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.

• Cmdr. Edward P. Shepherd ’64

  Deceased date: February 24, 2025
  Master Mariner, Captain, and Commander Edward Paul Shepherd USR, of Swampscott, Massachusetts, passed away peacefully on February 24, 2025. Born on November 4, 1942, Edward was the son of the late Joseph Neil Shepherd and Josephine Rutkauskas Shepherd.…read more

• Cmdr. Joseph H. Vachon ’56

  Deceased date: February 19, 2025
  Joseph H. Vachon Jr. of Stetson, Maine, died peacefully on February 19, 2025, at the age of 91. He was born in Biddeford, Maine, and raised in Saco. He was a graduate of Thornton Academy, Maine Central Institute, and Maine Maritime Academy. His athleti…read more

• Roland E. Groder ’62

  Deceased date: February 18, 2025
  Roland Edward Groder, 83 passed away peacefully on February 18, 2025. Born May 15, 1941 in Gardiner, Maine, he was the son of Sebastian and Frances Groder. Roland was a graduate of Maine Maritime Academy. His early career was in domestic and international…read more

• James E. Zedalis ’62

  Deceased date: February 18, 2025
  James E. Zedalis, 84, died peacefully at his home in Ozona, FL on February 18, 2025. He was born in Nashua, NH to Peter W. and Mary E. Zedalis on February 18, 1941. Graduate of Maine Maritime Academy in 1962, he was a ship engineer in the merchant marines…read more

• Oliver R. Cole ’23

  Deceased date: February 17, 2025
  Oliver Cole, a man of quiet strength, intelligence, and generosity, passed away on Monday, February 17th, 2025, at the age of 26. A dedicated and passionate individual, Oliver lived a life rich in adventure, always seeking out new challenges and experienc…read more

• Robert G. McGuire ’92

  Deceased date: February 13, 2025
  It is with deep sadness that the family of Robert George McGuire, 55, announce his passing, on February 13, 2025, after a brief, but extraordinarily brave battle with cancer. Rob was born December 10, 1969, to Thomas J. McGuire and Naomie Trundy McGuir…read more

• Patrick D. Welch ’92

  Deceased date: February 12, 2025
  Caribou and Farmington - After battling heart issues for over 10 years, Patrick passed on February 12, 2025, from complications of heart and kidney transplants brought on by giant cell myocarditis. Pat was born in…read more

• Peter A. Kurtin ’83

  Deceased date: February 11, 2025
  Peter A. Kurtin '83 passed away on February 18, 2025 at his home in Oakdale, Conn., after losing his battle with pancreatic cancer. Peter grew up in the seaside towns of Connecticut where he formed interests that led to an acceptance at Maine Maritime Aca…read more

• Chester F. Fossett ’50

  Deceased date: January 26, 2025

  Chester Frederick Fossett, 94, died on Jan. 26, 2025 at St. Andrews Village in Boothbay Harbor.

  He was the son of Frederick Miller Fossett and Floretta ”Toat” Chester Eme…read more

• Richard B. Harden ’69

  Deceased date: January 9, 2025
  Richard B. Harden Jr., 77, passed away on January 9, 2025 at Exeter Hospital after a lengthy battle with Parkinson's Disease. He was born on August 21, 1947 in Rockland, Maine, the son of the late Richard B. Harden Sr. and Erleen (Cates) Harden. He was a …read more