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 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

• Norman A. Clark ’46

  Deceased date: January 16, 2018
  Norman A. Clark, 91, of Manchester, NH, died January 16, 2018, after a period of declining health. Born in Brattleboro, Vermont, on February 11, 1926, he was the son of Harold S. and Mary J. (Farrell) Clark. He resided in the Queen City most of his life.…read more

• Craig W. Babcock ’89

  Deceased date: January 14, 2018
  Craig William Babcock, 53, of Lisbon, CT, and New Shoreham, RI, passed away peacefully on Sunday, January 14, 2018. Craig was born on December 7, 1964 in Norwich, CT and proudly served as a Merchant Marine for 26 years. He is survived by his devoted wife…read more

• Emery C. Daly ’53

  Deceased date: January 11, 2018
  Surrounded by members of his family, Emery Cambridge Daly, 84, passed away peacefully on January 11, 2018, at Manchester Memorial Hospital in Manchester, CT. Emery was born on January 30, 1933, in Lynnfield Center, MA, the son of Raymond Christy and Dorot…read more

• Charles A. Kilby ’49

  Deceased date: January 10, 2018
  NEWPORT, MAINE - Charles Alden Kilby, 89, died on January 10, 2018. He was born on October 13, 1928, in South Portland, a son of Henry and Irene (Hannaford) Kilby. He graduated from the Maine Maritime Academy, Class of 1949, and served in the Merchant Ma…read more

• John F. Scala ’53

  Deceased date: January 9, 2018
  ROCHESTER - John "Pete" Scala, 86, of Rochester passed away peacefully on Tuesday, January 9, 2018 with his family by his side after a brief illness. Born in Boston, Mass., Pete was the son of the late Michael F. Scala Sr. and Mary Scrima. He graduated f…read more

• Roger B.Walters ’65

  Deceased date: January 4, 2018
  Roger B. Walters, 74, of Dade City, FL and formerly of Hooksett, NH, passed away at his residence in FL on January 4, 2018. He was born in Peabody, MA on July 17, 1943, son of the late Alfred and Rosa (Hitchman) Walters. Roger was a graduate of Maine Mar…read more

• Donald W. O’Brien ’56

  Deceased date: January 1, 2018
  WILTON, NY - Donald W. "OB" O'Brien, 82, of Woodlake Dr., passed away Monday morning, January 1, 2018 at his home. Born on April 4, 1935 in Bingham, Maine, he was the son of the late Rodney and Louise (Cunningham) O'Brien. He was a graduate of Maine Mari…read more