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.

• Cmdr. Herbert K. Ellingwood ’44

  Deceased date: April 1, 2012
  Herb Ellingwood, of Satellite Beach, passed away on April 1, 2012. He was born May 8, 1924, in Rockland, Maine, to the late Dr. William and Ruth Ellingwood. Herb was a veteran of WW II and the Korean War. He retired from a career in commercial banking as…read more

• Robert R. Gardenier ’53

  Deceased date: March 18, 2012

  Robert R. Gardenier, 79, who retired from Naval Sea Systems Command in 1985 at the rank of captain, died March 18 at his home in Alexandria after a heart attack.

  The death was confirmed by his daught…read more

• Miles R. Sawyer ’43-2

  Deceased date: March 4, 2012
  PINELLAS PARK – Miles R. Sawyer, age 92, of Seminole, FL, (formerly of Rockland, Maine), passed away on March 4, 2012, in Pinellas Park, FL. Born June 14, 1919 in Rockland, Maine; attended Maine Maritime Academy, class of 1943-2; officer in the Merchan…read more

• John W. Eden ’47

  Deceased date: February 11, 2012
  John William Eden of Washington, D.C., Lake Wales, Florida and Edgartown, Massachusetts passed away on Saturday, February 11, 2012 at the age of 84 from Parkinson's disease. Born in Cleveland, Ohio to Charlton Granville Eden and Helen McKlintock Eden, he…read more

• Benjamin Snow ’81

  Deceased date: February 3, 2012

  PORTLAND -- It is with great sorrow that the children of Benjamin Snow announce his death on Friday, Feb. 3, 2012.

  Born in Boston, Mass., on Dec. 18, 1955, to June and Nicholas Snow, Ben and his brot…read more

• Thomas Herbert ’50

  Deceased date: January 26, 2012

  PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla., and BANGOR - Tom Herbert, 82, a Bangor native, died Jan. 26, 2012, in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. He was the son of the late Thomas R. and Louise E. (Aucoin) Herbert. Tom attended Bangor schools, graduating f…read more

• Peter Arthur Perrault ’66

  Deceased date: January 25, 2012

  LEAGUE CITY —Peter Arthur Perrault, of League City, passed away on Wednesday, January 25, 2012 in Houston, Texas at the age of 67. He was born on April 22, 1944 in Brockton, Massachusetts to Arthur and Pauline Perrault.

  read more

• Philip L. Pearson ’54

  Deceased date: December 3, 2011
  Philip L. Pearson found eternal peace on Dec. 3, 2011, age 78. Born in Bangor, Maine, Phil attended the Maine Maritime Academy before serving in the U.S. Navy. He was employed for 29 years at the W.H. Brady Company and is survived by his wife of 54 years,…read more

• Carl W. Jacobsen ’62

  Deceased date: November 3, 2011
  Carl William (Bill) Jacobsen made his last voyage November 3, 2011 from the home he painstakingly designed at 6226 O'Connell Street in Englewood, Florida. Bringing a touch of New England to Florida, the bay window and style of the house sets it apart from…read more

• Douglas L. Peters ’97

  Deceased date: January 30, 2011
  Douglas L. Peters Jr., 35, of Two Rivers, Wis., died Jan. 30, 2011, at his residence, surrounded by his loving family. Doug was born July 3, 1975, in Rockland, Maine, son of Shelley (Chase) Bay and the late Douglas L. Peters Sr. In 1997 he graduated from…read more