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.

• David J. Billings ’60

  Deceased date: February 21, 2014

  KENNEBUNKPORT -- LtCdr. David J. Billings, USN, Ret., 75, lovingly referred to as the Grand Poobah by his family and a resident of the Mills Road in Cape Porpoise, died on Feb. 21, 2014, at the Maine Medical Center in Portland af…read more

• Harry M. Reid Jr. ’62

  Deceased date: February 21, 2014

  LEWISTON: Harry M. Reid, Jr. passed away peacefully with his family by his side Friday afternoon, February 21, 2014. He was born in Lewiston at Central Maine Medical Center on July 4, 1938 a son of the late Dr. Harry M. Reid, Sr.…read more

• Francis W. Gerow ’53

  Deceased date: February 21, 2014
  Francis W. Gerow, 81, of Springfield, Va., passed on to his final command station on Friday, Feb. 21, 2014, after going into cardiac arrest. He was born Aug. 22, 1932, in Pittsfield, Maine, to William (from Canada) and Louise …read more

• E. Allen Beem Jr. ’44

  Deceased date: February 6, 2014

  YARMOUTH -- E. Allen Beem Jr., formerly of Westbrook, died on Feb. 6, 2014, at Brentwood Center for Health & Rehabilitation in Yarmouth.

  Allen was born on Feb. 10, 1924, in Warren, Ohio, the firs…read more

• Douglas M. Green ’56

  Deceased date: January 30, 2014
  Douglas M. Green, 79, slipped the surly bonds of this world, with his beloved wife Deborah at his side, after an extended illness, Thursday, January 30, 2014. Born in Camden, April 4, 1934, he was the son of Kenneth M. and Dorothy L. Dolley Green. Educat…read more

• Kenneth M. Thoens ’62

  Deceased date: January 19, 2014
  Kenneth M. Thoens, 72, of Howell Township died Sunday, Jan. 19, 2014 at MediCenter of Neptune City. Mr. Thoens was born in Jersey City. He served in the U. S. Merchant Marine Service and the U.S. Naval Reserves. Mr. Thoens was…read more

• Kenneth M. Thoens ’62

  Deceased date: January 19, 2014
  Kenneth M. Thoens, 72, of Howell Township died Sunday, Jan. 19, 2014 at MediCenter of Neptune City. Mr. Thoens was born in Jersey City. He served in…read more

• Mark G. LaRochelle ’81

  Deceased date: January 9, 2014

  BIDDEFORD - Brother Mark died suddenly on Jan. 9, 2014, fighting a valiant battle against cancer. Captain Mark Guy LaRochelle, born Jan. 8, 1957, in Biddeford, grabbed life with both hands and insisted on living life the way he w…read more

• Capt. Raymond Salopek ’61

  Deceased date: January 2, 2014
  Raymond Salopek, 72, husband of Sandra Salopek and a Bay Creek resident of Cape Charles, passed away Thursday, January 2, 2014 at Sentara Virginia Beach General Hospital. In addition to his wife, he is survived by two daughters, Noelle Lawrence and her h…read more

• John M. Hodge ’52

  Deceased date: January 1, 2014
  Nov. 21, 1930 - Jan. 1, 2014 John M. Hodge, age 83, of Englewood, Florida, passed away on January 1, 2014. He was born November 21, 1930 in Jamaica Plains, New York and moved to Englewood, Florida in 1992 from Freeport, ME. He graduated from Maine Maritim…read more