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.

• Parker S. Laite Sr. ’54

  Deceased date: June 6, 2016
  CAMDEN — Parker S. Laite, Sr., 82, longtime community servant, died peacefully at his home, surrounded by his family, Monday, June 6, 2016, after a brief illness. Friends and relatives are invited to visit Sunday, June…read more

• Paul C. Sackley ’45

  Deceased date: May 31, 2016

  Paul Charles Sackley died May 31, 2016 at OSF St. Anthony Medical Center. He was born August 27, 1925 in Portland Maine to Charles Paul Sackley and Vivian Sackley. Paul graduated from Portland High School, Portland, Maine in 1943 and graduat…read more

• Paul R. Spear ’73

  Deceased date: May 29, 2016
  Valrico, Fla.—Captain Paul R. Spear, 65, of Valrico, Fla., died Sunday, May 29, 2016. He had suffered from frontotemporal disorder for several years. He was born March 8, 1951, 3 minutes earlier than his identical twin brother Peter, in Portland, Maine,…read more

• Dr. Douglas W. McKay ’47

  Deceased date: May 26, 2016
  MILBRIDGE - Dr. Douglas William McKay of Milbridge, Maine, the youngest son born to Hugh Gordon McKay and Elizabeth Jellison McKay on March 10, 1927 in Howland, Maine, passed away peacefully at his home on May 26, 2016. He is survived by his wife, Elinor…read more

• 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