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.

• Gerald E. Garthwaite ’80

  Deceased date: February 3, 2020
  Gerald "Jerry" Garthwaite, 69, passed away Feb. 3, 2020 at his home in Gorham, Maine. He was the beloved husband of Anne Quinncannon Garthwaite, his wife of 39 years. Jerry was born in Stamford, Conn., then moved to Wells, Maine where he attended high …read more

• William M. Martin ’66

  Deceased date: February 2, 2020
  William Michael Martin, 76. of Naples, Maine and formerly Langhorne, PA passed away unexpectedly at his winter home in Daytona Beach, FL on Sunday February 2, 2020. Bill was born in Portland, Maine and was a 1962 graduate of Cheverus High School, where…read more

• Donald L. Higgins ’50

  Deceased date: January 28, 2020
  Donald L. Higgins died Jan. 28 at his home and surrounded by his family. He was born in Ellsworth on Jan. 9, 1930. He was the son of Roger L. Higgins and Mildred Fullerton Higgins. He attended Ellsworth schools and graduated from Maine Maritime Academy in…read more

• Damon P. Rivard ’55

  Deceased date: January 18, 2020
  Damon P. Rivard, 87, of North Kingstown, R.I., died peacefully on Saturday, January 18, 2020. He was the loving life partner of Roberta Hale. Born in Somerset, Mass., he was a son of the late Roland Rivard and Mildred (Shannon) Rivard. Damon was an eng…read more

• Capt. Robert W. Powell, Jr. ’68

  Deceased date: January 4, 2020
  Robert "Rob" W. Powell Jr., 73, of Silverhill, Alabama, passed away suddenly on Jan. 4, 2020. Rob was born in Richmond, Virginia, but grew up in Sayville, New York, where he nurtured his love for sailing on the Great South Bay. A graduate of the Maine …read more

• Russell B. Bridgham ’51

  Deceased date: January 2, 2020
  CDR. Russell Benjamin Bridgham, (USN, Ret.), 89, of Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, husband of the late Takae Tomohiro Bridgham entered into eternal rest Thursday, January 2, 2020. His Funeral service will be held in Arlington National Cemetery at a later…read more

• Lawrence W. Gribbin ’56

  Deceased date: December 13, 2019
  SOUTH PORTLAND—Lawrence Wesley Gribbin, 84, passed away December 13, 2019. He was born January 9, 1935, in Portland, to Howard and Ruth (Stormes) Gribbin. He grew up in South Portland and attended local schools. He graduated from South Portland High Sch…read more

• Capt. G. David Fenderson ’56

  Deceased date: December 9, 2019
  G. David Fenderson, Captain USNR, 85, died peacefully on December 9, 2019 at Maine Medical Center after brief illness. G. David Fenderson was born in Belfast, Maine and was the eldest son of Harold I. and Georgie Whitehead Fenderson. Dave "Fendy" Fenders…read more

• Peter C. Bartlett ’83

  Deceased date: December 8, 2019

  Peter Bartlett passed away on December 8, 2019 at the age of 59. Born September 19, 1960, to Jim and Phyllis Bartlett, Pete grew up in Hampden, Maine, and graduated high school in 1979 from Hampden Aca…read more

• David C. MacNichol ’53

  Deceased date: December 6, 2019
  David Carey MacNichol, 87, passed away peacefully on Friday, Dec. 6, 2019 at Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor as the result of a stroke. Dave was born in Eastport on April 18, 1932, the firstborn son of Col. Alexander A. MacNichol and…read more