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.

• Brian G. Ayer ’66

  Deceased date: August 30, 2017
  SOUTH CHINA, MAINE - Brian G. Ayer, 73, passed away Aug. 30, 2017 at Maine General Medical Center in Augusta surrounded by his family. He was born Feb. 14, 1944 in Waterville, the son of Charles D. and Martha (Greenleaf) Ayer. He graduated from Hampden A…read more

• George A. Varney ’72

  Deceased date: August 23, 2017
  George A. Varney, 51, longtime GMC Service Manager/ Director, who received several recognitions for his willingness to go above and beyond, died Monday, November 19th, at his home here after a long illness. In 1982, he took the position of Service Manager…read more

• James T. Walsh ’64

  Deceased date: August 15, 2017
  James “Terry” Walsh, 76, of Derry, NH, died Tuesday August 15, 2017 in Merrimack Valley Hospice House in Haverhill, MA. He was born in Bangor, ME on June 30, 1941, the son of Norman and Rita (Connor) Walsh, and had been a resident of Derry since 1986.…read more

• John P. Quincannon Jr. ’80

  Deceased date: August 12, 2017
  John Patrick Quincannon, Jr., 60, passed away unexpectedly as a result of a heart attack on Aug. 12, 2017. John was born in Portland on Jan. 15, 1957, the son of the late John P. and Katherine (Foley) Quincannon. He graduated from Portland High School in…read more

• Donald R. Doornbos ’67

  Deceased date: August 11, 2017
    Donald R. Doornbos passed away August 11, 2017 in Beaufort SC.  After graduation from Maine Maritime Academy, he traveled the world as a Merchant Marine officer and came ashore after 20 years of service as a chief engineer.  He enjoyed sailing, …read more

• Michael J. Joyce ’78

  Deceased date: August 10, 2017
  INVERNESS, Fla. - Michael Joseph Joyce, 62, of Inverness Fla,. passed away on Aug. 10, 2017, after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer, surrounded by his loving wife Dian and family. Michael was born on Oct.15, 1954, in Portland. He was the son of…read more

• John B. Cochran ’47

  Deceased date: August 9, 2017
  John B.W. Cochran, 90, died peacefully at his home, Fairfax Cottage, in Hulls Cove, August 9, 2017. He was born February 1, 1927 in Washington, DC the son of John Baldwin Cochran and Alice Whiting Cochran. He graduated from Maine Maritime Academy in 1947…read more

• Frank P. Ryan ’70

  Deceased date: July 27, 2017
  Frank Patrick Ryan age 70 of Melbourne, FL passed over the bar on July 26th, 2017 at his home in the care of his loving partner, Ms. Valerie Zanoni.  Frank was a 1966 graduate of Machais Memorial High School where he was the class …read more

• John B. Halley ’57

  Deceased date: July 12, 2017
  John "Jack" Halley, 81, of Millinocket, Maine, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, July 12, 2017, at Colonial Healthcare in Lincoln, Maine. Jack was born in Millinocket on May 4, 1936, to Richard and Marie Halley. In addition to his parents, Jack was p…read more

• Lester C. Wood ’57

  Deceased date: July 11, 2017
  Lester Clayton Wood, 80, of Winthrop, died Tuesday July 11, 2017, at MaineGeneral Medical Center in Augusta. He was the only child of Emerald Jake Wood and Mary Elizabeth Yeaton Wood, born in Winthrop Oct. 5, 1936. He was educated in the Winthrop Schools…read more