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.

• Capt. Timothy D. Lindberg ’80

  Deceased date: May 7, 2002
  BAINBRIDGE ISLAND, WA - Timothy Drew Lindberg, 44, of Bainbridge Island died May 7, 2002 at the age of 44.  He was born on April 5, 1958 in Staten Island, NY, to Howard and Patr…read more

• Stephen W. Carle ’77

  Deceased date: May 28, 2001
  Stephen W. Carle '77, a project manager at Bath Iron Works, died May 28, 2001, in Portland, Maine, of lung disease. He was a deck officer with American Export Lines and a lobsterman. An Eagle Scout, he was a member of the Days Ferry Congregational Church …read more

• Todd L. Kratz ’80

  Deceased date: September 10, 1985
  Todd L. Kratz, 27, of Kingfield, Maine, formerly of Wayne, died September 10. He was a second assistant engineer aboard the merchant ship Anderson Jr. of the Maersk Line of Maine. He was an honors graduate of Maine Maritime Academy, where he had been acti…read more