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.

• 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

• 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