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.

• F. Neal Dow ’49

  Deceased date: October 24, 2015
  Groton - F. Neal Dow, 86, of Groton, passed away on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2015, at Fairview in Groton. He was born in N…read more

• Ralph Hayden III ’61

  Deceased date: October 13, 2015
  Ralph Hayden III, 76, of Joppa, MD passed away on October 13, 2015 at Stella Maris Hospice in Timonium. Born in Boston, MA, he was the son of the late Ralph Hayden Jr. and Margaret (Brooks) Hayden, and husband of the late Margaret Anne Hayden. Mr. Hayden …read more

• Joseph W. Carr ’52

  Deceased date: October 13, 2015

  CUSHING - Joseph W. Carr, 84, died Tuesday, October 13, 2015 at Windward Gardens in Camden. Joe's life began at the Stinson Hospital in Bangor on January 27, 1931.

  During his sophomore ye…read more

• William B. Melaugh Jr. ’43-2

  Deceased date: October 10, 2015

  SOUTH PORTLAND - William "Bill" B. Melaugh Jr., of Sawyer Street, died peacefully, Saturday, Oct. 10. 2015, at home with people who loved him. He was born in Portland on Jan. 24, 1922, son of William B. Sr. and Annie (Mullins) Melaugh.  B…read more

• Danielle L. Randolph ’04

  Deceased date: October 1, 2015

  ROCKLAND — A raging blonde, seaworthy mariner and loved by anyone who had the privilege of spending more than five minutes with her, Danielle Laura Randolph, 34, was lost at sea Oct. 1, 2015, with her fellow shipmates of the …read more

• Michael L. Holland ’12

  Deceased date: October 1, 2015

  Michael Lee Holland, 25, a resident of Wilton, was lost at sea on October 1, 2015. He was one of 33 crew members aboard the S.S. El Faro that sank during Hurricane Joaquin near Crooked Island, Bahamas. He was born December 6, 1989 in Farmi…read more

• Dylan Oke Meklin ’15

  Deceased date: October 1, 2015

  ROCKLAND - Dylan Oke Meklin, 23, of Rockland was lost at sea on Oct. 1, 2015 aboard the SS El Faro, off Crooked Islands, Bahamas during Hurricane Joaquin. Dylan was born in Rockport, Feb. 8, 1992, the son of Karl and Elaine Jordan Meklin.<…read more

• Michael C. Davidson ’88

  Deceased date: October 1, 2015
  Michael C. Davidson '88 was lost at sea October 1, 2015 sailing as Master aboard the SS El Faro off the Crooked Islands, Bahamas during Hurricane Joaquin. Michael began preparing for his career as captain at Casco Bay Lines before attending MMA where he …read more

• Mitchell T. Kuflik ’11

  Deceased date: October 1, 2015
  Mystic - A Celebration of the Life of Mitchell Thomas Kuflik will be held at noon…read more

• Granville I. Smith ’47

  Deceased date: September 19, 2015
  CUMBERLAND FORESIDE - Captain Granville Isaac Smith (Pete), 87, a resident of Cumberland Foreside and Township 6 Range 7, Maine, took his final voyage and crossed the bar on September 19,…read more