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.

• John S. Rosa ’85

  Deceased date: May 10, 2023
  John Scott Rosa of Franklin and Bristol, NH, passed away peacefully at his home on May 10, 2023, after a lengthy illness.  He was born in Portsmouth, NH on February 15, 1963, the son of the late John E. Rosa and Grace McMahon. A 1981 graduate of Ports…read more

• Larry C. Wonson ’74

  Deceased date: May 4, 2023
  Larry C. Wonson, 71, passed away on May 4, 2023, at the Kaplan House in Danvers after a lengthy illness. He grew up in Rockport, graduating from Maine Maritime Academy with a BS degree and a Third Mates License. He worked for Exxon Shipping Company for 16…read more

• Eli J. Olson ’19

  Deceased date: April 29, 2023
  Eli James Olson, 25, died on Saturday, April 29th, 2023 in a tragic hiking accident on El Capitan mountain in Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Texas. Eli was born August 1, 1997 in Dover-Foxcroft, the third of five children born to Scott and Doreen Olso…read more

• Capt. John Maclean ’58

  Deceased date: March 12, 2023
  Captain John Maclean, 88, of William Street, passed away March 12, 2023 at Samaritan Summit Village in Watertown, where he had been a resident since November of 2020. He was born December 30, 1934 in Buffalo, NY, son of Archibald and Effie Gillies Macl…read more

• Wilbur S. Langdon III ’69

  Deceased date: March 12, 2023

  Following a long illness, Wil Langdon passed away on March 12,2023. He was born on July 7, 1945 in New London, CT. After completing his high school educ…read more

• Frederick V. Glidden ’70

  Deceased date: March 8, 2023
  Frederick Victor Glidden passed away peacefully on March 8, 2023, at his home in South China, Maine surrounded by his family. Fred was born in Gardiner, January 15, 1948, to George Burton Glidden and Pauline Winifred (Stimpson) Glidden.  After graduat…read more

• Thomas J. Frederick ’66

  Deceased date: February 26, 2023
  Thomas J. Frederick, 78, passed away February 26, 2023, at Northern Light Mayo Hospital in Dover-Foxcroft after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease. He was born August 22, 1944, in Waterville, the son of Anthony J. and Evelyn (Gamble) Frederick. T…read more

• J. Michael L. Findlan ’72

  Deceased date: February 24, 2023
  Joseph Michael Leo Findlan, a resident of New Richmond, passed away on Friday, February 24, 2023, at the age of 72. A 1972 graduate of Maine Maritime Academy, he was the husband of 35 years to Donise “Doni” Findlan (nee Conley), whom he married in 198…read more

• Daniel E. Davis ’94

  Deceased date: February 20, 2023

  Dan Davis - yeast wrangler, rum distiller extraordinaire, harbormaster, gourmet cook, house and boat builder, musician, Liberal C…read more

• Gary K. Wheaton ’62

  Deceased date: January 29, 2023
  Gary Kenneth Wheaton passed away at home at age 82 on January 29, 2023. Gary was born December 11, 1940 in Millinocket, Maine to parents Kenneth Cecil Wheaton and Harriet Marie (MacKenzie) Wheaton. Gary graduated from Stearns High School in 1959 and fr…read more