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.

• 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

• Richard R. Keimig ’62

  Deceased date: November 18, 2016
  Rick was born in Middle Village New York on March 31, 1940. He went to St. John's High School. He graduated from MMA with a 3rd assistant license with the class of 1962, the last 3 year class at MMA. He went …read more

• Robert O. Donnell, Jr. ’68

  Deceased date: November 10, 2016
  YORK, Maine - Robert O. Donnell, Jr., of York, Maine, died Thursday, November 10, 2016, at York Hospital. He was born in York on November 17, 1943, of parents Robert O. Donnell, Sr., and Winnifred MacIntire Donnell. He graduated from York High School and …read more

• Joseph W. Emerson ’44

  Deceased date: October 21, 2016
  Joseph. W. Emerson, Sr., 92, of Loon Cove Lane, died Friday, Oct. 21, 2016. He was born in Island Falls on June 25, 1924, the son of Raymond L. and Doris (Pride) Emerson. He attended Maine Maritime Academy then served his country during WW II as a Mercha…read more

• Peter D. Jordan ’71

  Deceased date: October 15, 2016
  WINDHAM - Peter D. Jordan, 67, of Windham, passed away on Saturday, Oct. 15, 2016. He was born Nov. 23, 1948. The son of Robert and Priscilla (Roberts) Jordan, he grew up in Mexico, Maine, and graduated from Mexico High School in 1967. In 1971, Peter grad…read more