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 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

• Jeffrey A. McMann ’69

  Deceased date: July 12, 2015
  WESTBROOK - Jeffrey Albert McMann, 68, died Sunday, July 12 peacefully in his sleep in Wisconsin, where he has resid…read more

• Robert L. Thomas ’54

  Deceased date: July 6, 2015
  Robert “Bob” Lincoln Thomas, 82, of Vernon, beloved husband of Barbara (King) Thomas died peacefully on Monday, July 6, 2015 at his home, surrounded by his family. He was born on April 30, 1933 in Springfield, MA, son of the late Reverend J. Lincoln …read more

• Thomas H. Cook ’85

  Deceased date: July 4, 2015
  SEBAGO - As peacefully and quickly as Tom entered this world on March 13, 1962, on his mother's birthday, at the Chelsea Naval Hospital, Thomas exited it just as peacefully and quickly at home on the morning of July 4, 2015, as he went to sleep holding th…read more

• Bruce W. Arnold ’65

  Deceased date: June 20, 2015
  STRATTON, ME- Bruce W. Arnold, 72 of Stratton Maine Passed away Saturday the 20th of June at Franklin Memorial Hospital in Farmington Maine. He is survived by his daughter Christina Stone and her husband Barry Stone of Waldfischbach-Burglaben, Germany, gr…read more

• Robert E. Canavan ’47

  Deceased date: June 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 graduat…read more

• James Edwards Whelan ’44

  Deceased date: June 4, 2015

  SACO - Dr. J. Edward Whelan, 92, a lifelong resident of Biddeford-Saco, former mayor of Saco and proud father and grandfather, died on June 4, 2015.

  Born in Biddeford on Dec. 8, 1922 to M. Harry and Cecelia Cleary W…read more

• Brian S. Dearborn ’66

  Deceased date: May 22, 2015
  SOUTH PORTLAND - Brian S. Dearborn of South Portland, passed away unexpectedly from a heart attack on Friday, May 22, 2015, at age 71.There is no way to encapsulate just how deeply Brian loved and was loved by his family (and yes, Brian, encapsulate is be…read more

• Robert C. Knowles ’50

  Deceased date: May 16, 2015
  Robert C. Knowles ’50 died May 16, 2015 in Spring Hill, Florida. Upon graduation he sailed with Farrell Lines on the Africa run as Third and Second Assistant Engineer.  He went active duty in the U.S. Navy as Engineering, Division, Supply and Informati…read more

• Alfred C. Frawley ’46

  Deceased date: April 30, 2015
  BANGOR - Alfred C. Frawley Jr. passed away on April 30, 2015, with his family at his side following a lengthy illness. He was born September 3, 1926, in Bangor, the son of Alfred C. Frawley Sr. and Ellen (Curley) Frawley. Al was an active member of St. M…read more