAvoy ’53

  Deceased date: July 23, 2025
  Fenton R. “Dude” McAvoy, 92, of East Hartford, CT and formerly of East Millinocket, ME, died peacefully on Wednesday, July 23, 2025 with his family by his side at Hartford Hospital in Hartford, CT. He was the loving husband of 52 years of the late Ann…read more

• Jon P. Wing ’74

  Deceased date: July 19, 2025
  Jon Phillip Wing of Bel Air Maryland, formerly of Scarborough, Maine, died on July 19, from complications of prostate cancer. He was 73. Jon, a retired Vice President of Lockheed Martin Maritime Systems and Sensors, was the son of Arthur Wing, a salesman …read more

• Rock A. Levasseur ’65

  Deceased date: July 17, 2025
  Rock A. Levasseur, 81, of Plymouth, MA, passed away peacefully on July 17, 2025. Rock was born in Portland, Maine in 1943 to Roch and …read more

• Robert N. Laney ’59

  Deceased date: July 9, 2025
  Robert Norris Laney, 86, passed away at the Maine General Medical Center in Augusta on July 9, 2025. Bob was born in Skowhegan, Maine on Sept. 16, 1938, to the late Charles Julian and Rena (Mazerole) Laney. Bob graduated from Skowhegan High School, cla…read more

• William J. Kinane, Jr. ’75

  Deceased date: July 1, 2025
  It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of William “Bill” J. Kinane of Logsden, OR. Bill passed away peacefully at home on Tuesday, July 1, 2025, with family by his side.

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• Matthew H. Grose ’82

  Deceased date: June 27, 2025
  Matthew Hunter Grose, 65, of Mornington, Australia, and formerly from Bath, Maine, passed away in Australia from complications with cancer on June 27, 2025. Matt was born in Bethesda, Maryland, on Dec. 14, 1959 to Wilbur H. Grose and Eileen R. (Brennan…read more

• Gordon M. Ward ’59

  Deceased date: June 14, 2025
  Gorham – Gordon M. Ward, a longtime resident of Gorham, passed away peacefully on June 14, 2025, at the age of 86. Gordon was born in Waterville, Maine on November 16, 1938, the beloved son of Esther and Malon Ward. His family moved to Portland where h…read more

• 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

• Dieter Sievers ’65

  Deceased date: May 24, 2025
  With solemn reverence, we commemorate Dieter Sievers (Clermont, Florida), whose life came to an end on May 24, 2025 at the age of 84, leaving behind cherished memories.…read more