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.

• Gordon E. Robbins ’46

  Deceased date: January 28, 2013
  TRENTON - Gordon E. Robbins passed away peacefully Jan. 28, 2013, with family by his side. He was born Oct. 5, 1926, in McKinley, to Jay and Georgia (Ray) Robbins. After graduating from Cony High School, Augusta, Gordon attended Maine Maritime Academy ea…read more

• Robert L. Catell ’45

  Deceased date: January 19, 2013

  YARMOUTH – Robert L. Catell, 88, died Saturday, Jan. 19, 2013, in Falmouth. Bob was born Feb. 9, 1924, in Bangor, to Charles V. and Frances Blake (Leonard) Catell.

  Bob graduated from Bangor High Sc…read more

• Henry “Sam” McMinn ’47

  Deceased date: January 7, 2013
  McMinn, Henry "Sam" Feb 10, 1927 - Jan 7, 2013 Age 85. Omaha. Preceded in death by parents, Lewis and Elizabeth (Fraser) McMinn; brother, Fraser McMinn; sisters, Imogene Bamford and Janice Patterson. Survived by wife of 60 yea…read more

• Richard E. Castner ’52

  Deceased date: December 26, 2012
  BREWER - Richard E. Castner, 81, died Dec. 26, 2012, at a Bangor health care facility. He was born April 14, 1931, in Bangor, son of Earl Linwood and Gladys Ellen (Reed) Castner.Richard graduated from Bangor High …read more

• William “Bill” Alley ’64

  Deceased date: December 12, 2012
  WATERVILLE - William L. Alley, 70, passed away on the afternoon of Dec. 12, 2012 at his residence, after an eight-year struggle with leukem…read more

• Captain Michael T. Perry ’60

  Deceased date: November 11, 2012
  SALEM - On November 11, 2012, Mike Perry died peacefully at his home with his wife Robbi, twin sister Maureen Nickerson and beloved dog Freckles at his side. Mike was born on November 17, 1939 in Bangor, Maine, th…read more

• Maurice Alpert ’50

  Deceased date: October 22, 2012

  Maurice Alpert was self-made man who rose to the top, decided after many years of success he did not like the view and started a personal journey seeking something more fulfilling than the business world had to offer. Maurice wa…read more

• Richard M. Jensen ’61

  Deceased date: September 17, 2012

  Richard Morton Jensen, 72, of Cumberland, died on Sept. 17, 2012, at Maine Medical Center after four years of declining health.

  He was born in Portland on Jan. 15, 1940, the son of Frederick and Chri…read more

• Capt. Susan J. Clark ’85

  Deceased date: September 7, 2012
  CAPE ELIZABETH -- On Thursday, Sept. 6, 2012, Captain Susan J. Clark passed away after losing her battle with cancer. She was surrounded by her loving family and a group of wonderful, life-long friends who were always there fo…read more

• Richard “Dick” Louis Caron ’56

  Deceased date: September 7, 2012
  BANGOR - Richard "Dick" Louis Caron, 78, of Old Town, died Friday, Sept. 7, 2012, after a long battle with pulmonary fibrosis. The youngest son of Jean and Mary (Belva) Beaulieu Caron, he was born March 21, 1934, …read more