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.

• Larry A. Doyle ’72

  Deceased date: November 1, 2014
  Capt. Larry A. Doyle, age 64, passed with his loving family at his side at the Moffitt Cancer Research Center in Tampa, FL. on November 1, 2014. Larry was the son of Archie and Lois Doyle of South Portland, ME and was born on April 25^th, 1950. …read more

• William H. Kelley ’59

  Deceased date: October 27, 2014
  Captain William H. Kelley, 79, of Marblehead, MA and Palm Beach, FL, passed away at Salem Hospital on October 27, 2014. He was the beloved husband of the late Marie "Mayo" (Audet) Kelley. Born in Marblehead, he was the son of the late Morris and Harriet (…read more

• Richard R. Paton ’66

  Deceased date: October 7, 2014
  Richard R. Paton, 70, of Ellington and formerly of Coventry, beloved husband of Caroline (Wiatrak) Paton, passed away on Tuesday, October 7, 2014. He spent his career in Risk Management and retired from Phoenix Insurance. He served his country for 27 year…read more

• Michael J. Riley ’76

  Deceased date: October 2, 2014
  ROWLEY: Michael J. Riley, 60, beloved husband of Judy (Pietrini) Riley, passed away unexpectedly on Thursday, October 2, 2014. Born in Japan, he was the son of the late David W. and Dorothy M. (Caufield) Riley. He was raised and educated in Beverly, grad…read more

• Frederick J. Grondin ’47

  Deceased date: September 25, 2014
  SACO — Frederick John “Buffer” Grondin, 86, of Saco, passed away after a brief illness, early Thursday afternoon on Sept. 25, 2014, at his residence. He was born in Biddeford on Dec. 16, 1927, a son of Arthur and Hannah (Coffey) Grondin. Fred grad…read more

• John R. Romano ’60

  Deceased date: September 14, 2014
  It is with sadness that we give notice of the passing of John Ralph Romano. Mr. Romano, passed on Sunday, September 14, 2014, in Arlington, Virginia. He was 78 years old. Mr. Romano was born on December 19th, 1935, in Brooklyn, New York. He was the son o…read more

• Richard S. Libby ’46

  Deceased date: September 13, 2014

  BAR HARBOR - Richard "Dick" S. Libby, 87, died peacefully September 13, 2014, at the Maine Veterans Home in Augusta. He was born on Sept. 30, 1926, in Bar Harbor, a son of Seth E. Libby and Helen (Greeley) Libby.

  Raised…read more

• Tim H. Hutchins ’74

  Deceased date: September 6, 2014
  ORRINGTON-Tim Herbert Hutchins, 62, loving husband, incredible father and grandfather, devoted son, and thoughtful brother, passed away September 6, 2014 surrounded by family at home in Orrington after his battle with cancer. Tim was born May 14, 1952 eld…read more

• William E. Nehring ’65

  Deceased date: September 1, 2014
  William E. Nehring, who spent much of his life on the sea and was nicknamed "Captain Bill," died in September 2014.  He had lived in the Villas for the last 15 years of his life. Mr. Nehring grew up in New Hampshire and graduated from Maine Maritime A…read more

• Richard P. Boothby Jr. ’45

  Deceased date: August 28, 2014
  FALMOUTH -- Richard Perkins Boothby Jr. of Falmouth died peacefully on August 28, 2014 in the loving company of his four children. Dick was born in St. Louis, Miss., February 25, 1925, the son of Pauline Jameson of Colebrook, N.H. and Richard Boothby Sr. …read more