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. Shirley H. Holt III ’53

  Deceased date: March 1, 2017
  NORTH HAMPTON - Capt. Shirley H. Holt III., 84, of Hickory Ave., in North Hampton, died on Sunday, February 26, 2017, at his home surrounded by his loving family. Shirley was born in Kittery on November 11, 1932 a son of the late Capt. Shirley H. Holt Jr.…read more

• Frederick Leone ’43-2

  Deceased date: February 12, 2017
  PORTLAND - Frederick Leone, 92, formerly of 731 Washington Ave., died Sunday, Feb. 12, 2017, at his home in Portland with his family by his side. He was born in Portland, May 13, 1924, the son of Loretto and Mar…read more

• Robert E. Cort ’53

  Deceased date: January 30, 2017
  Robert E. Cort, 84, died peacefully January 25, 2017, at the age of 84. He was born June 21, 1932, in Bangor. Bob graduated from Brewer HS and attended Maine Maritime Academy the following year, where he earned his Marine Engineering degree in 1953. He e…read more

• James A. Beal ’65

  Deceased date: January 27, 2017
  Jim Beal of Highland, Michigan died on January 27, 2017.  After graduating from Falmouth High School in 1961, he went on to graduate from MMA.  He was commissioned into the Navy upon graduation and retired from the Naval Reserve after 26 years as a Capt…read more

• Patrick K. Wreh ’86

  Deceased date: January 22, 2017
  With deep sadness and broken hearts, The Wreh, Togba, and Krangar families announce with profound sorrow, the untimely death of Mr. Patrick Kla Wreh. Patutu, P-Kla, as he was affectionately called, departed this life peacefully, surrounded by his family a…read more

• John A. Grard ’75

  Deceased date: January 14, 2017
  John Grard, 64, of Winslow, Maine, Merrimack, NH, and Sebring, Fla., passed away unexpectedly on Saturday, Jan. 14, 2017, at his home in Florida. John was born on Feb. 20, 1952, and was the only son of the late Fred and Mary (Collins) Grard. He married hi…read more

• 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