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.

• Capt. Richard G. Spear ’43-2

  Deceased date: May 3, 2018
  Captain Richard "Dick" Spear, 96, died with his daughter at his side, Thursday, May 3, 2018, at the Sussman House in Rockport. Captain Spear led a full and interesting life that included over 60 years in the Maritime field. At age 17, he was given a year…read more

• Thomas W. Trundy ’96

  Deceased date: April 6, 2018
  Thomas W. Trundy, 53, died unexpectedly at his home in Houston, Texas, Friday, April 6. He was born in Bangor on March 7, 1965, to David and Betsy Nichols Trundy. He graduated from Mt. Blue High School in 1983 and went on to Maine Maritime Academy, where …read more

• Lance J. Anderson ’71

  Deceased date: March 20, 2018
  Lance John Anderson, 71, of Winslow, Maine, passed away on March 20, 2018, in Powell, Tenn., with his wife and children by his side. Lance was on vacation with his wife, when he succumbed to pneumonia due to respiratory ailments that had been challenging …read more

• Capt. Richard P. Dallaire ’51

  Deceased date: March 13, 2018
  Captain Richard Paul Dallaire, USN (Ret), 87, of Virginia Beach, VA, passed away March 13, 2018. Born April 12, 1930, in Rochester, New Hampshire, he was the son of Wilfred and Gladys (Marchand) Dallaire. He graduated from Spaulding High School, Class of…read more

• Robert E. Moody ’68

  Deceased date: March 4, 2018
  Robert Earl Moody, 71, of Gadsden, Alabama passed away Sunday, March 4, 2018. Bob was born in Camden, Maine on September 18, 1946. He graduated from Camden High School where he played trumpet in the band and won the Junior class speech medal. He attended…read more

• Thomas B. Porter ’69

  Deceased date: March 4, 2018
  Thomas B. Porter, 74, of 97 Bog Road, passed away, Sunday, March 4, 2018 in York Hospital. He was born January 12, 1944 in Morristown, N.J., a son of the late Charles C. and Dorothy (Burton) Porter. He attended New York Military Academy (with President T…read more

• Terrance J. Frederick ’65

  Deceased date: March 1, 2018
  Terrance ‘Terry’ J. Frederick, 75 of Beverly Hills, Florida died on Thursday, March 1, 2018. He was born on Tuesday, August 11, 1942, in Pittsfield, Maine, the son of Anthony and Evelyn Frederick. He is survived by his wife, Pamela Frederick; three so…read more

• Peter R. Thompson ’65

  Deceased date: January 28, 2018
  Peter Royal Thomps…read more

• Capt. Richard C. O’Donnell ’50

  Deceased date: January 25, 2018
  Capt. Richard C. O'Donnell '50 of Savannah, Georgia and formerly of Searsport, Maine, died Thursday, January 25, 2018 at Hospice Savannah. Capt. O'Donnell was predeceased by his wife, Mary, and is survived by his children, Thomas and Sheila. He spent man…read more

• Capt. Dennis R. Webb ’72

  Deceased date: January 21, 2018
  Capt. Dennis R. Webb, 67, of Fellows Street, South Portland, Maine, died peacefully on Sunday, January 21, 2018, at the Gosnell Memorial Hospice House following a long illness. His loving wife was by his side. Dennis was born in Portland, Maine on May 24…read more