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 W. Gilman, Jr. ’87

  Deceased date: March 18, 2016
  HOUSTON, Texas - On March 18, 2016, Robert W. Gilman Jr. was called to be with God in Heaven after complications from a health-related illness. Robb was a devoted husband, loving father, beloved son, brother, uncle, and friend to all who knew him, and th…read more

• Horace A. Record ’43-1

  Deceased date: March 10, 2016
  PORTLAND - Horace "Hod" Atwood Record passed away peacefully on Thursday, March 10, 2016, at the Cedars Skilled Care Center in Portland. He was born on Oct. 11, 1924, in Lewiston, the son of Elizabeth and Walter Record. He attended Buckfield schools and g…read more

• Chester I. Hopkins, III ’62

  Deceased date: March 10, 2016
  Capt. Chester “Chet” I. Hopkins, III, 75 of Damariscotta, passed away on the morning of March 10th, at the Maine Medical Center in Portland. Born on January 15, 1941 in Melrose, MA, he was the son of Mabel and Chester Hopkins, Jr. Chet grew up in Mas…read more

• Peter Martin ’66

  Deceased date: February 19, 2016
  Mr. Peter Ward Martin, 72, passed away Friday, February 19, 2016, at Tucker Hospice House in Kannapolis. A Memorial Service will be held at World Christian Church in Kannapolis on Sunday, March 6, 2016 at 3:00 pm. His son in law, Richard Babcock, will of…read more

• Edward A. Rodgers

  Deceased date: February 18, 2016
  COCOA BEACH, FL – Retired U.S. Maritime Rear Adm. Edward ‘Ted’ Rodgers, U.S. Naval Academy 1940 graduate, and former Superintendent of the Maine Maritime Academy, died in Cocoa Beach, FL, on February 18th following a brief illness after an incredibl…read more

• John L. Brophy ’47

  Deceased date: February 12, 2016
  CASTINE - Captain John Lawry Brophy, 88, took the late jitney to Fiddler's Green on February 12, 2016. He was born June 29, 1927, in Skowhegan, the son of Henry L. and Rebecca A. (Lawry) Brophy. John graduated from Lawrence High School in 1944 and the Ma…read more

• James E. Proctor ’10

  Deceased date: February 6, 2016
  BANGOR - James E. "Reggie" Proctor, beloved son of Ann M. Marston and Stephen J. Proctor, passed away suddenly and unexpectedly on Feb. 6, 2016, in Toledo, Ohio. He was born in Bangor on Jan.12, 1982. James, "Reggie," grew up in Bangor. He graduated from…read more

• Robert F. Hilpert ’57

  Deceased date: February 4, 2016
  Robert "Bob" Hilpert, a long-time resident of Bellingham, WA since 1984, passed away on February 4th, 2016 at age of 80. He was born to Edwin and Christine Hilpert of Rochelle Park, NJ. Bob was surrounded by his loving wife of 51 years, Karen Frances Hilp…read more

• Halver A. Hart, Jr. ’45

  Deceased date: February 2, 2016
  Halver A. Hart Jr., "Skip," died peacefully Feb. 2 at the Maine Veterans Home in Augusta with his family at his side. Skip was born in the family home May 9, 1925 to Hazel (Annis) and Halver Hart of South Hope. Skip received his early education at the on…read more

• Manley H. Smith, Jr. ’55

  Deceased date: January 25, 2016
  KENNEBUNK - Manley H. Smith, Jr., 83, of Kennebunk, a loving husband, father, and grandfather, died peacefully on Monday evening, January 25, 2016 at Southern Maine Health Care in Biddeford following a brief illness. He was born in Old Town on April 23, 1…read more