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.

• Roger “Trigger” Burke ’65

  Deceased date: July 27, 2013
  Roger K. Burke, known by his friends as Trigger, age 69, died suddenly Saturday, July 27, 2013 at home.
  
  Born in Boston, MA, Trigger w…read more

• Palmer B Pearson ’51

  Deceased date: June 21, 2013

  Searsport — On Friday, June 21, Palmer “Pete” B. Pearson passed away at age 84, surrounded by family at a Bangor hospital. Born Oct. 12, 1923, in Belfast, Pete exemplified the true Maine citizen his whole life. He graduated…read more

• Carroll Freeman ’49

  Deceased date: June 15, 2013

  MILLINOCKET -- Carroll William Freeman, Jr., 85, died unexpectedly June 15,2013. He was born Jan. 2,1928 in Auburn, the son of Carroll William and Catherine (Normanly) Freeman. A 1946 graduate of Edward Little High School, Carr…read more

• Steven Sermos ’75

  Deceased date: June 14, 2013

  Steven Sermos age 60 years died in Alexander, Maine on Friday, June 14, 2013. Born in Boston, Massachusetts on September 14, 1952, he graduated from Chauncey Hall in Boston with the class of 1970. He went on to graduate from the …read more

• Keith W. Kelsey ’88

  Deceased date: May 25, 2013
  Captain Keith W. Kelsey of Killingworth, formerly of Branford, passed away peacefully on May 25th surrounded by his family in CT Hospice. Keith was the loving and devoted husband of Alexis Marinucci Kelsey. He was born Dec. 20…read more

• James T. Lay ’69

  Deceased date: April 18, 2013
  BLUE HILL – James T. Lay Jr. died April 28, 2013, in Blue Hill, after battling cancer and lupus. He was born July 31, 1946, in Washington, D.C., son of the late James T. Lay Sr. and Catherine (Nimitz) Lay. Lay graduated from Maine Maritime Academy in…read more

• Robert C. Wallace ’51

  Deceased date: April 13, 2013

  Robert C. Wallace, 83 VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. -- Robert C. Wallace, 83, of E. Admiral Drive, passed away peacefully in his home on Saturday, April 13, 2013. He was the son of the late Oscar and Elizabeth Wallace. He was preceded in d…read more

• Fred McPheters ’45

  Deceased date: April 1, 2013

  BAR HARBOR – Fred McPheters, 87, husband of the late Millicent Marie (Stewart) McPheters, passed away April 1, 2013, at a local long-term care facility. He was born July 8, 1925, in St. Stephen, New Brunswick, the son of Fred a…read more

• Norman E. Brawn ’54

  Deceased date: March 5, 2013

  SOUTH PARIS — Norman E. Brawn, 80, of Norway, passed away March 5, at the Maine Veterans' Home. Norman was born March 3, 1933, to John R. Brawn and Doris (Foster) Brawn. After graduating from Skowhegan High School, Norman atten…read more

• Corwin V. Mudge ’47

  Deceased date: March 3, 2013
  Corwin Vincent Mudge, 86, of Oxford, passed away Sunday, March 3, 2013 at Brandywine Hospital, Coatesville. He was the husband of Jane E. Thomas Mudge with whom he shared 38 years of marriage. Born in Boston, MA he was the son of the late Raymond and Er…read more