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.

• 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

• Fred J. Merrill ’43-2

  Deceased date: April 2, 2016
  SACO - Fred J. "Shag" Merrill, 93, of Saco, died peacefully at his home on April 2, 2016. Born on Nov. 10, 1922, the son of Fred and Ella (Ahern) Merrill, Fred was raised in South Portland. Jacqueline, his wife of 57 years, predeceased him in 2013. Fred l…read more

• Thomas C. Dever ’77

  Deceased date: April 2, 2016
  DANVERS AND PEABODY: Thomas C Dever, 61, of Danvers and formerly of Peabody, died unexpectedly on Saturday evening at the Beverly Hospital. He was the husband of Becka (Anastos) Dever. Born in Winthrop, he was the son of the late Clifford and Barbara (Ch…read more

• Patrick W. Fulton ’59

  Deceased date: March 31, 2016
  Countless superlatives have been used to describe Patrick Willson Fulton since he passed away on March 31st. Wonderful, remarkable, unequaled, and indomitable are just some of the words describing his character. As a husband, father, grandfather, friend, …read more

• Vincent L. Devlin ’73

  Deceased date: March 22, 2016
  Vincent Louis Devlin, 64, HOLLYWOOD, Fla. - Vincent Louis Devlin, 64, passed away unexpectedly on March 22, 2016, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. He was born August 17, 1951, in Portland to Louis Owen and Ellen Corbett Devlin. Vincent grew up in Stanwood Park …read more

• Melissa A. Valliere ’01

  Deceased date: March 21, 2016
  BRUNSWICK, MAINE - Melissa passed away at the Bodwell Nursing &am…read more

• John J. Gabriel ’66

  Deceased date: March 19, 2016
  GREEN VALLEY, Ariz. - John Joseph Gabriel, resident of Green Valley, Ariz., passed away suddenly on March 19, 2016, at Green Valley Hospital. John was born on May 27, 1944, in Brooklyn, N.Y. He was raised on a farm in Troy, ME, by Alfred and Marion Gabrie…read more