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.

• Robert G. Bent ’50

  Deceased date: August 9, 2015
  FALMOUTH – Robert Galen Bent, 86, son of Frank Noel Mace Bent and Harriett Josephine Deguio, died early in the morning of Aug. 9, 2015. He was born in South Portland on May 27, 1929 and attended local schools. A graduate of Maine Maritime Academy, Cl…read more

• Edgar W. Dorr ’43-1

  Deceased date: August 8, 2015
  Edgar W. Dorr, 94, passed away at his home August 8, 2015. He was a native of Maine and had a deep love of the sea. He was encouraged to seek an appointment to the Maine Maritime Acadamy where …read more

• Carl F. Chavaree ’53

  Deceased date: August 4, 2015
  Carl Francis Chavaree passed away on August 4, 2015, after courageously enduring bladder cancer. Carl was born in Lewiston, Maine, on January 21, 1931, to Albert and Gertrude Chavaree. He was the third of nine children born to Albert and Gertrude. Carl at…read more

• Wayne C. Shaw ’65

  Deceased date: August 1, 2015

  GEORGETOWN - Wayne C. Shaw, 72, of Georgetown and Greenville died on August 1, 2015 at home in Georgetown with his family by his side.

  He was born on October 3, 1942 in Bath, Maine, son of Charles …read more

• Robert S. Footer ’56

  Deceased date: July 31, 2015
  CALAIS - Robert Stephen Footer, 80, passed away Friday, July 31, 2015 at a Bangor hospital with his family by his side. Robert was born in Bath on July 15, 1935, son of the late Edward and Beatrice (McLellan) Footer. He graduated from Morse High School, …read more

• Eliot W. Denault ’46

  Deceased date: July 30, 2015
  Eliot Warden Denault, also known as Peter, 89, of Delray Beach, FL, died Thursday, July 30, 2015, surrounded by family at his vacation home in Jamestown, RI. Mr. Denault was born March 11, 1926, in Boston, MA, the son of the late Eliot W. and Marcia (Bart…read more

• Bruce R. Poliquin ’72

  Deceased date: July 27, 2015
  AUBURN- Bruce Ronald Poliquin, 66, went to Heaven to join many loved ones there waiting for him on Sunday July 26, 2015. Bruce, the oldest of four children, was born on April 5, 1949 to Rudy and Georgette (Giguere) Poliquin in Lewiston, Maine. He graduate…read more

• William Leavitt ’49

  Deceased date: July 20, 2015
  PORTLAND - William (Bill) Leavitt was born on May 5, 1928, to Ruth and Ralph Leavitt, of Stroudwater, Portland. He was named after his great-grandfather, Capt. William Leavitt, aptly as the ocean and particularly Portland's waterfront became an indelible …read more

• Mark J. Hellen ’75

  Deceased date: July 17, 2015
  PORTLAND - Mark Joseph Hellen, 63, the best man known to mankind, departed this world on Friday, July 17, 2015, while away on business in Manchester, N.H. Mark was born on May 10, 1952, the son of Eleanor Johnson Hellen and Robert "Yogi" Hellen. He gradua…read more

• Robert E. Canavan ’47

  Deceased date: July 14, 2015
  WATERVILLE - Robert Eaton Canavan (Spanky) passed away peacefully on June 14, 2015, at Eastern Maine Medical Center. He was born in Waterville on Nov. 10, 1927, the son of Richard and Nina (Corr) Canavan. Robert graduated from Waterville High School and <…read more