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.

• Rodney J. Lucas ’69

  Deceased date: April 8, 2024
  Rodney J. Lucas passed away peacefully at his home in The Villages, FL on April 5th, 2024 at the age of 77. Rod is survived by his loving wife of 52 years, Rosemary Lucas, daughter Keri Lucas and her husband John Barsosky, and grandson Jackson Barsosky of…read more

• Stephen R. Barbara ’67

  Deceased date: April 6, 2024
  Stephen R. Barbara passed away April 6, 2024.…read more

• William T. Orr ’74

  Deceased date: April 5, 2024
  William T. Orr (aka "Captain Bill") of Lake Hopatcong, NJ passed away peacefully on Friday, April 5, 2024 at St. Clare's Hospital Dover Campus surrounded by his loving family. He was 71 years old. Bill was born on September 24, 1952 in Denville, …read more

• Herbert C. Phelps ’57

  Deceased date: March 24, 2024
  Herbert Cornell Phelps, 86, of South Portland, Maine, passed away on March 24, 2024. Herb was born on April 17, 1936, in Boston. He is the son of the late Noel and Margaret Rose (Carson) Phelps. He worked in the Merchant Marine as an engineer for many y…read more

• Timothy T. Korda ’87

  Deceased date: March 14, 2024
  Old Orchard Beach--Timothy Thor Korda sailed over the horizon on March 14, 2024. He faced a difficult cancer journey with dignity, great strength, and love for those around him. Tim loved animals, nature, and being at the shore and sea at Camp Ellis with …read more

• James R. Fernald ’84

  Deceased date: March 9, 2024
  Somesville and Brewer - James R. Fernald of Somesville and Brewer died Saturday, March 9, 2024, as a result of injuries sustained in a skiing accident, following a life lived fully, consciously and purposefully. …read more

• William G. Murphy ’68

  Deceased date: March 6, 2024
  Portland - William "Bill" Murphy, 77, suddenly passed away at his home on Wednesday, March 6, 2024. Bill was born in Portland on May 10, 1946. He was a graduate of Cheverus High School, class of 1964, and Maine Maritime Academy class of 1968. He will be …read more

• Charles T. Jadamec ’05

  Deceased date: February 25, 2024
  read more

• Bruce R. Bond ’68

  Deceased date: February 23, 2024
  CENTER HARBOR--- Bruce R. Bond, 77, died on Friday, February 23, 2024, at Concord Hospital, Laconia. Born on June 18,1946 in Cambridge, MA, Bruce was the first child to grace this Bond family, son to the late Octave Melvyn Bond and late Ruby Benson Bond,…read more

• Lance A. Burton ’90, ’13

  Deceased date: February 23, 2024
  Lance Alan Burton of Castine and Monhegan Island passed away due to medical complications on Friday morning, February 23, 2024, at the age of 58. Lance was born to Robert & Marietta (Tibbetts) Burton on January 5th, 1966 in Albuquerque, NM. He grew…read more