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.

• Paul R. Birmingham ’58

  Deceased date: May 25, 2016
  SEELEY’S BAY, ONTARIO, CANADA – Suddenly but peacefully at home, Seeley’s Bay, Ontario on Wednesday, May 25th, 2016. Paul Richard Birmingham, formerly of Pakenham, passed away at the age of 78. Beloved husband of the late Mary Ann (nee Nelson) (Sept…read more

• J. Scott Powell ’82

  Deceased date: May 19, 2016
  J. Scott Powell of Buxton, Maine passed away suddenly Thursday, May 19, 2016, while working on the ship S.S. Alpena in Sturgeon Bay, Wis. He was 57. Born in Wilmington, Del., Scott's early years were spent with his mother, Patricia Powell, in Moorestown …read more

• Capt. Kent S. Webber ’60

  Deceased date: May 4, 2016
  Capt. Kent Shepard Webber, USN (Ret.), age 76 of Catharpin, VA and formerly of Vienna, VA died on May 4, 2016, at Fairfax Hospital. Beloved husband of the late Margaret Austin Webber; father of Kristin Webber-Moore (Bill Moore, II), Stephen Webber and Ken…read more

• Richard L. Egli ’52

  Deceased date: May 2, 2016
  Richard L. Egli, 84, of Loudon, Tennessee, passed away peacefully at Memorial Hospital, Chattanooga, Tennessee, on Monday, May 2, 2016. Richard was born May 20, 1931 in Connecticut. His family moved to New Jersey, where he met his future wife, Helen. Rich…read more

• Richard K. Reese ’57

  Deceased date: April 24, 2016
  Richard K. Reese, 86, of Swainton, NJ and formerly of Harrisburg died Monday, April 24, 2016 at his home. An Army Veteran of the Korean War, Dick was a retired Merchant Marine Captain and an avid outdoorsman. He was an alumnus of Harrisburg Academy and M…read more

• Capt. Lawrence E. Ingraham ’46

  Deceased date: April 8, 2016
  BENICIA, Calif. — Captain Lawrence E. Ingraham, 89, of Benicia, California passed away April 8, 2016 in Benicia. He was born in Sherman Mills, on October 29, 1926, to Ray E. and Emily M. (Sides) Ingraham. He was a 1944 graduate of Sherman High School…read more

• Jerden A. Bishop ’60

  Deceased date: April 6, 2016
  Waterford - Jerden A. Bishop, 76, of Quaker Hill, died peacefully at his home surrounded by family on Wednesday, April 6, 2016. He was born in Norfolk, Va., on Nov. 4, 1939, to the late William and Doria (Peek) Bishop. On Aug. 19, 1960 he married his bel…read more

• Peter S. Smith ’64

  Deceased date: April 3, 2016
  Captain Peter S. Smith, a 50-year member of the International Organization of Masters, Mates & Pilots, passed away on April 3, 2016. He retired in 2008 from Horizon Lines as a Senior Master, a rank equivalent to Commodore, and shortly thereafter joine…read more

• William M. Mihalic ’45

  Deceased date: April 3, 2016
  William Matthew Mihalic passed away peacefully at home, April 3, 2016, in the company of his daughter, exactly two months after the passing of his beloved wife of 69 years, Eleanore Marie Mihalic. United again in heaven, they dance together in the light o…read more

• David C. Witham ’62

  Deceased date: April 2, 2016
  David Chester Witham, 75, of Wakefield passed away on April 2, 2016 in a house fire while on vacation in the Bahamas. David was born on March 23, 1941 to Harvey and Myrtle (Anderson) Witham of North Providence, RI. He graduated from North Providence High…read more