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.

• Dennis J. Ring ’81

  Deceased date: August 19, 2018
  Dennis J. Ring, 60, of Cresskill, New Jersey, passed away on Sunday, August 19, 2018. Beloved husband of Antoinette Ring (nee Ventura). Devoted son of Mary (nee Mottillo) & the late William J. Ring. Loving father of Nichole G. Ring. Dear brother of W…read more

• Capt. Cecil M.S. Benson, Jr. ’46

  Deceased date: August 11, 2018
  Cecil M.S. Benson Jr., of Kennebunkport died peacefully Aug. 11, 2018, in Kennebunk. He was born July 14, 1926, in Biddeford, the first of three children born to Cecil and Isabel (Landry) Benson. In 1944, Cecil graduated from Kennebunkport High School an…read more

• Cdr. John R. Spear ’54

  Deceased date: August 10, 2018
  Commander John R. Spear passed away August 10, 2018. He was born in Bar Harbor, Maine on March 14, 1932. He graduated from Bar Harbor High School in 1950 and was class President. He received a Bachelor of Science Degree from Maine Maritime Academy and a M…read more

• Kelsey E. Nalette ’16

  Deceased date: August 5, 2018
  Kelsey Elizabeth Nalette, 24, formerly of Goffstown and currently of Jacksonville, FL, passed away on Sunday, August 5, 2018 due to injuries sustained in an automobile accident in Jacksonville. Kelsey, daughter of William and Elizabeth (Tveter) Nalette a…read more

• John J. Kintner ’01

  Deceased date: July 23, 2018
  Mr John J Kintner (aka JK),beloved son, brother, raconteur and loyal friend, passed away July 12th 2018 at the age of 70. John was born March 21st 1948 to Edwin E Kintner and Alice S Kintner in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. John attended Hebron Academy in Ma…read more

• Richard M. Burston ’43-2

  Deceased date: July 23, 2018
  Dick Burston, 93, died peacefully on Tuesday July 17, 2018 surrounded by his loving family. Dick was born in Brookline, MA on October 31, 1924 to the late Anita and Mark Burston where he spent his childhood with his late brother LeRoy Burston before movin…read more

• Hugh E. Ellis, Jr. ’57

  Deceased date: July 19, 2018
  Hugh Edward Ellis, Jr., husband of the late Patricia Ellis, died at the South Carolina home of his daughter, Kimberly, on July 19, 2018, surrounded by loving family. He was born on July 23, 1936, in Bangor, Maine, the son of Hugh Edward Ellis, Sr., and Su…read more

• Timothy S. Sullivan ’06

  Deceased date: July 15, 2018
  Timothy Sean Sullivan, 53, of Arrowsic, passed away Sunday, July 15, 2018 at The Highlands in Topsham. He was born on July 22, 1964, in Bath, to Catherine (King) and Howard Sullivan. He was the youngest of nine children. He was raised in Arrowsic, attende…read more

• Dale C. Lincoln ’57

  Deceased date: July 12, 2018
  Dale Clyde Lincoln, 81, son of Arthur Ewan Lincoln and Martha (Spinney) Lincoln, was called to be with the Lord on July 12, 2018. He was born on January 5, 1937, and graduated from: Shead Memorial High School (1954), M…read more

• Capt. Walter E. Shea, Jr. ’77

  Deceased date: July 3, 2018
  Capt. Walter E. Shea Jr., 63, of Panama City Beach, Florida passed away unexpectedly at his summer home in Eliot, Maine on Tuesday, July 3, 2018. Walter was born in the Portsmouth Naval Hospital, on March 9, 1955 to Anita (Morrison) and Walter E. Shea Sr…read more