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 H. Gillis ’72

  Deceased date: August 25, 2020

  John Hector Gillis, age 70 died unexpectedly at his home on August 25, 2020. Born August 23, 1950 in Belfast, Prince Edward Island, Canada. He was the son of Preston Murdock Gillis and Alice Maud Gillis. John married his college swee…read more

• Frank T. Higgins ’43-2

  Deceased date: August 24, 2020
  Frank T. Higgins '43 -2 crossed the bar on August 24, 2020, at Brittany Pointe in Lansdale PA. He died peacefully, after holding hands, late into the night, with his beloved wife of 75 years, Janet. Frank was born in his grandmother’s home in Milbrid…read more

• David R. Longstaff ’60

  Deceased date: August 19, 2020
  Mr. David Richard Longstaff, of Mobile, Alabama died peacefully on August 19, 2020. He was born in Waterville, Maine on July 10, 1939, the son of Cecil and Evelyn Longstaff. He graduated from Lawrence High School in Fairfield, Maine where he was the pr…read more

• Jerry P. Simpson ’69

  Deceased date: August 16, 2020
  FARMINGTON – Jerry Paul Simpson, 73, of Farmington, passed away on Sunday Aug. 16, 2020, at home on the farm he loved. He was born on Nov. 9, 1946, in Farmington, the son of Fred and Lillian Simpson. He graduated from Farmington High School in 1965 a…read more

• Roland J. Belanger ’52

  Deceased date: August 9, 2020
  Roland “Bo” Belanger, 90, of Annapolis, MD and previously of Mt. Vernon, VA, and Bowie, MD passed away on August 9, 2020. Roland was born on August 11, 1929 in Caribou, ME to the late Francois and Henrietta Belanger. He was a graduate of the Maine Mar…read more

• Trenton D. Lloyd-Rees ’19

  Deceased date: August 5, 2020
  Chebeague Island/South Portland - Trenton Lloyd-Rees, age 23, died on August 5, 2020 in an accident while serving as 3^rd engineer on the oil tanker SLNC Goodwill in the North Pacific. Trent was born in Portland, Maine in November, 1996, son…read more

• E. Michael Rose, Jr. ’65

  Deceased date: August 1, 2020
  Ernest "Mike" Rose Jr., 76, of Gloucester, passed away on Saturday, August 1, 2020, at Gloucester Healthcare. Born in Gloucester on September 5, 1943, to the late Ernest and Bertha (Russell) Rose. Mike grew up in Rockport, attended local schools, gradu…read more

• Capt. Sullivan W. Reed USN(Ret.) ’54

  Deceased date: July 28, 2020
  OWLS HEAD — Captain Sullivan W. ‘Sully’ Reed, 88, surrounded by his loving family, passed away peacefully, yet unexpectedly, Tuesday, July 28, 2020 at the Sussman Hospice House in Rockport. Born in Rockland, May 25, 1932, he was the son of Carl S…read more

• Leonard A. Skoog ’53

  Deceased date: July 19, 2020
  VINALHAVEN - Leonard A. "Buddy" Skoog, 92, passed away peacefully on July 19, 2020, at the Calderwood Home. Buddy was born and grew up on the island and was the son of Gosta "Gus" and Lucy (Swears) Skoog. Following high school, he enlisted and served i…read more

• Capt. Richard A. J. Bernier ’70

  Deceased date: July 18, 2020
  Richard Bernier was born in Westbrook, Maine on Sept. 11, 1948, son of George and Marguerite Bernier. He passed away on July 18, 2020 with his sister by his side. He was a resident of Stanardsville, Va. since February of 2002. He graduated from Gorham …read more