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.

• Timothy C. Pickering ’07

  Deceased date: April 13, 2019
  Timothy C. Pickering, 42, of Salem, MA passed away from pancreatic cancer on Saturday, April 13th at the Kaplan Hospice House in Danvers, MA. Tim was born and raised in Marblehead, MA. He was active in Marblehead Youth Hockey and played both hockey and l…read more

• Robert L. Smallidge ’52

  Deceased date: April 6, 2019
  Niffie Smallidge, 87, peacefully went home to be with the Lord on April 6, 2019. Niffie was born on Aug. 25, 1931, in Somesville, and was the son of Lewis and Mazie (Brown) Smallidge. Niffie grew up on Mount Desert Island thoroughly loving “his Island.…read more

• Lucien L. Dumont Jr. ’64

  Deceased date: April 6, 2019
  Lucien passed at his Florida home in Sebastian, FL on April 6, 2019 at the age of 77. The son of Phyllis A. Perry Dumont, and Lucien Dumont, Sr. he was born in Portland, Maine on Nov. 17th, 1941. Lou is predeceased by his mother, father, and Richard his b…read more

• Capt. Lucienne Litchfield ’83

  Deceased date: April 3, 2019
  Lucienne Litchfield was born in Pensecola, Florida on August 22, 1955. She died unexpectedly in Olympia, Washington on April 3, 2019 at the age of 63. She served for many years as an officer in the Merchant Marines. She has lived the last 15 years in Olym…read more

• Earl U. Morin ’56

  Deceased date: March 29, 2019
  Earl Ulric Morin, 83, passed away peacefully Friday morning March 29, 2019. Known as "Earl the Pearl" by those who knew and loved him, he courageously suffered from Alzheimer's disease …read more

• Joseph W. Cuzzupoli ’57

  Deceased date: March 25, 2019
  Joseph Warren Cuzzupoli passed away March 25, 2019 with his wife Dennie by his side. Joe and Dennie have lived in Panama City Beach since 2001. Joe was the loving father to Linda Sund (Brian) of Washington, the late Joseph (JoJo) Cuzzupoli (Sara) of Ne…read more

• Celand R. Noyes ’85

  Deceased date: March 23, 2019
  Celand R. Noyes, 55, passed away Saturday, March 23, 2019. He was born on June 8, 1963 in Rumford, Maine. Celand is survived by his cousin, Sharon Gilsleider.…read more

• Dennis W. Bragg ’75

  Deceased date: March 23, 2019
  Dennis Bragg, of Pittsfield, Maine, died peacefully on March 23, 2019, at the Sebasticook Valley Hospital with his family by his side. Dennis was born in Hartland, Maine on July 6, 1948, to Mildred Merrithew Bragg and Frederick Bragg. Dennis was raised i…read more

• David H. Morway ’73

  Deceased date: March 18, 2019
  David Homer Morway 68, passed away peacefully at home in South Hero, VT on March 18th, 2019. David was the youngest of Robert and Betty (Deirolf) Morway's two sons, born November 6th, 1950 in Burlington, Vermont. He attended high school at Fryeburg Acade…read more

• Capt. Donald R. Fiske, Sr. ’62

  Deceased date: March 17, 2019
  Captain Donald Randel Fiske Sr. 77, formerly of Kennebunkport passed away on March 17, 2019, after a brief illness. He was born in Mount Vernon, New York, on March 30, 1941, son of Eugene and Josephine (Randel) Fiske and grandson of Mayor Edwin W. Fiske,…read more