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.

• 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

• Paul P. Borde ’59

  Deceased date: October 15, 2018
  Lieutenant Commander Paul P. Borde, 82, died peacefully in his Ponte Vedra Beach home on 15 Oc…read more

• Clair A. Nickerson ’51

  Deceased date: August 25, 2018
  Clair A. “Nick” Nickerson, age 88, passed away peacefully at Rex Hospital in Raleigh, NC on August 25, 2018, following a brief illness. Nick was born in South Portland, Maine, on March 23, 1930, the son of Herbert Nickerson and Ruth Killman. After gr…read more

• Paul R. Day ’70

  Deceased date: August 23, 2018
  GRAY - Paul Richard "Ricky" Day, 71, born Sept. 13, 1947 in Portland to the late Mary Ellen Feeney Day and the late Paul R. Day passed peacefully forward from his home in Gray on Aug. 23, 2018. Paul was raised in Deering Center in Portland and graduated …read more

• 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