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.

• 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

• Henry David Brophy ’55

  Deceased date: August 30, 2012
  WINSLOW, MAINE—David Brophy died on Thursday, August 30, 2012, at home, as a result of injuries incurred in an automobile accident the prior year. The son of the late Rebecca and Henry Brophy, David graduated from Lawrence High School in Fairfield, Mai…read more

• Gerald “Guy” H. Saucier ’53

  Deceased date: August 17, 2012

  VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. -- LCDR (RET) USN, Gerald H. Saucier, 81, died at his home surrounded by family on Friday, Aug. 17, 2012. He was born in New Canada Plantation to Honorie and Delia Saucier. Known as 'Guy' by his Maine family a…read more

• Robert O’Connell ’54

  Deceased date: August 7, 2012

  SCARBOROUGH -- Robert L. O'Connell, 78, of Scarborough, died on Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2012, at Maine Veterans Home.

  He was born in Manchester, N.H., the son of Victor and Emily King O'Connell. He attended…read more