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.

• Eugene H. Spinazola ’61

  Deceased date: January 14, 2017
  Gene Spinazola passed on January 14, 2017 in Sebastian, FL.  He grew up in Hopkinton, Mass and graduated from Hopkinton High School in 1957 and went on to College at Maine Maritime Academy, graduating with a Batchelor of Marine Science in Marine Engineer…read more

• Vincent P. Hanscom ’70

  Deceased date: January 11, 2017
  Vincent Patrick Hanscom, 68, of Swanzey, New Hampshire, died peacefully in the comfort of his own home on January 11, 2017 surrounded by family. Vince was born on February 20, 1948 in Saco, Maine to Dorothy Christine (Adams) and Milan Leslie Hanscom. He …read more

• Frank C. Rodway

  Deceased date: January 6, 2017
  PORTLAND - Frank C. Rodway, 91, passed away on Jan. 6, 2017. He was the son of Rev. and Mrs. Charles B. Rodway. Mr. Rodway was born in Beverly, Mass., but moved to Maine in the early 1930s when his father accepted the position as superintendent of the Por…read more

• Christopher N. Gridley ’13

  Deceased date: December 31, 2016
  Christopher Norton Gridley passed away unexpectedly on December 31, 2016 at his home in West Tremont. He had recently turned 26 years old. Christopher (Chris to all his friends) attended Connors Emerson School in Bar Harbor, graduated from Mount Desert I…read more

• Franklin C. McIver ’65

  Deceased date: December 24, 2016
  On the morning of Christmas Eve, Dec. 24, 2016, Franklin Cole McIver, while being embraced by his wife and children, his daughter's spoken prayer was heard, for the clearing of the path and opening of the gates for him to peacefully go Home and enter into…read more

• John S. Jenkins ’46

  Deceased date: December 20, 2016
  John Stevens Jenkins, 90, of Wayne, Illinois died Tuesday, December 20, 2016. Mr. Jenkins was born June 18, 1926, in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania to T…read more

• Alfred W. Bagot

  Deceased date: December 18, 2016
  LONGBOAT KEY, FL, AND CASTINE, ME - Colonel Alfred William Bagot, US Army, Retired, passed away on Sunday, Dec. 18, 2016, at home in Castine surrounded by his family. He was 95 years old. Al was born on Feb. 15, 1921, in Saint Louis, MO, to Alfred Jason …read more

• David F. Robbins ’87

  Deceased date: December 15, 2016
  David Fletcher Robbins, beloved son of Frederick and Beverly Robbins, began his life on June 19, 1962, in Concord, NH and suddenly passed to a better world on Dec. 15, 2016. Since 1966 Gardiner was his home and he did not really have the true heart to wa…read more

• Christopher C. Blanchard ’92

  Deceased date: November 27, 2016
  Christopher C. Blanchard, 47, of Wallingford, loving husband of Suzanne R. (Kaliscak) Blanchard, passed away, unexpectedly, Sunday, November 27, 2016 at S…read more

• Howard B. Finley ’43-2

  Deceased date: November 20, 2016
  Howard B. Finley, age 94, of Jefferson Hills, passed away on November 20, 2016. Beloved husband of the late Mary S. Finley; father of Howard B. Finley III and Anne Marie Donahue; grandfather of Ann and Karen Finley and Stephanie, Mary Kathryn and Billy Do…read more