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.

• Patrick N. Dumais ’96

  Deceased date: June 11, 2019
  Hebron – Patrick N. Dumais, 45, a resident of Paris, passed away in his sleep on Tuesday, June 11th. He was born in Lewiston on December 6, 1973, the son of Robert “Bob” E. Dumais and Deirdre (Walker) White. Patrick graduated from Edward Little Hig…read more

• Daniel S. Hamblet ’66

  Deceased date: June 8, 2019
  WINDHAM - Daniel S. Hamblet, 76, passed away on Saturday, June 8, 2019, at the Gosnell Memorial Hospice House in Scarborough, Maine, from complications related to Parkinson's disease. He was born on May 7, 1943, in Portland, Maine, to the late Melvin and…read more

• David R. Tracy ’80

  Deceased date: June 4, 2019
  SKOWHEGAN - David R. Tracy, 61, died on Tuesday, June 4, 2019, surrounded by his family after a long illness. He was born in Kingston, N.Y., the son of Robert and Barbara (Audet) Tracy. Dave graduated from Waterville High School, class of 1976, where he …read more

• Herschel S. Ellis, Jr. ’54

  Deceased date: May 29, 2019
  Herschel Simeon Ellis Jr., 86, went to be with the Lord on Wednesday May 29, 2019. He was born in Peru, Maine, son of the late Herschel and Lucy Ellis. He was preceded in death by 2 children Brenda Lowe and Bruce Ellis and sister Marilyn Bonney and husban…read more

• Allan Jones ’79

  Deceased date: May 27, 2019
  Allan E. Jones, 63, died on May 27, 2019, in Florissant, Colorado. Allan was born on July, 24, 1955, in Waterville, Maine, a son of Edmund Jones and Roberta Gleichauf. He graduated from Maine Maritime Academy with the class of 1979 and was employed as a …read more

• Horatio C. Cowan Jr. ’46

  Deceased date: May 9, 2019
  CAMDEN — Horatio Cushing Cowan Jr., 93, passed away peacefully May 8, 2019, at Quarry Hill. Born in Bangor May 1, 1926, he was the son of Horatio and Vanessa Cowan. Horatio (Ratio) grew up in Rockland and was a gradua…read more

• Edward L. Mossman ’50

  Deceased date: May 7, 2019
  SOUTH BERWICK, Maine - Edward L. Mossman, 90, died Tuesday, May 7, 2019 at his home surrounded by his loving family after a short illness. Born in Worcester, Massachusetts on December 20, 1928, he was the son of Guy Eldred and Dorothea Llewellyn Mossman. …read more

• Wayne L. Crowley ’57

  Deceased date: May 6, 2019
  WAYNE - Wayne Crowley, 83, passed away peacefully at his home with his family at his side on May 6, 2019. Wayne was born in Downeast Maine in the town of Addison on Feb. 22, 1936, the first born child of Lawrence "Bill" and Gladys (Plummer) Crowley. Way…read more

• G. Raymond Mansfield, Jr. ’49

  Deceased date: May 4, 2019
  Rochester, NH- Gurdon Raymond Mansfield, Jr. 90. of 11 Susan Lane died Saturday May 4, 2019 at Frisbie Memorial Hospital surrounded by his family. He was born May 29, 1928 in Haverhill, MA the son of the late Gurdon Raymond Mansfield, Sr. and Mary (Fello…read more

• Russell V. Rowe ’66

  Deceased date: April 19, 2019
  Russell V. Rowe, 74, of Georgetown, MA, died peacefully on April 19, 2019, surrounded by his wife, daughters, and sons-in-laws, after battling multiple chronic illnesses for many years. Russell was the son of the late Vineal and Ella Rowe. He leaves behi…read more