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.

• Robert W. Gascoigne ’46

  Deceased date: May 10, 2021
  Robert W. (Bob) Gascoigne passed away peacefully at his beloved farm in Edgecomb, ME, on May 10, 2021 surrounded by family members. He was 94 years old. Bob was born on May 19, 1926 in Rye, NY, to George and Myrtle Gascoigne. He was a graduate of the C…read more

• Arthur S. Young ’73

  Deceased date: May 4, 2021
  Arthur S. Young, 69 of Corea, Maine passed away suddenly Tuesday afternoon, May 4th 2021. Young was born in Sullivan, Maine on September 15th, 1951 to Vincent A. and Noelle Bernadette (Dubois) Young.  He attended local schools, graduating from Sumner Mem…read more

• Carl R. Morris ’54

  Deceased date: May 2, 2021
  Carl Roger Morris, 87, of Hermon, Maine, passed away at his home on May 2, 2021. Carl was born in Presque Isle, Maine, to Alphy Leroy Morris and Evelyn Knight Morris on December 2, 1933. Carl graduated from Presq…read more

• Capt. Richard E. Graham ’61

  Deceased date: April 23, 2021
  Richard Edward Graham died on April 23, 2021, lovingly cared for in his home during his last month by his wife, children, and a grandson, from complications following treatment for lung cancer. He was 81. Dick was born on April 20, 1940, to Edward C. and…read more

• Richard D. O’Leary ’54

  Deceased date: April 17, 2021
  Richard D. O’Leary, 88, passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving wife, Barbara, three daughters and three ste…read more

• Donis R. Wheaton ’58

  Deceased date: April 12, 2021
  Donis “Don” R. Wheaton, 84, died after battling a long illness, on April 12, 2021, in Novato, Calif. A 50-year resident of Bridgton, Donis was born in 1935 in Patten, Maine. He graduated from Camden High School in 1955 and Maine Maritime Academy in…read more

• Robert T. Newton ’04

  Deceased date: April 8, 2021
  Bob Newton, 74, of Boothbay, passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family on April 8, 2021. He was born in Hartford, Conn., the third of seven children, to Robert and Flora (Lawless) Newton. After graduating fro…read more

• Ryan L. Gilley ’17

  Deceased date: April 3, 2021
  Ryan Lenwood Gilley- loving son, brother, uncle, grandson, boyfriend, and friend, passed away on Saturday, April 3, 2021 at his home in Scarborough. He was 33 years old and a production supervisor at Texas Instruments. As we sat down with heavy hearts to …read more

• Allan W. Laney ’64

  Deceased date: April 1, 2021
  NORRIDGEWOCK – Allan William Laney, 79, of Norridgewock, passed away Thursday, April 1, 2021 at his home surrounded by his loving family. He was born Oct. 30, 1941 in Skowhegan, the son of Fred and Bernice (Demo) Laney. He graduated from Skowhegan Hi…read more

• Robert E. Vaughn ’68

  Deceased date: March 18, 2021
  Robert Earl Vaughn, “Buck”, age 75, a resident of Auburndale, Florida passed away Thursday March 18, 2021, peacefully and surrounded by family. Buck was born December 29, 1945 in Bangor, Maine to Robert Allen and Grace (Sabine) Vaughn. He was an Aubur…read more