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.

• Robert C. Ramsdell ’44

  Deceased date: January 20, 2019
  North Hampton - Dr. Robert Charles (Bob) Ramsdell, M.D., a longtime resident of Andover, MA and North Hampton, NH, died peacefully on January 20, 2019 at the age of 93. He was the husband of the late Margaret L. (Davidson) Ramsdell. Bob’s life was mark…read more

• Walter K. Seman ’58

  Deceased date: January 5, 2019
  Walter Kiernan Seman, age 81, passed away quietly in Venice after battling a aggressive form of skin cancer (merkel cell carcinoma). For two years he endured the operations, trips to Moffitt Cancer Center, and local medical appointments with his customary…read more

• Herbert M. Walling ’71, ’87

  Deceased date: December 22, 2018
  Herbert M. Walling of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, passed away on the 22nd day of December 2018 at University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston. He was born on September 26, 1947 in Greene New York to Herbert and Marjorie (Kipp) Walling. He grew up in P…read more

• Thomas A. Farnsworth ’65

  Deceased date: December 21, 2018
  On December 21, 2018, Thomas “Toss” Farnsworth, loving husband and father of thr…read more

• Richard N. Drake, Jr. ’69

  Deceased date: December 11, 2018
  Richard N. Drake Jr., 74, of Cape Elizabeth, recently passed away. He was born in Winterport, Maine in November, 1944. He was a graduate of Maine Maritime Academy. He became a chief engineer and sailed on merchant ships throughout the world. He was a pass…read more

• George E. Sanborn ’43-2

  Deceased date: November 19, 2018
  George Emerson Sanborn, 96, of Falmouth, passed away November 19, 2018 after only five hours at Gosnell House with his wife by his side. George was born in Portland, Maine at the Maine Eye and Ear Hospital December 14, 1921 to Chester Sanborn and Doris El…read more

• Peter W. Smallidge ’56

  Deceased date: November 13, 2018
  Peter Wayne Smallidge died November 13, 2018 at his home in Somesville, Maine. He was born on January 27, 1934 in Bar Harbor, Maine, the son of Ernestine Ober Smallidge and Clifford Smallidge. While growing up in Seal Harbor and Northeast Harbor, he atte…read more

• Stephen L. Harriman ’67

  Deceased date: November 12, 2018
  WALTHAM -  Stephen L. Harriman "Steve" was born in Belfast, ME, February 28, 1945 and died November 12, 2018. He was the only child of Clyde Harriman and Elsie Gross Harriman. He attended Crosby High School in Belfast, then went on to graduate from Main…read more

• Thomas G. Queen ’80

  Deceased date: November 6, 2018
  DANIELSVILLE, Pa. - Tom Queen, 60 passed away Nov. 6, 2018, at Cedar Crest Hospital in Allentown, Pa. He was born June 5, 1958. For the past 11 years, Tom lived and worked in Danielsville, Pa. Prior to that, he lived in Casco, Maine on Thomas Pond with …read more

• Bernard A. Bartlett ’65

  Deceased date: October 17, 2018
  Bernard A. Bartlett, of Nantucket, passed away peacefully at his home on October 17, 2018.  Beloved husband of Helene (Voigt) Bartlett for 52 years, loving son of Arline (Fisher) and Franklin Bartlett, son-in-law to Doris Voigt, devoted father to Diane C…read more