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.

• 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

• Barry H. Clark ’59

  Deceased date: March 17, 2021

  Barry Huckins Clark Sr. passed away on March 17, 2021 in Winter Haven, FL, surrounded by his family and friends. He passed …read more

• Ted R. St. Pierre ’80

  Deceased date: March 2, 2021
  Ted Romeo St. Pierre, 63, passed away unexpectedly on March 2, 2021 in Roque Bluffs, Maine. He was born on December 5, 1957, in Eastport, Maine to Edward St. Pierre and Shirley Sullivan. He graduated from Machias Memorial High School and Maine Maritime A…read more

• Lloyd H. Wentworth ’50

  Deceased date: March 1, 2021
  Lloyd Hervey Wentworth passed peacefully on March 1, 2021 at the age of 91. Lloyd was born and brought up on a farm in Knox, Maine. He often shared cherished memories of his farm upbringing with his family. Lloyd was predeceased by his parents, Lloy…read more

• Walter L. Varney ’56

  Deceased date: February 27, 2021
  Walter Leroy Varney died peacefully at his home on February 27, 2021, with family by his side. Born in Richmond, Maine on February 18, 1935, to the late Roy and Rachel (Witham) Varney. Walter graduated Maine Maritime Academy in 1956. He served in the US …read more

• Montelle L. Small ’46

  Deceased date: February 24, 2021
  Being, at present, sound of mind and body, I thought I’d write my own obituary. Some might say these are my last rights (rites). So, let’s be on with it. I was born in Stonington, July 29, 1926, the only child of Harold A. and Alda E. (Goss) Small. My…read more