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.

• Gene D. Perry ’96

  Deceased date: February 8, 2019
  Gene Dennis Perry of Alna, ME passed away unexpectedly at his home on February 8th, 2019. Gene was born in Rumford, ME on November 29th, 1941 to Rene and Delphine (Lindau) Perry. He grew up in Mexico, ME and graduated from Mexico High School in 1960. He r…read more

• Michael G. Thorner ’60

  Deceased date: February 4, 2019
  Lieutenant Commander Michael Gordon Thorner, USN, Ret., 79, died February 4, 2019 in a local hospital. He was a native of Portsmouth, New Hampshire and a resident of Norfolk since 1975. He was preceded in death by his father, Francis Smith Thorner. Lieut…read more

• Earl C. Kidder ’46

  Deceased date: January 31, 2019
  AUBURN – Earl C. Kidder, 92, of Auburn passed away with his loving family by his side on Jan. 31, 2019. He was born on Aug. 3, 1926, in Mexico, Maine. A son of the late Elwood and Ethel (Andrews) Kidder. He was educated in Mexico schools and entered Ma…read more

• Roger P. Ouellette ’54

  Deceased date: January 28, 2019
  It is with great sadness that the family of Roger P. Ouellette announce his passing on Monday, Jan. 28, 2019, at the age of 85. He was born in Biddeford on March 11, 1933, the son of Frank X. Ouellette and Lelia (Lapointe) Ouellette. He attended local sc…read more

• 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