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.

• Rodney J. McCaslin ’82

  Deceased date: May 25, 2020
  WINSLOW, Maine – Rodney John McCaslin, 61, passed away on Memorial Day, May 25, 2020 at Maine General Hospital in Augusta due to liver and kidney failure, with his beloved sister Barbara was by his side. During his hospital stay family and friends were …read more

• Harry E. Henderson, Jr. ’47

  Deceased date: May 18, 2020
  Harry Elmont Henderson, Jr., died on May 18, 2020, at Brooke Grove Retirement Village in Sandy Spring, Maryland. Born on September 26, 1927 in Augusta, Maine, Harry was 92. Harry was a graduate of Maine Maritime Academy and the University of Maine at O…read more

• John R. Rousselle ’86

  Deceased date: May 13, 2020
  John Robert Rousselle, of Gray, passed away May 13, 2020 at Maine Medical Center, following a brief illness. He was born on May 1, 1964, in Biddeford, the son of Jean-Paul “Rusty” Rousselle and Madeleine (Landry) Rousselle. John grew up in Biddefor…read more

• William F. Farrington ’52

  Deceased date: May 3, 2020
  William Francis Farrington, of Old Orchard Beach, Maine, died Sunday, May 3, 2020, at Gosnell Memorial Hospice House in Scarborough. He was 90 years old. Born at Maine General H…read more

• Warren W. Strout ’43-2

  Deceased date: April 19, 2020
  Warren Strout chipped on to the 18th green and knocked in his short par putt mid-morning on April 19, 2020. Picking up his ball, he walked past the 19th Hole gate for his interview with Saint Peter. He brought a fine Cuban cigar for each of them. It was a…read more

• Capt. Christopher T. Lloyd ’81

  Deceased date: April 11, 2020
  Christopher Talcott Lloyd died unexpectedly on April 11, 2020. Chris was born in Caracas Venezuela on May 13th, 1958.  Chris’ nickname as a child was “triki-traki”, which is slang for an especially explosive firework. Chris earned this nickname bec…read more

• Joseph A. Grondin ’44

  Deceased date: April 10, 2020
  Joseph A. Grondin, 97, of Saco, passed away early Friday morning, April 10, 2020, at the Maine Veteran’s Home in Scarborough. He was born in Biddeford on October 14, 1922, the son of Arthur and Hannah (Coffey) Grondin. Joe graduated from Biddeford Hi…read more

• Edward F. Brown ’51

  Deceased date: April 10, 2020
  Edward Freeman Brown, 91, finished his final watch peacefully at home surrounded by his loving daughters on April 10, 2020. Edward was born in Chester, Pennsylvania on January 15, 1929, and raised in Northeast Harbo…read more

• Edward F. Schultz ’68

  Deceased date: April 4, 2020
  Edward F. Schultz Sr, age 74 of Shelton passed away Satur…read more

• Ronald W. Reiff ’55

  Deceased date: March 20, 2020
  Ronald W. Reiff passed away March 20, 2020 at the age of 85. He was married for 64 years to Marilyn Reiff and had four children, James, Robert, Deborah and Judy, as well as three grandsons, one granddaughter and two great-grandchildren. He is predece…read more